Hot SAT Words:Lessons

# 1-10

Lesson #2: The Runaway Mouth

Words Relating to Speaking

CIRCUMLOCUTION

n. speaking in circles;

roundabout speech

CIRCUMLOCUTION

Is commonly called “beating around the bush.”

COLLOQUIALAdj. Pertaining

to common everyday speech; conversational

COLLOQUIALSometimes a colloquial expression becomes standard in English usage.

COLLOQUIAL

DIFFUSE

Adj. Spread out, not concise; wordy

DIFFUSEThe class discussion was so diffuse that few solid points were made.

DIGRESS

vb. To wander off from the subject or topic spoken about

DIGRESSION

The digression in Karl’s speech interested me more than the main point.

ELOQUENCEn. Artful ease with speaking; speech that can impact people’s feelings

ELOQUENT

GARRULOUS

Adj. Talkative; loquacious

GARRULOUS

GARRULOUS gatherings of students are unwelcome in the library!

GRANDILOQUENT

adj. Using big and fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others

Mr. Green tries to impress students with his grandiloquence

instead of just telling them what they need to know.

LOQUACIOUSAdj. Very talkative; liking to talk; See “garrulous”

LOQUACIOUS

Adj. Talkative; garrulous

PRATTLEvb. To speak on and on in a senseless and silly manner; to talk foolishly

NO prattling!

RANT

Vb. To talk very loudly, even wildly

RANT

Vb. To talk very loudly, even wildly

RANTING!

RHETORICALAdj. Relating to speech

that is used to persuade or have some effect; NEGATIVE connotation = insincere in expression

RHETORICThe attorney’s forceful rhetoric convinced the jury to acquit the defendant.

VERBOSEAdj. Using too many words; wordy; long-winded

VERBOSEVerbose writing can be called “flabby.”

(colloquial)

VOLUBLEAdj. Talking a great deal with ease;“glib” = negative version ofvoluble

VOLUBLEMrs. Shivers is voluble. If you ask her a question, do not expect a succinct answer. You’ll get a detailed explanation.