Childhood's End — Vocabulary
Arthur C. Clarke
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	1	top 200
subtlesubtle → subtly:working in a way that is hard to see She is working subtly against us.more Show sample from book But behind that display of sleeping force were other and much subtler weapons.7 more subtle → subtler:working in an indirect or hidden way Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle poison) working in an indirect or hidden way
	7	top 200
subtle#2making use of slight distinctions She used subtle reasoning to expose the absurdity of his argument.more Show sample from book The Supervisor did not use those actual words, of course, and the thoughts he really expressed were far more subtle.7 more difficult to understand -- often due to slight distinctions Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle difference or thinker) not obvious, but noticeable with enough insight and knowledge or: able to notice or understand things that require insight and sensitivity
	8	top 2000
descendmove downward We saw the rocket descend.more Show sample from book Their summits were streaked with snow, and the clouds above them were turning to fire as the sun descended on the last few minutes of its daily journey.9 more descend → descended:moved down Show general definition for descend (as in: descend the mountain) move or slope downward
	2	top 2000
descend#2descend → descended:came suddenly Despair descended upon us.more Show sample from book Silence descended on the murmuring crowd9 more Show general definition for descend (as in: thieves descended upon us) to come or arrive -- especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
	11	top 500
motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book He was honest enough to admit that, in the final analysis, his, main motive was simple human curiosity.†10 more Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
	2	top 1000
profounddeep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence She shared a profound way of thinking about the problem.more Show sample from book The mild alcoholic fog prevented any profound analysis of what had happened,5 more deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
	4	top 500
profound#2intense (of great emotional depth) Her apology was heartfelt--expressing profound sorrow and regret.more Show sample from book ...such natural catastrophes as earthquakes or floods, which might have a profound effect on large numbers of people...5 more very intense Show general definition for profound (as in: profound sadness) of greatest intensity or emotional depth
	7	top 100
phenomenonsomething that is of special interest It is a growing social phenomenon on high school campuses.more Show sample from book All down the ages there have been countless reports of strange phenomena--poltergeists, telepathy, precognition--which you had named but never explained.6 more phenomenon → phenomena:interesting observable things Show general definition something that exists or happened -- especially something of special interest -- sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary Show editor's word notes "Phenomenons" and "phenomena" are both appropriate plural forms of this noun. "Phenomena" is generally used in scientific or philosophical contexts.
	7	top 200
moreoverin addition to what has just been said The company has too much debt. Moreover, it is responsible for a long-term lease on expensive office space.more Show sample from book Moreover, Karellen took no action against those responsible, or even indicated that he had known of the attack.†6 more
	6	top 100
analyzeexamine in detail to better understand Analyze the situation and tell me what you think we should do.more Show sample from book It was true that some scientists, after analyzing the record of his only speech, had suggested that the voice was that of a machine.†5 more analyze → analyzing:examining in detail to better understand Show general definition to examine and consider something in detail to better understand it
	7	top 500
trivialunimportant We're in agreement on the main issues. We just have some trivial details to work out.more Show sample from book Oh yes, quite often-but only on trivial points.†6 more Show general definition of little importance -- sometimes more specifically describing a challenge as easy and uninteresting
	1	top 100
consequenceconsequence → consequences:results Your decision will have three major consequences.more Show sample from book Though it was much the largest, the Freedom League was only one of the organizations that opposed Karellen-and, consequently, the humans who co-operated with the Overlords.1 more consequence → consequently:resultantly (as a result) Show general definition for consequence (as in: a direct consequence of) a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
	1	top 1000
consequence#2consequence → consequential:important Think carefully. This is a consequential decision.more Show sample from book The fact that it was a mind not yet born was of no consequence, for Time is very much stranger than you think.†1 more importance Show general definition for consequence (as in: of little consequence) importance or relevance
	1	top 200
inhibitinhibit → inhibits:slows or prevents The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.more Show sample from book I am well aware of the fact that we have also inhibited, by the contrast between our civilizations, all other forms of creative achievement as well.1 more inhibit → inhibited:limited or restricted Show general definition for inhibit (as in: inhibited the growth of...) to limit the activity of someone or something
	1	top 500
inhibitedunable to act naturally due to being overly self-conscious She's personable and funny with her friends, but she tends to be inhibited with strangers.more Show sample from book From the Overlord's description, Jan built up a picture of a cyclopean beast living among the asteroidal rubble of some distant sun, its growth uninhibited by gravity, depending for food and life upon the range and resolving power of its single eye.†1 more inhibited → uninhibited:acting naturally without being overly self-conscious Show context notes The prefix "un-" in uninhibited means not and reverses the meaning of inhibited. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
	1	top 500
artificialmade by humans The plants look real, but they are artificial.more Show sample from book They were spaced with perfect precision along the rim of the planet-too huge to be artificial, yet too regular to be natural.1 more made by man Show general definition for artificial (as in: an artificial heart) made by humans -- often to replace something that can be found in nature
	1	top 500
artificial#2not sincere She hated his artificial humility.more Show sample from book He looked nervously at Jean, who had managed to force a somewhat artificial smile, and finally recovered his voice.1 more not genuine Show general definition for artificial (as in: an artificial smile) not sincere, pretended, or designed to impress
	7
meteormeteor → meteors:a streak of light in the night sky that results from a space rock burning in the earth's atmosphere Most meteors come from rocks that are about the size of a pebble.more Show sample from book High above, a meteor thrust its shining spear through the dome of the sky.†6 more a streak of light in the sky caused by a small space rock burning up in Earth’s atmosphere Show general definition a streak of light in the sky caused by a small space rock (a meteoroid) burning up in Earth’s atmosphere
	2	top 10
inferfigure out or guess by reasoning Which of the following facts can you infer from the first paragraph?more Show sample from book Though we can only infer its existence, there must be a great civilization behind the Supervisor-and one that's known about man for a very long time.†1 more conclude or guess by reasoning Show general definition to figure out or guess by reasoning
	4	top 1000
utopiautopia → utopian:of an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal They were the impractical utopian dreams of youth.more Show sample from book Utopia was here at last: its novelty had not yet been assailed by the supreme enemy of all Utopias-boredom.†3 more utopia → utopias:imaginary places considered to be perfect or ideal Show general definition an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal