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Long Definition:

ad·ven·ti·tious      /?æd v?n?t???s/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[ad-vuh n-tish-uhs] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

1.	associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic.

2.	Botany, Zoology. appearing in an abnormal or unusual position or place, as a root.

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[Origin: 1595–1605; < L advent?cius lit., coming from without, external, equiv. to ad- ad- + ven- (s. of ven?re to come) + -t(us) ptp. suffix + -?cius -itious ]

—Related forms

ad·ven·ti·tious·ly, adverb

ad·ven·ti·tious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Short Definition:  abnormal

Sentences:
His arrogant behavior today was adventitous; he's normally quite humble and polite.
We found a small gemstone in the mine, but it's presence must be adventitious as this region is not known for such gems.

Mnemonic:
Hat vent tissues > ape snore mole – The Cat in the Hat's hat is so tall it has vents on the side to help with circulation.  The cat carries around a gigantic box of tissues to wipe the vents clean.  He can't reach the vents while he's wearing the hat, however, so he's followed by a trained purple ape who sounds like he's constantly snoring.  However, when you look closely, you notice that the snoring is coming from a giant hairy mole on the side of the ape's neck (that's an adventitious mole).
With this word, the short definition is so abstract that I encoded it with a mnemonic as well.

…at least when it comes to reviewing info you want to recall, like your class notes on the Kreb Cycle or the Quadratic Formula. If you catch yourself going over the same notes again and again, trying to wedge it into your gray matter, there is a better way. Oodles (no, really, OOODLES) of good research to show that mnemonics (memory strategies) can increase your recall. That means less review for you (see this article for a run down of the research).

And using mnemonic techniques doesn’t require that you have thick glasses, a lack of fashion sense, and a passion for Star Trek: The Next Generation. In fact, the article linked above begins with an account of how mnemonics were used to beef up recall among (more…)

Anyone who has taken my College Capable seminar will recognize some of these tips.  The blogger over at lifehack.org has done a nice job of summing up a lot of time management tips in a short post.  Take a look…

Long Definition:

er·satz      /??r z?ts, -s?ts, ?r?z?ts, -?s?ts/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[er-zahts, -sahts, er-zahts, -sahts] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective

1.	serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain.

–noun

2.	an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitute.

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[Origin: 1870–75; < G Ersatz a substitute (deriv. of ersetzen to replace) ]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Short Definition: Substitute

Sentences: 
Did you know you can use plain unsweetened yogurt as an ersatz sour cream?
We gaving the whining puppy an ersatz mother by wrapping a ticking alarm clock in a warm blanket.

Mnemonic (you'll remember it better if you come up with your own):
Ear zits.  Yesterday I woke up and my ears were covered with huge painful zits.  I pulled out my Halloween costume and used the big fake plastic ears from my dwarf costume to cover up my own ears.  I wore those ears as substitutes.

There's nothing like a good night's sleep to put you in top form for the big exam.  Check out these helpful tips for getting more from your snoozing over at Lifehacker.

Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

One of the best ways to raise your score on the GRE and SAT verbal sections is to increase your vocabulary.  So get out your flash cards and add this to your personal panoply.  I’ll also use words like panoply, that you might see on the GRE or SAT.  Go look up words you don’t know at a site like www.dictionary.com and add them to your flashcards.

a·bey·ance /??be??ns/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[uh-bey-uh ns] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1.	temporary inactivity, cessation, or suspension: Let’s hold that problem in abeyance for a while.

2.	Law. a state or condition of real property in which title is not as yet vested in a known titleholder: an estate in abeyance.

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[Origin: 1520–30; < AF; OF abeance aspiration, lit., a gaping at or toward. See a-⁵, bay², -ance]

—Synonyms 1. remission, deferral.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

I’ve seen this word used on the GRE and SAT mainly with the first definition above.  So you can hold in abeyance the studying of the second definition until further notice.

You can see that it’s often used in the phrase “hold in abeyance.”

Short Definition: Suspension

Sample mnemonic (as always, you can use my mnemonic, but you’ll remember it better if you develop your own):
Abe Ants – Abe Lincoln is stopping traffic on a suspension bridge (holding it in abeyance) because giant, red ants are climbing on the wires, threatening to eat any vehicles that try to pass.  I picture Abe clad as a traffic cop with a top hat, shrilly blowing a whistle.  I see the giant, red ants swarming on the wires, and I can hear the wires twanging as they climb.  I can hear the traffic honking and the squeal of tires as trucks, cars, and buses try to stop in time to avoid hitting Abe.  I smell exhaust and fumes.  I can feel the cold, heavy, vibrating cables of the big, red bridge as I hang on for dear life and try to avoid the approaching ants.  Abe>Ants>Suspension.

That’s right.  The research shows that exercise optimizes your ability to learn.  Check out the full story here.

“Locksmith?  Please come as soon as you can!  It’s about to rain and I’ve locked my keys in my convertible with the top down!”  Ouch.  Most of us have done things just as painfully stupid … or, is it just me.  What’s going on?  How is it that we can sometimes behave like total neanderthals?  (I apologize if you, your relatives, or your significant other is a neanderthal.)*

The screw-up comes because we’ve bypassed our brains Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.