Slaughterhouse-Five — Vocabulary
Kurt Vonnegut
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	1
conventionlarge conference or meeting She is at the convention in Las Vegas.more Show sample from book an international convention of optometrists in Montreal2 more formal gathering Show general definition for convention (as in: teacher's convention) a large conference or meeting
	2	top 100
convention#2convention → conventional:normal It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more Show sample from book ...where 135,000 people died as the result of an at attack with conventional weapons.2 more convention → conventional:normal or typical Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
	7	top 2000
massacrecrushing defeat Her team lost 12–0 in what can only be described as a complete massacre on the field.more Show sample from book And Billy had seen the greatest massacre in European history, which was the firebombing of Dresden.6 more the savage and excessive killing of many people Show general definition crushing defeat or brutal, overwhelming attack — used figuratively in competition and literally for violent killings
	5	top 1000
listlesslacking energy and normal enthusiasm She was listless and bored.more Show sample from book They would inevitably surface within a rectangle of barbed wire, would find themselves greeted listlessly by dying Russians who spoke no English, who had no food or useful information or escape plans of their own.4 more listless → listlessly:with a lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
	5	top 2000
incidentalminor expenses (that are not specifically described) She requested reimbursement of $10 for incidental expenses.†more Show sample from book One of the biggest moral bombshells handed to Billy by the Tralfamadorians, incidentally, had to do with sex on Earth.†4 more incidental → incidentally:of something that comes with something else, but is less important than it Show general definition for incidental (as in: an incidental expense) something that comes with something else, but is less important than it sometimes in a specialized sense, including: incidental expenses or when in context, just incidentals -- minor expenses not budgeted or not specified incidental music -- music in a play, television program, radio program, video game or some other form not primarily musical. (The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the film score or soundtrack.)
	3	top 1000
habitathabitat → habitats:the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives They are endangered due to destruction of their rainforest habitats.more Show sample from book The hold of the saucer was crammed with other stolen merchandise, which would be used to furnish Billy's artificial habitat in a zoo on Tralfamadore.†2 more Show general definition the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives
	3	top 1000
sereneserene → serenely:calmly and peacefully While I lie awake worrying, she sleeps serenely.more Show sample from book God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference.2 more serene → serenity:peace and calm Show general definition calm and untroubled
	2	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book Weary scornfully bet Billy one time that he didn't even know what a blood gutter was.†1 more scorn → scornfully:in a disrespectful or rejecting manner Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	2	top 500
anecdoteanecdote → anecdotes:short true stories Her autobiography is sprinkled with amusing anecdotes.more Show sample from book Billy Pilgrim had not heard this anecdote.1 more a short story that is true -- often told for amusement or to make a point Show general definition a short story that is true -- often told for amusement or to make a point
	2	top 500
simulateimitate or represent A computer model is used to simulate the effects of wind.more Show sample from book The head zoo keeper ordered a crane operator, who was standing by, to drop a navy blue canopy over the dome, thus simulating Earthling night inside.1 more simulate → simulating:imitating Show general definition make an imitation or representation of
	2	top 500
lamentlament → lamented:expressed grief about She lamented the loss.more Show sample from book He wondered what tragedy so many had found to lament out of doors.1 more grieve (or express grief about) Show general definition to express grief or regret
	4	top 2000
communisman economic system that abolishes private ownership of property with the goal of a classless society A challenge with communism is that it is harder to know how to allocate capital when prices are subjective rather than the product of individual valuations.†more Show sample from book We asked him how it was to live under Communism, and he said that it was terrible at first, because everybody had to work so hard, and because there wasn't much shelter or food or clothing.†3 more Show general definition an economic system that abolishes private ownership of property with the goal of a classless society
	1	top 100
advocatea person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause She is a passionate advocate for children's welfare.more Show sample from book The advocates of nuclear disarmament seem to believe that, if they could achieve their aim, war would become tolerable and decent.1 more advocate → advocates:people who publicly support Show general definition for advocate (as in: an advocate supporting) a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause or more rarely: someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
	1
advocate#2a lawyer for the military She is a U.S. Army judge advocate.more Show sample from book Billy read the opinion of a staff judge advocate who reviewed Slovik's case, which ended like this: He has directly challenged the authority of the government, and future discipline depends upon a resolute reply to this challenge.†1 more a lawyer or officer of the court in some jurisdictions in Europe, colonial America, and the military Show general definition for advocate (as in: an advocate in court) a lawyer or officer of the court in some jurisdictions in Europe, colonial America, and the military
	8
azuresky-blue The sky was a perfect shade of azure on the morning of the hike.more Show sample from book And, at the far end of the shed, Billy saw pink arches with azure draperies hanging between them, and an enormous clock, and two golden thrones, and a bucket and a mop.†7 more Show general definition a shade of blue similar to that of the sky on a clear sunny day
	1	top 500
rendergive We're waiting for the jury to render a verdict.more Show sample from book ...and the great services they rendered to Christianity.1 more render → rendered:gave Show general definition for render (as in: rendered service or a verdict) to give or supply something
	1	top 500
render#2render → rendered:played (portrayed or gave her interpretation of) The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully.more Show sample from book ...and another pamphlet of German phrases rendered in English phonetics,1 more render → rendered:translated Show general definition for render (as in: rendered interpretation) to portray or create something in a particular way; or to interpret, translate, or extract from The exact meaning of this sense of render depends upon its context. For example: "Each artist will render a different interpretation when painting a portrait." -- create in a particular way "A Supreme Court judge may render his own interpretation of the Constitution." -- interpret in a particular way "The computer you are using, rendered this page from software instructions." -- created through interpretation "A graph is rendered from the underlying data." -- made "Fat can be rendered (extracted) by cooking meat slowly." -- extracted from
	4
senile(into) mental weakness caused by old age Her memory is getting worse and she's afraid of going senile.more Show sample from book Billy has gone to sleep a senile widower and awakened on his wedding day.†3 more mental weakness caused by old age; or describing a medical condition as caused by old age Show general definition weakness from old age (especially mental weakness); or describing a medical condition as caused by old age
	2
furloughfurlough → furloughed:ordered not do come to work If a budget is not approved, non-essential Federal employees will be furloughed.more Show sample from book Billy was given an emergency furlough home because his father, a barber in Ilium, New York, was shot dead by a friend while they were out hunting deer.1 more temporary leave from work or duty Show general definition a temporary leave from work, duty, or confinement, usually granted by an employer, the military, or an institution Show editor's word notes Furloughs are often without pay in private companies, but government workers are sometimes furloughed with pay, especially during shutdowns. A prison furlough is a temporary release from prison, usually for a specific reason, like visiting family or attending a funeral.
	2
pneumaticair-powered She sent the documents through a pneumatic tube system that carried them across the building.more Show sample from book We were connected to the institutions that supported us by means of pneumatic tubes which ran under the streets of Chicago.†1 more of or relating to or using air (or gas) under pressure Show general definition of or relating to or using air (or gas) under pressure