discourteous, verdant, rebellious, empathetic, desultory: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 68. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. discourteous · adjective/dɪsˈkɜrtiəs/

   showing a lack of courtesy or respect

   It was discourteous of him to interrupt her while she was speaking.

   Synonyms: rude, impolite, ill-mannered

   Origin: The word 'discourteous' comes from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'not' and 'courteous', which originates from the Old French 'cortois', meaning 'courtly' or 'polite'.

2. verdant · adjective/ˈvɜr.dənt/

   green with grass or other rich vegetation

   The verdant hills were a breathtaking sight, covered in lush grasses and wildflowers.

   Synonyms: lush, leafy, green

   Origin: from the Latin 'viridis', meaning 'green'

3. rebellious · adjective/rɪˈbɛl.jəs/

   showing a desire to resist authority control or convention

   The rebellious teenager often clashed with his parents, refusing to follow their rules and expectations.

   Synonyms: defiant, resistant, insurgent

   Origin: from Latin 'rebellis', from 're-' meaning 'back' + 'bellum' meaning 'war'

4. empathetic · adjective/ˌɛmpəˈθɛtɪk/

   showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another

   The therapist was very empathetic, listening attentively to her client's struggles and providing thoughtful guidance.

   Synonyms: compassionate, understanding, sympathetic

   Origin: The word 'empathetic' originates from the Greek word 'empatheia', where 'en-' means 'in' and 'pathos' means 'feeling' or 'suffering'.

5. desultory · adjective/ˈdɛs.əl.tɔːr.i/

   lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

   His desultory efforts at studying for the exam left him feeling unprepared and anxious.

   Synonyms: disconnected, aimless, random

   Origin: From Latin 'desultorius', meaning 'jumping from one thing to another', from 'desultor' (a jumper, one who leaps).