Alice's Adventures in Wonderland — Vocabulary
Lewis Carroll
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	12	top 2000
serpentsnake There was a picture of a serpent eating its tail.more Show sample from book Serpent, I say again!11 more Show general definition a snake
	7	top 1000
solemnvery serious He took a solemn oath.more Show sample from book the Gryphon replied very solemnly.6 more solemn → solemnly:with seriousness and dignity Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
	5	top 200
indignantindignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong "I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more Show sample from book said Alice indignantly.4 more Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
	6	top 1000
melancholyvery sad She's been in a melancholy mood since her dog died.more Show sample from book Alice replied in a very melancholy voice.5 more sad Show general definition a sad feeling or manner -- sometimes thoughtfully sad
	5	top 1000
suppresssuppress → suppressed:kept from spreading She claimed that Facebook suppressed and promoted news that met a political agenda.more Show sample from book Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed.4 more suppress → suppressed:tried to keep under control Show general definition trying to keep under control The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example: "suppressed the revolution" -- to stop others from doing something by force "suppressed a smile" -- kept something from happening "suppressed the story" -- kept news from spreading "suppressed her fear" -- controlled an emotion "suppressed the memory" -- avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory) Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Suppress and repress can be interchanged; though in psychology something that is repressed is done unconsciously while something that is suppressed is done voluntarily.
	5	top 2000
sulkto overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.more Show sample from book sh!' and the Dormouse sulkily remarked, 'If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the story for yourself.'†4 more sulk → sulkily:in an excessively unhappy and unsociable manner Show general definition to be overly unhappy and unsociable -- often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
	4	top 1000
contemptlack of respect Familiarity breeds contempt.more Show sample from book 'You!' said the Caterpillar contemptuously. 'Who are YOU?'3 more contempt → contemptuously:with disrespect and dislike Show general definition for contempt (as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust Show editor's word notes A famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion". (6th century BC) When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony. The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices."
	2	top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book 'Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.1 more earnest → earnestly:sincerely Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
	3	top 1000
obligeoblige → obliges:requires The law obliges doctors to report suspected child abuse.more Show sample from book 'And that's the jury-box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve creatures,' (she was obliged to say 'creatures,' you see, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they are the jurors.'2 more oblige → obliged:required (to do something) Show general definition for oblige (as in: I am obliged by law.) require (obligate) to do something
	2	top 1000
persistpersist → persisted:continued The child persisted in asking questions despite my obvious desire to be left alone.more Show sample from book the Mock Turtle persisted.1 more persist → persisted:continued despite difficulties Show general definition to continue -- often despite difficulty or to repeat a question
	2	top 1000
coaxgently persuade Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more Show sample from book 'Poor little thing!' said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried hard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the time at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it would be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her coaxing.† coax → coaxing:trying to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuading Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
	1	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book Alice said nothing: she had never been so much contradicted in her life before, and she felt that she was losing her temper.† contradict → contradicted:disagreed Show general definition disagree in various senses, including: to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony." to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened." to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
	1	top 100
neverthelessdespite that (used to connect contrasting ideas) The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.more Show sample from book There was no label this time with the words 'DRINK ME,' but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips.† Show general definition despite that Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 was just stated, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	2	top 2000
wretchedmiserable The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more Show sample from book 'Well, I should like to be a LITTLE larger, sir, if you wouldn't mind,' said Alice: 'three inches is such a wretched height to be.'†1 more miserable or very bad Show general definition very bad in various senses, including: unfortunate or miserable -- as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor" of poor quality -- as in "wretched roads" morally bad -- as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
	2
cross-examinationthe re-questioning of a witness who has already been questioned by the other side in court Prosecutors expect to wrap up their cross-examination tomorrow.more Show sample from book The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a low voice, 'Your Majesty must cross-examine THIS witness.'†1 more cross-examination → cross-examine:careful, detailed questioning Show general definition careful, detailed questioning—especially in court, where the opposing side questions a witness after the other side has questioned them
	1	top 1000
usurpusurp → usurping:taking without authority The lawsuit claims that the Federal Government is usurping rights reserved by the Constitution for state governments.more Show sample from book William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. usurp → usurpation:the act of seizing or taking control without authority Show general definition seize or take control without authority
	1	top 2000
inquisitiveinterested in learning about things She is an inquisitive child who always asks questions.more Show sample from book The Mouse looked at her rather inquisitively, inquisitive → inquisitively:curiously (with a desire to learn about) Show general definition interested in learning about things -- often asking many questions
	1	top 2000
sagewise Can you offer some sage advice?more Show sample from book ...said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, person known for being wise Show general definition for sage (as in: sage advice) profound wisdom; or one known for being wise
	1	top 2000
morselsmall bit I ate every tasty morsel.more Show sample from book Her chin was pressed so closely against her foot, that there was hardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last, and managed to swallow a morsel of the lefthand bit.† a very small quantity Show general definition a very small quantity -- usually of food
	1
oblongan elongated shape The artist carefully painted an oblong shape on the canvas, using broad strokes to create a sense of movement.more Show sample from book First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and feet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the soldiers did.† an elongated shape (having more length than width) Show general definition an elongated shape (having more length than width) -- typically of a stretched circle that is longer than an oval, but occasionally used to describe a rectangle