The Outsiders — Vocabulary
S. E. Hinton
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
6 top 1000
bewilderbewilder → bewildered:confused
  "Listen to me, Pony. You didn't do anything. It was your friend Johnny that had the knife..."
  I was bewildered.p.165.75 more
Show context notes Ponyboy is in shock after Johnny kills Bob defending him—he can barely comprehend the violence or that Johnny, not he, used the knife.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more
confuse
Show general definition to confuse someone
2 top 100
criticalserious or dangerous
He was in critical condition.p.102.51 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
It is of critical importance.more
highly important
Show general definition for critical (as in: a critical problem) important, serious, or dangerous
3 top 500
appealappeal → appealed:were attractive
But I realized that these three appealed to me because they were like the heroes in the novels I read.p.76.52 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She has an appealing smile.more
appeal → appealing:attractive
Show general definition for appeal (as in: appeals to youthful tastes) attractiveness or desirability; or to be attractive or desirable
2 top 100
compositionwritten essay
Now I was lucky to get a D on a composition.p.169.61 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Her latest composition blends classical melodies with modern electronic beats.more
original musical creation
Show general definition for composition (as in: an original composition) a creative work, the way the creative work is put together, or the act of creating it
Show editor's word notes Context will sometimes make clear that the creative work is the writing of music or an essay, but it can anything -- such as the way the components of a picture are arranged.
4 top 1000
contemptdisrespect
...maybe Paul felt only contempt and pity and hate for greasers?p.142.63 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Familiarity breeds contempt.more
lack of respect
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."
3 top 1000
deliriumdelirium → delirious:in a state of mental confusion
What all did I say while I was delirious?p.159.52 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She should not be left alone in case the fever returns and makes her delirious.more
delirium → delirious:mentally confused
Show general definition for delirium (as in: fever induced delirium) a usually brief state of mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations
Show editor's word notes Delirium can result from high fever, intoxication, withdrawal, brain injury, and many other causes.
2 top 200
indignantindignant → indignantly:with annoyance at something unjust
Soda looked back at him indignantly.p.159.11 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
"I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more
indignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
2 top 1000
environmentsurrounding conditions
I hoped they hated us, that they weren't full of that pity-the-victims-of-environment junk the social workers kept handing Curly Shepard every time he got sent off to reform school.p.162.71 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Cactus survives in the harsh desert environment.more
Show general definition for environment (as in: her family environment) surrounding conditions
in various senses, including:
  • conditions in a location or geographic area -- as in "the desert environment"
  • conditions that affect a particular activity -- as in "the learning environment"
  • conditions that create a certain mood -- as in "a competitive environment," or "a romantic environment,"
  • conditions that impact a particular computer system, subsystem, or program -- as in "the Windows environment"
1 top 100
engageengage → engaged:involved
They were engaged in some wild conversation that made no sense to anyone but themselves.p.39.1
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She engaged in conduct that is a violation of the honor code.more
engage → engaged:was involved
Show general definition for engage (as in: engage in conversation) to interact in various ways -- such as to participate, involve, interest, or attract
The exact meaning of this sense of engage depends upon its context. For example:
  • "They engaged in debate." -- participated
  • "She engaged him in conversation." -- involved
  • "She is an engaging conversationalist." -- interesting
  • "She has an engaging smile." -- attractive (attracting interest and interaction)
  • "The proposal engages the interest of many young voters." -- attracts and involves
  • "She engages with her constituents." -- interacts in a meaningful way
  • "She engaged in foolish behavior." -- entered into
1 top 100
genuinereal
Darry spun around to face me, genuine fear on his face.p.110.2
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I am genuinely sorry for what I did.more
genuine → genuinely:sincerely
Show general definition real (as when a person is sincere or an object is not a replica or fake)
2 top 2000
testifyprovide oral evidence in court
She said she ... would testify that the Socs were drunk and looking for a fight and that you fought back in self-defense.p.86.11 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She testified against the robber.more
testify → testified:provided oral evidence in court
Show general definition provide evidence of something -- especially to say something under oath in a court of law
1 top 200
apprehensiveworried
He was pretty well crocked, which made me apprehensive.p.59.2
Show context notes In this context, crocked means drunk.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She is apprehensive about her new job.more
Show general definition worried over possible misfortune
7 top 2000
themeessay
I wondered for a long time how to start that theme, how to start writing about something that was important to me.p.180.66 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She has us write a 500-word theme every other week.more
an essay written by a student
Show general definition for theme (as in: wrote a 2-page theme on my summer) an essay written by a student

(This sense of theme is much rarer in recent decades than in the past.)
2 top 2000
doggeddogged → doggedly:with continuing effort despite difficulties
"My parents," Johnny repeated doggedly, "did they ask about me?"p.88.11 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She worked with dogged determination.more
continuing effort to achieve something despite difficulties
Show general definition for dogged (as in: dogged determination) continuing effort to achieve something despite difficulties (persistent effort)
1 top 100
conformconform → conformity:to fit in (to go along with the group)
Soda fought for fun, Steve for hatred, Darry for pride, and Two-Bit for conformity.p.137.5
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Most teenagers are surprisingly conformist within their subgroup.more
conform → conformist:someone who thinks and acts like others in a group
Show general definition to comply, fit in, or be similar to what is normal
1 top 2000
eludeelude → eluded:escaped understanding by
I was trying to find the meaning the poet had in mind, but it eluded me.p.78.1
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
What you are seeing in her eludes me.more
elude → eludes:is not understood by
Show general definition for elude (as in: your point eludes me) to escape understanding, memory, or achievement
1
premonitiona feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen -- especially something bad
But this church gave me a kind of creepy feeling. What do you call it? Premonition?p.67.2
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She had a premonition that her child would be hurt.more
a feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen
1
acquitacquit → acquitted:officially found "not guilty"
Then he said I was acquitted and the whole case was closed.p.168.9
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
It took the jury only 30 minutes to acquit her of the murder charge.more
officially find "not guilty"
Show general definition for acquit (as in: she was acquitted) to officially find "not guilty" of criminal charges
Show editor's word notes Being acquitted does not mean the court declared the person innocent. It simply means there was not enough evidence to prove guilt according to the law.

The amount of evidence required depends on the type of case. In a criminal case, where someone could go to prison, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt—a very high standard. In a civil case, a lawsuit usually about money, the plaintiff only needs to show that the defendant is responsible more likely than not—a much lower standard.

This is why the same person can be found "not guilty" in a criminal trial (their guilt was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt) but still be found guilty in a civil trial for the same actions (because their guilt was more likely than not).
3 top 2000
ornerybad-tempered or grouchy
Dally was his usual mean, ornery self.p.124.32 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I avoid contact when he's in an ornery mood.more
cranky (easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue)
Show general definition for ornery (as in: is ornery when she first wakes up) quick to get annoyed, complain, argue, and be uncooperative
5 top 200
tonequality of voice expressing an attitude
"That's the greaser that jockeys for the Slash J sometime," she said, as if we couldn't hear her. I had heard the same tone a million times: "Greaser… greaser… greaser."p.21.84 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Which of the following words best maintains the tone established in this passage.more
general feeling
Show general definition for tone (as in: the tone of the essay) the general feeling, mood, or attitude of something -- especially of something said or written