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rote

noun/roʊt/

the mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned

The students learned the poem by rote, reciting it over and over until it was committed to memory.

memorizationrepetitionrehearsal
word origin — Late Middle English, from Old French 'route', which translates to a way or course, possibly related to the Latin 'rupta', meaning broken, which evolved in the context of habitual practices.

rote, spat, academician, scuffle, misnomer: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 238. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. rote · noun/roʊt/

    the mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned

    The students learned the poem by rote, reciting it over and over until it was committed to memory.

    Synonyms: memorization, repetition, rehearsal

    Origin: Late Middle English, from Old French 'route', which translates to a way or course, possibly related to the Latin 'rupta', meaning broken, which evolved in the context of habitual practices.

  2. spat · noun/spæt/

    a minor dispute or quarrel

    After a brief spat over the dinner plans, they quickly made up and enjoyed their meal together.

    Synonyms: argument, quarrel, disagreement

    Origin: The word 'spat' originated in the early 19th century, believed to be a variant of 'spatter' or possibly derived from the dialectal term 'spat,' meaning to strike or hit lightly.

  3. academician · noun/ˌæk.əˈdɛm.ɪ.ʃən/

    a member of an academy or learned society

    The renowned academician was invited to give a keynote address at the international conference on climate change.

    Synonyms: scholar, intellectual, researcher

    Origin: The word 'academician' derives from the French 'académicien', which is based on the Latin 'Academicus' relating to the Academy, itself originating from the Greek 'Akademia', a place of study established by Plato.

  4. scuffle · noun/ˈskʌf.əl/

    a disorderly fight or struggle at close quarters

    The scuffle broke out between the rival fans after the match ended.

    Synonyms: fight, struggle, altercation

    Origin: Originates from the late Middle English 'scuflen', meaning to push or shove.

  5. misnomer · noun/ˌmɪsˈnoʊ.mɚ/

    an incorrect or unsuitable name or term

    Referring to the large, flightless bird as a 'turkey' is a misnomer that can lead to confusion about its true identity.

    Synonyms: mislabel, wrong name, inaccurate term

    Origin: from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' and 'nomer' from Latin 'nomen', meaning 'name'