SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 250

Set 250 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: asceticism, solace, scad, totalitarianism, compatriot. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. asceticism · noun/əˈsɛtɪsɪzəm/

   the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgences for spiritual reasons

   His commitment to asceticism helped him find peace and clarity in a chaotic world.

   Synonyms: abstinence, self-denial, spartanism

   Origin: from Greek 'asketikos' meaning 'pertaining to exercise' or 'laborious.'

2. solace · noun/ˈsɑː.lɪs/

   comfort or consolation in a time of grief or sadness

   After the loss of her beloved pet, she found solace in the comforting presence of her friends.

   Synonyms: comfort, consolation, relief

   Origin: From Middle English 'solas' (meaning comfort, consolation), from Old French 'solas', from Latin 'solacium', from 'solari', meaning 'to console'.

3. scad · noun/skæd/

   a large number or quantity

   There were a scad of people waiting in line for the concert tickets.

   Synonyms: myriad, slew, multitude

   Origin: The word 'scad' is believed to have originated in the late 19th century, possibly as a contraction of 'scad of', which itself is a dialectal variant of 'scad' meaning a large amount. The root is likely from Irish 'scad', which means a great quantity.

4. totalitarianism · noun/ˌtoʊtælɪˈtɛrɪənɪzəm/

   a political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life

   The rise of totalitarianism in the 20th century led to widespread human rights abuses and the suppression of individual freedoms.

   Synonyms: authoritarianism, despotism, dictatorship

   Origin: The term 'totalitarianism' is derived from the Italian word 'totalitario,' which comes from 'totalità' meaning 'totality,' and was first used in the early 20th century to describe a political system where the state has total control over society.

5. compatriot · noun/kəmˈpeɪ.tri.ət/

   a person from the same country as someone else

   During the international conference, she was thrilled to meet her compatriots who shared the same passion for environmental conservation.

   Synonyms: fellow countryman, compatriot, national

   Origin: The word 'compatriot' comes from the French 'compatriote', which stems from the Latin 'compatriota', meaning 'one who shares a country'.