A Room of One's Own — Vocabulary
Virginia Woolf
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	11	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, I recollected, as I put this plan into execution, it is in this famous library that the manuscript of Thackeray's ESMOND is also preserved.†10 more
	2	top 1000
obscurenot clearly understood For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.more Show sample from book For here again we come within range of that very interesting and obscure masculine complex which has had so much influence upon the woman's movement; that deep-seated desire, not so much that SHE shall be inferior as that HE shall be superior, which plants him wherever one looks, not only in front of the arts, but barring the way to politics too, even when the risk to himself seems infinitesimal and the suppliant humble and devoted.6 more little understood Show general definition for obscure (as in: the view or directions are obscure) not clearly seen, understood, or expressed Show editor's word notes Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can refer to difficulty with any type of detection as when something is hard to hear. It can also more specifically mean vague, or mysterious, or unknown by anyone. Much more rarely, it can mean secretive.
	5	top 1000
obscure#2not known to many people The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.more Show sample from book ...thanks to the toils of those obscure women in the past, of whom I wish we knew more,6 more Show general definition for obscure (as in: the famous and the obscure) not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished Show editor's word notes More rarely, this meaning of obscure can be used for:<ul><li>seemingly unimportant -- as in "I want her on the team. She always seems to ask obscure questions that reveal problems in a different light."</li><li>humble (typically only found in classic literature) -- as in "Nobody at the table would have guessed of her obscure family background."</li></ul>
	15	top 2000
inferiorof lower quality Nazis believed other races were inferior.more Show sample from book I have referred to Professor X and given prominence to his statement that women are intellectually, morally and physically inferior to men.†14 more (adjective) of low quality, or of lower quality or rank than something else OR (more rarely as a noun) a person of lower rank or status Show general definition of low quality, or of lower quality or rank than something else -- sometimes used as a noun to refer to a person of lower rank or status
	10	top 500
perpetualcontinuing forever A perpetual flame burns beside the grave of John F. Kennedy.more Show sample from book On the further bank the willows wept in perpetual lamentation, their hair about their shoulders.†9 more continuing forever without change; OR occurring so frequently it seems constant Show general definition continuing forever without change; or occurring so frequently it seems constant
	8
innumerabletoo numerous to be counted She has been the target of innumerable investigations.more Show sample from book Innumerable beadles were fitting innumerable keys into well-oiled locks; the treasure-house was being made secure for another night.†7 more
	6	top 1000
grievancegrievance → grievances:complaints The First Amendment also says Congress will make no law depriving the right of people to peaceably "assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."more Show sample from book On the contrary, it is harassed and distracted with hates and grievances.†5 more Show general definition the cause of a complaint (real or imagined); or the complaint in formally written form
	4	top 200
dubiousquestionable or unreliable The theory is based on dubious evidence that hasn’t been verified.more Show sample from book But this is all 'dubious gossip'3 more doubtful (not to be relied upon) Show general definition doubtful, questionable, or suspicious -- especially in a way that makes something seem unreliable, improper, or uncertain doubtful in various senses, including: questionable or doubtful that something should be relied upon -- as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption." suspicious or doubtful that something is morally proper -- as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors." bad or of questionable value -- as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes." uncertain or doubtful -- as in "She is dubious about making the change."
	5	top 1000
predominantpredominant → predominantly:most commonly In the summer, our afternoon breezes come predominantly from the southwest.more Show sample from book In modern tragedy the same predominance exists.†4 more predominant → predominance:most frequent, common, or important; OR having more power and influence Show general definition most frequent, common, or important; or having more power and influence
	4	top 500
devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book Jane Austen looked at it and laughed at it and devised a perfectly natural, shapely sentence proper for her own use and never departed from it.†3 more 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
	3	top 100
precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more Show sample from book Both in France and in England the women poets precede the women novelists.†2 more to go or do before Show general definition to go or do before
	4	top 500
venerablerespected They looked to the venerable old woman for advice.more Show sample from book Venerable and calm, with all its treasures safe locked within its breast, it sleeps complacently and will, so far as I am concerned, so sleep for ever.†3 more respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position Show general definition respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position
	4	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 Speaking crudely, football and sport are 'important'; the worship of fashion, the buying of clothes 'trivial'.†3 more Show general definition of little importance -- sometimes more specifically describing a challenge as easy and uninteresting
	5	top 1000
prejudiceunreasonable and unfair belief or feeling The group works to eliminate racial prejudice.more Show sample from book Perhaps if I lay bare the ideas, the prejudices, that lie behind this statement you will find that they have some bearing upon women and some upon fiction.†4 more prejudice → prejudices:bias that prevents objective consideration Show general definition bias that prevents objective consideration -- especially an unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
	3
satirecriticism in a humorous way The play is a sharp satire of celebrity culture, mocking our obsession with fame.more Show sample from book This heat took many forms; it showed itself in satire, in sentiment, in curiosity, in reprobation.†2 more a way of making fun of people or ideas -- often through exaggeration Show general definition for satire (as in: wrote a satire) a way of making fun of people or ideas -- often through exaggeration
	2	top 2000
gesticulategesticulate → gesticulations:gestures (hand or body movements) made while speaking or to express something The moderator turned her microphone off, leaving us to see her gesticulations, but not hear her words.more Show sample from book Nor did I at first understand that the gesticulations of a curious-looking object, in a cut-away coat and evening shirt, were aimed at me.†1 more Show general definition to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
	2
dispassionateunaffected by strong emotion or bias She has a reputation as a dispassionate judge.more Show sample from book When an arguer argues dispassionately he thinks only of the argument; and the reader cannot help thinking of the argument too.†1 more dispassionate → dispassionately:in a manner that is unaffected by strong emotion or bias
	2
retinuegroup (of people following and attending to an important person) The celebrity was accompanied by a large retinue of assistants and bodyguards.more Show sample from book The partridges, many and various, came with all their retinue of sauces and salads, the sharp and the sweet, each in its order; their potatoes, thin as coins but not so hard; their sprouts, foliated as rosebuds but more succulent.†1 more a group of people following and attending to an important person Show general definition a group of people following and attending to an important person
	2
sequela book that continues the story in a prior book It was in the sequel to the first Harry Potter book.more Show sample from book The inevitable sequel to lunching and dining at Oxbridge seemed, unfortunately, to be a visit to the British Museum.†1 more something that follows and continues something else Show general definition something that follows and continues something else -- especially a film or book or more rarely: something that follows as a result of something else
	1	top 200
obsoleteno longer in general use because it was replaced by something better My mother still has a twenty-year-old obsolete computer in storage.more Show sample from book As I leant against the wall the University indeed seemed a sanctuary in which are preserved rare types which would soon be obsolete if left to fight for existence on the pavement of the Strand.† Show general definition no longer in general use because it was replaced by something better