The Spy Who Came In From The Cold — Vocabulary
John Le Carre
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	8	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show sample from book Still keeping Mundt's identity a close secret, they connived at Riemeck's enlistment and enabled indirect contact to be established between Mundt and the Berlin command.8 more Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
	1	top 100
establish#2establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more Show sample from book It occurred to me," Fiedler continued after a slight pause, "that you could still help us to establish whether any of that money was ever drawn.†8 more show, determine, or understand Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	20	top 2000
interrogateinterrogate → interrogation:the process of aggressively asking questions The CIA's controversial interrogation program lasted from 2002 to 2007.more Show sample from book I reckon you'll need about three days for a preliminary interrogation.19 more interrogate → interrogation:the process of asking a series of questions of someone Show general definition ask a series of questions of someone -- typically asked by law enforcement officials or by someone in an aggressive manner
	14	top 2000
sentryperson standing guard She successfully bluffed her way past the sentry.more Show sample from book There was still the lonely sentry on the bridge, and he had turned and was watching Karl.†13 more someone who stands guard Show general definition someone who stands guard
	12	top 1000
persistpersist → persisted:continued The child persisted in asking questions despite my obvious desire to be left alone.more Show sample from book But the rumors persisted.11 more Show general definition to continue -- often despite difficulty or to repeat a question
	12	top 2000
personnelemployees The company hired additional personnel to manage the increased workload during the holiday seasonmore Show sample from book responsible for allocating currency, equipment and personnel for special tasks.11 more employees of an organization Show general definition people employed by an organization or members of the military
	11	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 cannot build communism without doing away with individualism.10 more an economic system that abolishes private ownership of property in a classless society
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collaboratework together on a common enterprise or project The websites lets you collaborate with others on documents.†more Show sample from book The People's Prosecutor, in collaboration with Comrade Mundt, will no doubt consider what action is to be taken against...7 more collaborate → collaboration:the act of working together Show general definition work together on a common enterprise or project or more rarely and especially in the form collaborator: cooperate with the enemy as a traitor
	9	top 1000
contemptlack of respect Familiarity breeds contempt.more Show sample from book marked his file for review at the end of every year--stubborn, willful, contemptuous of instruction,8 more contempt → contemptuous:disrespectful 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."
	7	top 500
techniqueway of doing something She developed a new surgical technique that shortens recovery time.more Show sample from book But he went carefully after that, told Karl much less, used more of the hocus-pocus of espionage technique.†6 more Show general definition a way of doing something; or the methods used to do it well
	9	top 2000
socialisman economic system based on government ownership and control of all companies -- with the ideal of equal benefits to all people She believes that more socialism would be more fair.more Show sample from book This is a grand opportunity for our comrades to profit from the experiences of a young socialist system.8 more socialism → socialist:a person who wants an economic system based on government ownership or control of all important companies -- with the ideal of equal benefits to all people Show general definition an economic system based on government ownership or control of all important companies -- with the ideal of equal benefits to all people
	8	top 1000
retortquickly reply She wanted to retort that he that he sounded foolish, but she made herself count to ten and thought better of it.more Show sample from book "I think I can manage my buttons now," Leamas retorted.†7 more retort → retorted:quickly replied Show general definition for retort (as in: quick retort) a quick reply to a question or remark -- especially a witty or critical one
	7	top 1000
discernnotice or see (something that is not obvious) The second picture has more pixels, but the human eye can't discern the difference.more Show sample from book Vainly he tried to discern the figure that must be standing in the doorway, but there was no light6 more see (something that is hard to see) Show general definition to notice or understand something -- often something that is not obvious
	1	top 2000
minutetiny Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.more Show sample from book She remembered, in the fevered condition of her mind, how, as a child, she had been horrified to learn that with every step she made, thousands of minute creatures were destroyed beneath her foot; and now, whether she had lied or told the truth—or even, she was sure, had kept silent—she had been forced to destroy a human being; perhaps two, for was there not also the Jew, Fiedler, who had been gentle with her, taken her arm and told her to go back to England?10 more Show general definition for minute (as in: minute size) small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
	10
minuteswritten record of what happens at a meeting The secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting.more Show sample from book Leamas developed them that night: one film contained as usual the minutes of the Praesidium's last meeting;10 more formal notes (from a meeting) Show general definition for minutes (as in: keep the minutes) a written record of what happened at a meeting
	7
aliasalternative name She is thought to be living under an alias in Los Angeles.more Show sample from book All I knew was the alias.†6 more Show general definition an alternative name Show editor's word notes In some contexts, an "alias" refers to a false name -- as in one used by a criminal. In other instances, it may be a common name by which someone is known, but which is not on their birth certificate. In computer software, aliases are commonly used to provide shortened names that identify files within a local scope.
	6
liquidatesell off (assets) After the company declared bankruptcy, it was forced to liquidate all its assets to pay back creditors.more Show sample from book Stalin said so—" he smiled drily, "it is not fashionable to quote Stalin—but he said once 'Half a million liquidated is a statistic, and one man killed in a traffic accident is a national tragedy.'†5 more liquidate → liquidated:To settle or dispose of something completely Show general definition To settle or dispose of something completely -- especially by selling assets or forcefully eliminating a person or thing
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discreditdamage the reputation of She spoke only of her strengths, but others on her campaign staff worked to discredit her opponent.more Show sample from book "We really must discredit Mundt," he said.†3 more Show general definition damage the reputation of -- often causing distrust of or disbelief in
	4	top 2000
perfunctorydone without much interest or effort She gave us menus and a perfunctory smile.more Show sample from book The young Dutch officer gave a perfunctory glance at their luggage and passports and announced in awkward, throaty English, "I hope you have a pleasant stay in the Netherlands."3 more Show general definition done without much interest or effort -- especially as when dispensing with a formality
	3	top 2000
squaliddirty and unpleasant She lives in a squalid overcrowded apartment in the poorest part of town.more Show sample from book His flat was small and squalid, done in brown paint with photographs of Clovelly.†2 more dirty and unpleasant;; OR (more rarely) immoral Show general definition dirty and unpleasant; or (more rarely) immoral