Sate (v): seyt
To satisfy to the full = cloy
He sated his hunger with a delicious lunch
Satiate (v): sey-shee-eyt
If something such as food or pleasure satiates you, you have all that you need or all that you want of it, often so much that you become tired of it = quench
There is usually enough fruit on one apple tree to satiate several children
Saturate (v): sach-uh-reyt
If people or things saturate a place or object, they fill it completely so that no more can be added = soak
Their clothes were saturated by the rain
Saunter (v): sawn-ter, sahn-
If you saunter somewhere, you walk there in a slow, casual way = stroll slowly
He came sauntering down the road with his hands in his pockets
Savor (v): sey-ver (555)
If you savour an experience, you enjoy it as much as you can = enjoy
She sipped her wine, savouring every drop
Scarify (v): skar-uh-fahy
1 to break and make loose the surface of a road or field using a pointed tool 2 to criticise
Another way to scarify is to just plant seeds outdoors early enough in summer
Scintillate (v): sin-tl-eyt
You can hardly expect scintillating conversation from a kid that age = sparkle, flash
To scuttle a plan or a proposal means to make it fail or cause it to stop = scupper
Such threats could scuttle the peace process
Seethe (v): seeth
When you are seething, you are very angry about something but do not express your feelings about it
He listened to his employee with a sedate face, but under the surface he was seething
Sequestrate (v): si-kwes-ter (560)
When property is sequestrated, it is taken officially from someone who has debts, usually after a decision in a court of law If the debts are paid off, the property is returned to its owner = take away
He tried to prevent union money from being sequestrated by the courts
Shackle (v): shak-uhl
If you are shackled by something, it prevents you from doing what you want to do = chain; fetter
The trade unions are shackled by the law
Sheathe (v): sheeth
If something is sheathed in a material or other covering, it is closely covered with it
The wire is covered by an outer plastic sheath
Simulate (v): sim-yuh-leyt
If you simulate an action or a feeling, you pretend that you are doing it or feeling it = feign
Prospective astronauts have to go through machines that simulate conditions on space
Skimp (v): skimp
If you skimp on something, you use less time, money, or material for it than you really need, so that the result is not good enough = scrimp
The poor often have to skimp to save enough for square meals
Skulk (v): skuhlk (565)
If you skulk somewhere, you hide or move around quietly because you do not want to be seen = hide
Don’t skulk outside the door like a spy
Slither (v): slith-er
If you slither somewhere, you slide along in an uneven way = slip
A snake slithered across the gras
Slough (v): slou
When a plant sloughs its leaves, or an animal such as a snake sloughs its skin, the leaves or skin come off naturally = shed, cast off
All reptiles have to slough their skin to grow
Solicit (v): suh-lis-it
If you solicit money, help, support, or an opinion from someone, you ask them for it = ask
The MP sent two officials to Delhi to solicit aid from the Prime minister
Spawn (v): spawn
1 When fish or animals such as frogs spawn, they lay their eggs 2 to make a series of things happen or start to exist
New technology has spawned new business opportunities
Spurn (v): spurn (570)
If you spurn someone or something, you reject them = reject
He spurned the advice of management consultants
Squander (v): skwon-der
If you squander money, resources, or opportunities, you waste them = waste
He had squandered his chances to win
Stanch (v): stawnch
To stop the flow of liquid, especially of blood from a wound = stop
He used a rag to staunch the flow of blood
Stigmatize (v): stig-muh-tahyz
If someone or something is stigmatized, they are unfairly regarded by many people as being bad or having something to be ashamed of = criticise, blame
Widows often feel that they are stigmatized by society
Stipulate (v): stip-yuh-leyt
If you stipulate a condition or stipulate that something must be done, you say clearly that it must be done = state
The regulations stipulate that everything has to comply to the relevant safety standards
Stultify (v): stuhl-tuh-fahy (575)
If something stultifies you, it makes you feel empty or dull in your mind, because it is so boring = boring, dull
A rigid routine can be stultifying and boring
