EVINCE is a challenging word that means to reveal, show, or display a feeling, quality, or trait. The hit movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the great Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer provide vivid examples of EVINCE. Let’s take a look!
Spider-Man (aka Peter Parker) spends most of his time fighting crime in New York City. However, he regularly visits the grave of his beloved Aunt May. These silent visits EVINCE the deep, lingering grief Peter carries for his aunt. The quote on her tombstone - “When you help someone, you help everyone” – provides Spider-Man with a moral compass that guides his career as a champion of justice.
SAT test writers may or may not be aware of Spider-Man. But they are definitely aware of the renowned 17th century Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. A recent vocabulary in context question pointed out that Vermeer’s iconic masterworks EVINCE a number of signature traits that include richly detailed portraits of quiet interior domestic scenes, a masterful handling of natural light, and the prominent use of luminous yellow pigments.
The Vermeer question included ESCHEW as a tempting wrong answer. ESCHEW means to deliberately avoid or abstain from something. Although ESCHEW has been a correct answer on several recent tests, it can also be a wrong answer!
EVINCE – to clearly reveal, show, or demonstrate something
ESCHEW – to deliberately avoid, shun, or abstain from something