Anthem — Vocabulary
Ayn Rand
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
7 top 500
perishbe destroyed or cease to exist
...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln  —  Gettysburg Addressmore
Show sample from book
They perish from hunger and from the claws of the wild beasts...6 more
die
Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way

or:

to be destroyed or cease to exist
Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought."  It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
3 top 1000
heedheed → heedlessness:pay close attention to
Heed the advice of those who have been there before.more
Show context notes The suffix "-lessness" in heedlessness means in a state without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearlessness, powerlessness, and harmlessness.
Show sample from book
But men paid no heed to their warning.2 more
attention
Show general definition pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested -- especially with regard to a warning or other advice
2 top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more
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we saw that their eyes, so hard and scornful to the world, were looking at...1 more
scorn → scornful:disrespectful
Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
2 top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more
Show sample from book
He will be taught reverence for his own spirit.1 more
revere → reverence:deep respect
Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
4 top 2000
ravinedeep, narrow, steep-sided valley
The car plunged into a 15-foot ravine.more
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We burn the wood we find in the ravine.3 more
Show general definition a deep, narrow, steep-sided gorge or valley -- especially one formed by running water
2 top 1000
peasantpeasant → peasants:an historical term describing people of low income, education, and social standing
Most people in the Middle Ages were peasants.more
Show sample from book
The women who have been assigned to work the soil live in the Homes of the Peasants beyond the City.†1 more
peasant → peasants:used historically or possibly in relation to a very poor country:  people of low income, education, and social standing -- especially those who raise crops or livestock
Show general definition used historically or possibly in relation to a very poor country:  a person of low income, education, and social standing -- especially one who raises crops or livestock
2 top 2000
daisraised platform
She was seated on the inaugural dais near the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.more
Show sample from book
And the Council of Vocations sat on a high dais, and they had but two words to speak to each of the Students.1 more
Show general definition a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to people on it
2 top 2000
agonyintense suffering
She was in agony from a toothache.more
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There was no pain in their eyes and no knowledge of the agony of their body.†1 more
Show general definition intense feelings of suffering -- can be from mental or physical pain
1 top 500
devisecome up with (invent or create)
She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more
Show sample from book
We shall be forgiven for anything we say tonight......Tonight, after more days and trials than we can count, we finished building a strange thing, from the remains of the Unmentionable Times, a box of glass, devised to give forth the power of the sky of greater strength than we had ever achieved before.†
devise → devised:came up with (invented or created)
Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
1 top 500
gendermale/female/trans
Gender roles were more defined when my grandmother was growing up.more
Show sample from book
There were five members of the Council, three of the male gender and two of the female.†
male, female, or any of many trans categories
Show general definition for gender (as in: gender discrimination) male or female

or (especially regarding self-identification): the state of being male, female, or in any of many trans categories
Show editor's word notes While the word sex can almost always be substituted for this meaning of gender, gender is typically used in reference to cultural or social differences, while sex is typically used for biological differences.
1 top 1000
avertavert → averted:turned away
She averted her eyes from the violence on TV.more
Show sample from book
Their face did not move and they did not avert their eyes.
turn away
Show general definition for avert (as in: avert her eyes) turn away or aside -- often to turn your eyes away from something
1 top 1000
solemnvery serious
He took a solemn oath.more
Show sample from book
We walked through empty passages and into the great hall where the World Council of Scholars sat in solemn meeting.
serious and dignified
Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
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ponderthink about
The question the audience is left to ponder is...more
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The nature of our punishment, if it be discovered, is not for the human heart to ponder.
reflect deeply on a subject
Show general definition to think deeply or carefully about something
1 top 1000
endeavorendeavor → endeavored:tried or attempted
I endeavored to get both sides to agree to a compromise.more
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What is the secret our heart has understood and yet will not reveal to us, although it seems to beat as if it were endeavoring to tell it?†
endeavor → endeavoring:trying or attempting
Show general definition to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
18 top 1000
transgresstransgress → transgressed:violated
Her actions transgressed the boundaries of acceptable behavior.more
Show sample from book
For our gift is greater than our transgression.17 more
transgress → transgression:breaking of rules
Show general definition to violate a rule, promise, or social norm
4 top 500
solidarityagreement and mutual support
The incident threatens Arab solidarity.more
Show sample from book
"Many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas in the past," said Solidarity 8-1164, "but when the majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men must."†3 more
a state of agreement and support -- especially for political action
Show general definition a state of agreement and support -- especially for political action
5
pyrepyre → pyres:piles of wood or other burnable materials
While cremation is not uncommon in the western world, open air funeral pyres are typically illegal.more
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As the chains were wound over their body at the stake, and a flame set to the pyre,4 more
stacked wood (to burn a body)
Show general definition a pile of wood or other burnable material -- especially to burn a dead body as in a funeral rite
1 top 2000
creedset of beliefs
Freedom of religion allows people to follow any creed they choose without fear of persecution.more
Show sample from book
But I am done with this creed of corruption.†
any system of principles or beliefs
Show general definition any system of principles or beliefs
1 top 2000
defiledefile → defiled:polluted
They defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it.more
Show sample from book
Let each man keep his temple untouched and undefiled.†
defile → undefiled:unspoiled (beautiful or pure)
Show context notes The prefix "un-" in undefiled means not and reverses the meaning of defiled. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
Show general definition to spoil the beauty or purity of something
in various senses, including:
  • pollute a pristine lake
  • harm a reputation or good name
  • damage or disrespect something sacred
  • take a person's virginity in a disrespectful way
1 top 2000
sagewise
Can you offer some sage advice?more
Show sample from book
by which the fools steal the wisdom of the sages.
sage → sages:wise people
Show general definition for sage (as in: sage advice) profound wisdom; or one known for being wise