100 SAT words Beginning with "S"

Some say the artwork blurs the line between church and state; others consider it sacrilegious to have Mexico's patron saint pictured surfing. Seattle Times (Jun 8, 2011)

After decades of being considered politically sacrosanct, why are homeowner mortgage write-offs suddenly on the chopping block? Washington Post (Aug 12, 2011)

The sagacious painter had a truer insight into this matter than most of our modern educationists. Miller, Hugh

The air is extremely salubrious, and the place has long been remarkable for its freedom from epidemics. Holdsworth, J. H.

With unemployment in some parishes above 25 percent, sardonic bumper stickers entered state lore: “Last one out, turn off the lights.” New York Times (Aug 8, 2010)

That means it's more effective at keeping your blood sugar levels stable, leaving you feeling satiated and less likely to start eating again hours later.

Inevitably there were instant faux feeds on Twitter with satirical commentary about Bin Laden’s death, including Ghost Osama and Osama in Hell. New York Times (May 2, 2011)

The head was shockingly disfigured, battered by some heavy instrument, and the clothes were saturated with blood. Various

Many Americans reside in food deserts—communities where retailers offering fresh food are scarce but fast-food restaurants and convenience stores selling prepared foods can abound. Scientific American (May 13, 2012)

"You sickening little coward—you sneak," said Osmond, with scathing contempt. Reynolds, Mrs. Baillie

After building a market worth at least $6 billion, fair trade is undergoing a schism, with Fair Trade USA splitting off. BusinessWeek (Nov 3, 2011)

Mr. Papandreou, a political scion whose father and grandfather were also prime ministers, took office late last year. New York Times (Feb 7, 2010)

Mr. Gates also was scornful of the top deal makers: “Russian democracy has disappeared, and the government is an oligarchy run by the security services.” New York Times (Dec 29, 2010)

“His films have a look, an ambience, a setting, that’s very real because of his scrupulous attention to detail,” Mr. Jewison added. New York Times (Aug 3, 2010)

Days before Thanksgiving, AT&T's heavyweight lobbying team was busy setting up meetings with antitrust authorities scrutinizing the company’s $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile. Washington Post (Dec 9, 2011)

String quartets, made up of four similar instruments that blend seamlessly and resonate together, are the thoroughbreds of chamber music. New York Times (Apr 13, 2012)

On the 3rd of November a revolution broke out at Panama, and the state seceded from Colombia and declared itself to be an independent republic. Various

But southern Sudanese living in northern Sudan were more ambivalent — 42 percent opted for unity and 58 percent for secession. New York Times (Jan 21, 2011)

There is a growing body of research showing that very active women are less likely to develop breast cancer than their sedentary peers.

If stones were thrown at the police and seditious cries were raised, it was no more than might be reasonably expected. Froude, James Anthony

For something like eleven summers I've written things that aimed to teach Our careless mealy-mouthéd mummers To be more sedulous of speech. Adams, Franklin P. (Franklin Pierce)

In Malaysia, there is no gender segregation; women hold top positions in banks and other companies, and female university students now outnumber men. New York Times (Nov 21, 2011)

Web semantics developers in recent years have trained computers to classify news topics based on intuitive keywords and recognizable names. Scientific American (Jun 16, 2011)

Branches, even trunks might bend and break, but the seminal roots sent up new shoots next season, which in another year, bore fruit scantily. McCulloch-Williams, Martha

Emotions and intelligence are connected with nerve structures in all sentient beings that we have experience and knowledge of. Brooks, David Marshall

Every American will read these works with national pride, and have his better feelings and sentiments enkindled and strengthened.—Western literary Messenger. Headley, Joel Tyler

Nissan has taken on a more aggressive marketing approach in recent months in Brazil, where car sales have hit sequential records for four years.

Emerson says, "The virtue of art lies in detachment, in sequestering one object from the embarrassing variety." Carnagey, Dale

Serendipity is a recurring theme in Chandler's biography, with one happy accident after another pushing him in a certain direction.

The serenity he doubtless enjoys as a Zen monk will probably help. BBC (Jan 14, 2010)

Their Sibylline books have prophesied the fall of Rome, though they use the name 'Babylon.' Strindberg, August

At least 10 large black-faced langur monkeys are being used at the Delhi Games venues to stop smaller simian monkeys from causing trouble. Children's BBC (Oct 1, 2010)

Then he rushed away without saluting me, and looking as black as the ace of spades—that simile suits my present mood! Fogazzaro, Antonio

Supertaskers can juggle simultaneous tasks without experiencing a drop in attention or focus, which flies against the conventional wisdom about how the human brain functions.

He moved on down toward the cottonwoods and reaching them stood in their shadows, arms at his sides, shoulders slacked as if weakened, irresolute. Titus, Harold

His lawyer Heather Boxeth has said O'Neal relapsed by drinking alcohol after five years of sobriety and was in rehab. Seattle Times (Feb 4, 2012)

"Hurt/comfort" stories revolve — as you might imagine — around one character's getting injured physically or emotionally and another character's providing solace.

Then, feeling that this sorrow required solitude, one after another slipped away, slowly, gently, and on tiptoe, leaving Helen alone with her husband's body. Dumas, Alexandre

The alchemist gave up his search for an universal solvent upon being asked in what kind of vessel he expected to keep it when found. Ingersoll, Robert Green

Nature and the spiritual, without this embodied intelligence, this somatic being, called man or angel or ape, are as ermine on a wax figure. Rihani, Ameen Fares

This word comes from the Greek "sophistes," meaning a sophist, that is to say, one who makes a pretence of being wise. Tagore, Rabindranath

You might be tempted to think of the biggest airline as the one with the most aircraft, but capacity differences make this reasoning specious.

More than 200 spectators watched aircraft take to the skies on Tuesday at Mona Airfield.

Bisher covered a spectrum of sports — including football, baseball, horse racing, auto racing and boxing — that reflected the tastes of his Southern readership. New York Times (Apr 5, 2012)

He said the four conspiracy charges leveled at his client were supported by nothing but “speculation, innuendo and conjecture.” New York Times (Nov 1, 2011)

In his solo concerts since the 1970s, Mr. Jarrett has committed himself to spontaneous improvisation, to ideas that surface in the moment. New York Times (Jan 17, 2011)

Police have clamped down on demonstrations, and lingering unrest has been sporadic and scattered.

Sedan.—No genuine stamps ever existed; all were spurious. Johnson, Stanley Currie

Saying that agents and publishers had spurned him 162 times, Mr. Wimmer laid claim to being the most-rejected published novelist in history. New York Times (May 25, 2011)

There was trouble going on here and there, petty wars and political squabbles. MacGrath, Harold

There was nothing but poverty—squalid, disgusting poverty—visible everywhere, and Lucy grew sick and faint at the, to her, unusual sight. Holmes, Mary Jane

He laid up the money that he earned, instead of squandering it, as young men in his situation often do, in transient indulgences. Various

In that dull household, where so few events ever disturbed the stagnant quiet, this sudden journey produced an indescribable sensation. Fleming, May Agnes

Services, accounting for about three quarters of the economy, stagnated with zero growth.

But, in the end, nothing really gets resolved, nobody wins and the stalemate continues. Washington Post (Dec 18, 2011)

But these were searching days for everyone, when physical endurance and mental stamina were stretched to their furthest limit. Wilson, S. J.

We have eliminated the opposition down our way—perfectly legal and statutory. Fitzgerald, Robert

Steadfast in his convictions and imperturbable under pressure, Mr. Miller was the ultimate iconoclast.

Then the typically stoic Green Bay Packers coach briefly lost his composure, pausing for several seconds as he choked up with emotion. Chicago Tribune (Jan 12, 2012)

People were much the same, she thought, in every class; there was no stratification of either rightness or righteousness. Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

These white streaks give the bird the striated appearance from which it obtains its name. Dewar, Douglas

Indian humanities and social sciences institutes have been neglected over the years — stultified by curricular inflexibility, underfinanced and understaffed. New York Times (Apr 8, 2010)

For several seconds he remained standing quite motionless and breathless, staring in stupefied amazement at the dark outline of the enemy. Gilson, Charles

Police officers surrounded the prison grounds while F.B.I. agents and guards tried to subdue the inmates, Sheriff Mayfield said. New York Times (May 23, 2012)

The ancient Romans ruled the world by subjugating the remotest nations, pillaging and breaking them down. Garibaldi, Giuseppe

If she was unhappy, her unhappiness lay too deep in subliminal abysses to struggle to the surface of her consciousness. King, Basil

From the earliest times she was regarded as man's inferior and relegated to a subordinate position in society. Zahm, John Augustine

Ms. Greig, he said, is a meek, subservient woman whom Mr. Bulger ordered around. New York Times (Jul 14, 2011)

Once more the waves had subsided, and an almost flat calm prevailed. Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)

A symbol has a chief meaning, and then various subsidiary meanings related to that chief meaning. Besant, Annie Wood

But how avoid him while she had no other means of subsistence than working in an open shop? Burney, Fanny

The ideas of the French democracy were in the beginning revolutionary, disorderly, and subversive of national consistency and good faith. Croly, Herbert David

Mr. Stewart has promised to stay on until a successor is hired. New York Times (May 11, 2012)

The intros to each posting are short, succinct, and witty. BusinessWeek (Feb 14, 2012)

Burning coal sullies the atmosphere and leaves toxic ash mountains. Scientific American (Mar 18, 2012)

Bryce Harper batting seventh in major league debut had no clue why his Class AAA manager summoned him into his office Friday afternoon. Washington Post (Apr 29, 2012)

The city is rich in antiquities, in historic buildings associated with illustrious names, in works of art and in sumptuous palaces. Hartley, C. Gasquoine (Catherine Gasquoine)

In the preparation of this book, old journals, original records and documents, and sundry other trustworthy sources have been diligently consulted and freely utilized. Blaisdell, Albert F.

Law and government must keep pace with the progress of humanity, else the nation itself becomes effete, superannuated, deteriorated. Various

James is outrageously supercilious, arrogant, conceited and rude.

Those arguments are not necessary, they are all supererogatory, like idle words. Brady, Cyrus Townsend

In uncivilised times, generally speaking, men were rather quick to observe outward and superficial distinctions, while very slow to discover internal and essential variations. Hara, Katsuro

He looked at them as if further talk were redundant, superfluous, unnecessary, a waste of time, and an insult. Lefevre, Edwin

This time, the camera focused only on his face and in editing, his head would be digitally superimposed on Pence's body.

Qatar’s economy offers indicators in superlatives: the world’s highest growth rate and highest per capita income. New York Times (Nov 15, 2011)

After vampires and shape shifters, now fairies are added to the fun supernatural mix.

Comic books, the convention’s original focus, have been superseded by movies, video games and action figures. New York Times (Apr 12, 2012)

However, humanity is so flexible and supple that, in one way or another, it always overcomes these attempts at prevention. White, Horace

But, after all, these supplementary aids, though valuable, are deficient in guiding power. Palmer, Alice Freeman

I realized the hopelessness of my cause, and found myself facing Mr. Blight again, an humble suppliant for his pardon. Lloyd, Nelson

Bitterly, in blood and heartbreak and long suppression, they had been weighed down under superior force: but now the time of reprisals had come. Reid, George

The law at last is satisfied, satiated, surfeited. Ingersoll, Robert Green

In this surreal world, music records smell like different colors, foods tastes like specific noises, and sound comes in all varieties of textures and shapes. Scientific American (Feb 28, 2012)

Truly, there had been some secret, surreptitious flittings in this old mansion. Walk, Charles Edmonds

Furs have renewed my clothing, and I have never wanted for sustenance—chiefly nuts, fruits and vegetables. Paine, Albert Bigelow

Ever since, the city has been ravishing visitors with its teeming souks, ornate palaces and sybaritic night life. New York Times (Dec 23, 2010)

Sycophants climb over the wall—but their flattery and fawning grow tiresome. Brisbane, Arthur

They all illustrate quaint melodic intervals and an instinct for balance and symmetry. Spalding, Walter Raymond

Mrs. Smiley spoke almost at the same moment but never precisely synchronous with Wilbur's whisper. Garland, Hamlin

The two phrases seem synonymous, and might often be used indifferently; but here there is evidently a well marked diversity of meaning. Maclaren, Alexander