Westside Story — Vocabulary
Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by scene of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	2	top 1000
immigrateimmigrate → immigrated:came to live (from another country) About 1 of each 8 people in the United States immigrated from somewhere else.more Show sample from book An immigrant goes to America1 more immigrate → immigrant:person who comes to live in a new country Show general definition come to live in a new country
	2	top 1000
deprivedeprive → deprived:left without a basic comfort The storm deprived the town of electricity.more Show sample from book It keeps us deprived kids off the foul streets.†1 more deprive → deprived:lacking things most people enjoy Show general definition to take away or keep from having
	1	top 100
primarilymainly Did the author mention multiple companies primarily to demonstrate diversity of solutions or to show that interest in the industry is widespread?more Show sample from book It is primarily a condensation of the growing rivalry between two teen-age gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, each of which has its own prideful uniform.† Show general definition mainly (most importantly)
	1	top 500
nostalgianostalgia → nostalgic:with a longing for something past The music makes me feel nostalgic.more Show sample from book [She sings nostalgically:] Show general definition happiness that come with the memory of good times combined with a hint of sadness that those times are over
	1	top 500
exasperatedgreatly annoyed She was exasperated by his teasing.more Show sample from book ANITA MARIA [exasperated] Anita, it is now to be a dress of dancing, no longer for kneeling in front of an altar. Show general definition greatly annoyed
	1	top 500
obscureobscure → obscured:hidden or made less visible The stars are obscured by the clouds.more Show sample from book They jockey for position, feinting, dueling; the two gangs shift position, now and again temporarily obscuring the fighters. obscure → obscuring:hiding (blocking the view of, or partially blocking the view of) Show general definition for obscure (as in: it obscured my view) to block from view or make less visible or understandable Show editor's word notes Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can also refer to situation where something makes something else harder to detect or as when a noise makes another noise difficult to hear. Similarly it can reference something overshadowing something else, as in "Her memory of her dog's death was obscured by her brother's death the next day."
	1	top 500
waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong) Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more Show sample from book the kids waver, run one way, another, in panic, confusion. are unsure and movie back and forth Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver) or: to change, be unsure, or weak
	1	top 1000
resignationa document expressing that someone is quitting a job I know you're unhappy there, but don't submit your resignation until you find a better job.more Show sample from book Miss America can just resign! resignation → resign:quit (from her position) Show general definition for resignation (as in: submitted her resignation) to quit -- especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
	1	top 1000
wistfulwistful → wistfully:showing longing or unfulfilled desire Sitting in her wheelchair, the old woman looked wistfully at the young dancers.more Show sample from book DOC What're you gonna be when you grow up? ANYBODYS [wistfully.] A telephone call girl! wistful → wistfully:with longing or unfulfilled desire
	1	top 1000
tauntintentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone She used Twitter to taunt the opposing candidate.more Show sample from book The taunting breaks out into a wild, savage dance, with epithets hurled at Anita, taunt → taunting:intentionally angering, challenging, or upsetting someone Show general definition to intentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone -- especially by mocking them or hurling insults or (as a noun): an insult or other action intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
	1	top 1000
beckonbeckon → beckoned:called With a nod of her head, she beckoned me to join them.more Show sample from book Riff steps forward and beckons to his girl, Velma. beckon → beckons:calls (to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod) Show general definition to call -- typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
	1	top 2000
respectiverelating separately to the people or things just mentioned Our salespeople are paid in accordance with their respective sales.more Show sample from book They have been cheering on their respective friends, clapping in rhythm.† Show general definition relating separately to the people or things just mentioned
	1	top 2000
insistentfirm and continuing We questioned her repeatedly and she remained insistent that she knew nothing of the event.more Show sample from book [...insistent tugging brings Tony to the realization of the danger.] persistent and demanding Show general definition persistent or continuing or firm -- especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
	1	top 2000
interceptintercept → intercepted:caught before arrival The defender intercepted the pass and ran it back for a touchdown.more Show sample from book TONY [He is unaware that Bernardo is crossing toward him, but Riff intercepts.] intercept → intercepts:stops him in route Show general definition to stop, catch, or block the intended course of something or someone
	1	top 2000
detachdetach → detached:emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions) She spoke in a cold, detached manner as though she didn't care about him anymore.more Show sample from book Both gangs are jitterbugging wildly with their bodies, but their faces, although they are enjoying themselves, remain cool, almost detached. detach → detached:emotionally uninvolved (separated from their feelings) Show general definition to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
	2
depravityimmorality or evilness It is a terrible story of an innocent who trusted a man who treated her with ruthless depravity.more Show sample from book Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived!1 more depravity → depraved:immoral Show general definition complete immorality or evilness
	1
feintdeceptive maneuver The attack from the south was just a feint to distract us from the real attack.Mark Twain — The Innocents Abroadmore Show sample from book They jockey for position, feinting, dueling; the two gangs shift position, now and again temporarily obscuring the fighters. feint → feinting:making deceptive motions (as when pretending to attack to try to get the opponent off balance) Show general definition any distracting or deceptive maneuver; or the act of making the maneuver Show editor's word notes Feint is most typically used for physical maneuvers as when boxing, fencing, or moving troops where a mock attack diverts attention from the real attack. But it can also be used much more generally as when Charlotte Bronte wrote of "a mere feint of politeness."
	1
neuroticexcessively concern She has a neurotic obsession with cleanliness.more Show sample from book It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed.† neurotic → neurosis:a mild mental disorder -- usually worrying too much about something Show general definition mildly mentally disturbed -- usually worrying too much about something; or someone with such symptoms Show editor's word notes More formally, a neurotic might be described as someone with a mild personality disorder -- a neurosis not attributable to any known neurological or organic problem.
	1
elaborateexaggerated He gave her a slow elaborate wink.more Show sample from book Elaborately casual, they start sauntering off as Krupke appears.more elaborate → elaborately:in an exaggerated manner Show general definition for elaborate (as in: an elaborate wink) to exaggerate an action Show editor's word notes At times, this sense of elaborate can further imply that an action was exaggerated by prolonging it (performing it more slowly than normal).
	1
harangueannoyingly try to persuade or criticize My parents continuously harangue me about my grades.more Show sample from book Below, Riff is haranguing. harangue → haranguing:trying to persuade, or criticizing, or sharing a tirade in an impassioned and often annoying manner Show general definition to try to persuade, or to criticize in an impassioned and often annoying manner; or a speech with such an intent