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.