The Kite Runner — Vocabulary
Khaled Hosseini
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
10 top 2000
refugeerefugee → refugees:people fleeing their homeland
Instead, the war raged on, this time between Afghans, the Mujahedin, against the Soviet puppet government of Najibullah, and Afghan refugees kept flocking to Pakistan.p.184.19 more
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We're asking for humanitarian aid to assist and resettle the refugees.more
refugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation
Show general definition someone who has fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation; or related to such people
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hobbledwalked with difficulty
I locked the door and hobbled to the manager's office in the lobby, one hand clutching the rail along the walkway for support.p.313.78 more
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After injuring her ankle, she hobbled between classes.more
Show general definition for hobbled (as in: she hobbled up the hill) walked with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment)

or:

hindered (made the action or progress of something difficult)
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curtusing few words to the point of being rude
"That's my business," I said. I didn't know what had emboldened me to be so curt, maybe the fact that I thought I was going to die anyway.p.285.77 more
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Her response was so curt it was almost rude.more
brief (using few words)
Show general definition brief to the point of rudeness
4 top 1000
furtivecautious (taking pains to avoid being observed)
Sohrab looked down at his feet, but kept stealing shy, furtive glances at me.p.280.93 more
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Despite her attempt to look interested, her teacher did not miss her furtive glances at the clock.more
done in a way that attempts to avoid notice
Show general definition taking pains to avoid being observed

or:

in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
2 top 100
passagea short part of a longer written work
Sometimes tears pooled in Hassan's eyes as I read him this passage, and I always wondered whom he wept for, the grief-stricken Rostam who tears his clothes and covers his head with ashes, or the dying Sohrab who only longed for his father's love?p.29.81 more
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Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.more
Show general definition for passage (as in: In lines 1-9 of the passage...) a short part of a longer written work
Show editor's word notes This meaning of passage is commonly seen on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
2 top 100
conveyconvey → conveyed:communicated or expressed
Baba nodded and gave a thin smile that conveyed little more than feigned interest.p.31.61 more
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She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more
communicate or express
Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her thoughts) communicate or express
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precedeprecede → preceded:went before
His well-earned reputation for savagery preceded him on the streets.p.38.31 more
Show context notes This is a way of saying people knew Assef was savage even before they met him.
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Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more
precede → preceded:were before in time
Show general definition to go or do before
2 top 100
omitomit → omitted:left out
Let's assume the story you gave me is true, though I'd bet my pension a good deal of it is either fabricated or omitted.p.330.41 more
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She recounted the whole story except that she omitted names.more
Show general definition to exclude or neglect something
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tracesmall quantity or indication
"I'm sorry, the cabbies in this town are sharks," he said in perfect English, without a trace of an accent.p.335.111 more
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There was not a trace of the defendant's DNA at the crime scene.more
a tiny quantity or indication
Show general definition for trace (as in: found a trace of) a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • a small indication that something was present -- as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
  • a very small amount of something -- as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
  • any evidence of something -- as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
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trace#2trace → tracing:following
"Me neither," he said, his eyes tracing the bird's circular flight.p.321.811 more
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They followed a path that traces along the edges of a dark forest.more
trace → traces:follows or runs
Show general definition for trace (as in: traced a path) to follow
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • "The hunters traced the deer into the woods." -- followed or tracked
  • "With soft kisses, she gently traced the scar running down his cheek." -- followed
  • "The path traces along the edge of the forest." -- follows
  • "A single tear traced its way down her cheek." -- followed a specific path
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interpretinterpret → interpreted:understood (in a particular way)
Up to that point, our encounter could have been interpreted as a respectful inquiry, one man asking for the whereabouts of another man.p.146.6
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I don't know how to interpret her smile.more
understand (In this case: Why did she smile? What does it mean?)
Show general definition for interpret (as in: her interpretation of the data) to understand or explain something in a particular way -- often the meaning or significance of something
140
Kabulcapital and largest city of Afghanistan
"He says someday we'll have television in Kabul," I said.p.57.7139 more
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Kabul is thought to be over 3,500 years old.more
the capital and largest city of Afghanistan
Show general definition the capital and largest city of Afghanistan; located in eastern Afghanistan
33 top 2000
Talibanfundamentalist Islamic political and military organization
A few weeks later, the Taliban banned kite fighting.p.213.932 more
Show context notes In this context, fundamentalist refers to the belief that basic religious principles should be strictly enforced. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s and were infamous for their brutality.
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The Taliban enforce a strict Muslim code of behavior.more
a fundamentalist Islamic political faction that rules Afghanistan
Show general definition a fundamentalist Islamic political faction that rules Afghanistan

(A fundamentalist is someone who strongly believes in old, traditional forms of a religion.)
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AllahIslamic way of referencing God
May Allah be with you always.p.218.419 more
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The word Allah has been used by Arabic people since pre-Islamic times.more
Show general definition Islamic way of referencing God
Show editor's word notes "Allah" literally means "the God" who is said by Islamics to have 99 names such as "The Merciful" and "The Compassionate". Allah is a contraction of the words "al" (the) and "ilah" (God).
16 top 2000
QuranQuran → Koran:sacred writings of Islam
Bowing my head to the ground, I recited half-forgotten verses from the Koran—p.154.715 more
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Many of the people and events recounted in Quran are also recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.more
the sacred writings of Islam
Show general definition Islam:  the sacred writings of Islam said to be revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
33
mullaha Muslim religious teacher or leader
When I was in fifth grade, we had a mullah who taught us about Islam.p.15.832 more
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Do as the mullah says, not as he does.more
1
fabricatefabricate → fabricated:made up (not true)
Let's assume the story you gave me is true, though I'd bet my pension a good deal of it is either fabricated or omitted.p.330.4
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She fabricated the story and repeated it under oath.more
fabricate → fabricated:made up something false
Show general definition for fabricate (as in: fabricate a story) make up something false
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utterutter → utterly:completely
I felt utterly alone.p.274.97 more
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She suffered utter devastation when her child died in the accident.more
complete
Show general definition for utter (as in: utter stupidity) complete or total (used as an intensifier--typically when stressing how bad something is)
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gravegrave → gravely:in a serious and solemn manner
"What I'm asking from you is to grant an old man his dying wish," he said gravely.p.221.76 more
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Her smile disappeared as she suddenly realized the gravity of her situation.more
grave → gravity:seriousness or importance (weightiness)
Show general definition for grave (as in: Her manner was grave.) serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." -- important, dangerous, or causing worry
  • "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." -- sad or solemn
  • "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." -- in a sincere and serious manner
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accompanyaccompany → accompanied:traveled with
The other day, I accompanied Farzana Jan to the bazaar to buy some potatoes and naan.p.216.4
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The nurse accompanies the old woman everywhere.more
accompany → accompanies:travels with
Show general definition for accompany (as in: accompany on the journey) to travel along with