Can you identify the machines shown in the pictures that form the border of today’s image? Look closely and you will see manual typewriters and rotary phone. At one time these machines were an essential and ubiquitous part of everyday life. But now they are ARCHIAC or out of date tools that have been replaced by word processors and cell phones.
At this point I often say that “of course, SAT test writers are not interested in….” But not today! SAT test writers are interested in ARCHAIC machines AND ARCHAIC names. For example, a vocabulary in context question on the 2026 March-April School Days text featured a discussion about how early 19th century Americans called female doctors “petticoat practitioners.” Of course, this name is now totally ARCHAIC!
The question also used ANACHRONISTIC as a tempting but incorrect wrong answer. While ARCHAIC is used to describe something that is out of date, ANACHRONISTIC is used to describe something that is in the wrong time. For example, if a petticoat practitioner had used a cell phone to call in a prescription that would have been an ANACNRONISM!
ARCHAIC – old and out of date; no longer in use
ANACHRONISTIC – something that is chronologically out of place