The True Meaning of ‘Enormity’: A Crucial SAT Vocabulary Lesson
Discover the often misunderstood definition of ‘enormity’ and learn how to use it correctly for SAT success. This video explains the word’s true meaning, its history, and common usage errors to help you ace your vocabulary questions and improve your overall English language skills.
Did you know that one of the most misused words in the English language is hiding in plain sight on your SAT vocabulary list?
Today, we’re tackling the word enormity, a term that’s often used incorrectly even by native English speakers.
Word type: Enormity is a noun, pronounced ih-NOR-mi-tee.
Meaning: Contrary to popular belief, enormity doesn’t primarily refer to something of enormous size.
Its true meaning is great wickedness, or an act of extreme evil or moral outrage. This misconception is so widespread that some dictionaries now include a secondary definition related to great size, but on the SAT, you’ll want to stick with the primary meaning.
Word history: Enormity comes from the Latin word enormitas, meaning hugeness or immensity. Over time, its usage shifted to describe actions so outside the norm that they were considered extremely wicked or outrageous.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for enormity include righteousness, virtue, and morality.
Synonyms: Synonyms include atrocity, wickedness, monstrosity, and outrage.
Examples use in sentences: The enormity of the genocide shocked the international community. The judge’s ruling emphasized the enormity of the corporate fraud that had devastated thousands of lives.
History books often fail to convey the true enormity of war crimes committed during times of conflict.
Common errors in use: Many people mistakenly use enormity to simply mean very large size. For instance, you might hear someone say, The enormity of the new stadium is impressive.
This usage is considered incorrect in formal contexts and on standardized tests like the SAT. Instead, words like enormousness, immensity, or vastness would be more appropriate in such cases.
Understanding the true meaning of enormity is crucial for SAT success. Not only will it help you answer vocabulary questions correctly, but it will also improve your reading comprehension and essay writing.
Remember, when you encounter enormity on the SAT, think wickedness or moral outrage, not just big size.
This nuanced understanding of vocabulary is exactly what the SAT aims to test, so mastering words like enormity can give you a significant advantage.
