stolid, unorthodox, capacious, seemly, heretical: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 302. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. stolid · adjective/ˈstɑːlɪd/

   having or showing little or no emotion or sensitivity

   Despite the chaos around him, he remained stolid and focused on his tasks, unfazed by the commotion.

   Synonyms: impassive, stoic, unemotional

   Origin: From Latin 'stolidus', meaning 'dull' or 'insensitive'.

2. unorthodox · adjective/ʌnˈɔrθədɑks/

   departing from traditional ways or norms

   Her unorthodox approach to problem-solving often leads to innovative solutions that others might overlook.

   Synonyms: unconventional, nontraditional, peculiar

   Origin: from the Greek 'orthodoxos' (orthodox) meaning 'having the right opinion', combined with the prefix 'un-' indicating negation.

3. capacious · adjective/kəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

   having a lot of space or room; spacious

   The capacious trunk of the car was able to hold all of our luggage with ease during the road trip.

   Synonyms: spacious, ample, roomy

   Origin: From Latin 'capax', meaning 'able to hold much', from 'capere', meaning 'to seize, to take'.

4. seemly · adjective/ˈsimli/

   proper and appropriate in behavior or appearance

   She wore a seemly dress to the formal event, which perfectly matched the occasion's decorum.

   Synonyms: proper, decent, appropriate

   Origin: Middle English seemly, from Old English siemlīc, equivalent to seem + -ly

5. heretical · adjective/həˈrɛtɪkəl/

   believing in or practicing religious heresy

   The council deemed the theologian's views as heretical, leading to his excommunication from the church.

   Synonyms: heterodox, unorthodox, dissident

   Origin: from Middle English 'heretical', from Old French 'heretique', from Latin 'haereticus', from Greek 'hairetikos' meaning 'able to choose or take' related to 'hairein' meaning 'to choose'.