The Moon is a Harsh Mistress — Vocabulary
Robert A. Heinlein
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	15	top 1000
subversiongradual destruction The Chinese activist was imprisoned for encouraging subversion of state power.more Show sample from book No subversive literature was ever in her shop, nor our home, nor that hotel room; distribution was done by kids, too young to read.14 more subversion → subversive:intended to undermine a government Show general definition gradual destruction (of something previously established) -- such as a government, rule, or belief
	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 What you are doing is forcing me to resign.6 more resignation → resign:quit (a job) Show general definition for resignation (as in: submitted her resignation) to quit -- especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
	6	top 1000
resignation#2(accepted) something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.more Show sample from book If we ever managed to leave, price to lift that mass to Luna would hurt--I was resigned to abandoning a p-suit with years more wear in it6 more resignation → resigned:accept something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils Show general definition for resignation (as in: accepted it with resignation) acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
	4	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book Mike's "head" works faster; he answered, "The concussion of a hundred-tonne mass on Terra approaches the yield of a two-kilotonne atomic bomb."4 more production Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	1	top 100
yield#2give in The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more Show sample from book During evening session Prof reported on trip and then yielded to me—Committee Chairman Korsakov consenting—so that I could report what "five-year plan" meant and how Authority had tried to bribe me.4 more yield → yielded:gave in, gave way, or gave up Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
	10	top 1000
unanimouswith everyone in complete agreement It was a unanimous decision.more Show sample from book Must be unanimous.†9 more with everyone in agreement Show general definition with everyone in agreement
	6	top 10
inferfigure out or guess by reasoning Which of the following facts can you infer from the first paragraph?more Show sample from book I infer from the anechoic quality of his voice that he is speaking under a hush hood.†5 more conclude or guess by reasoning Show general definition to figure out or guess by reasoning
	11	top 2000
trajectorypath or route High winds will alter the rocket's trajectory.more Show sample from book Then I had seen her at end in free trajectory—curled into ball in air and had hit a yellow jacket in knees, he whose jaw I broke a moment later.†10 more the path followed by an object moving through space… Show general definition the path followed by an object moving through space or: the path of any sequence of events
	11	top 2000
conspiracysecret plot She discovered a conspiracy to overthrow the government.more Show sample from book The trouble with conspiracies is that they rot internaily.†10 more conspiracy → conspiracies:secret agreements or plots Show general definition a secret agreement or plot -- especially to do something illegal or harmful
	6	top 100
evaluateevaluate → evaluating:thinking carefully and making a judgment about I'm evaluating colleges and deciding which I want to apply to.more Show sample from book "Mannie," said Wyoh, "that's a most self-centered evaluation."†5 more evaluate → evaluation:the process of thinking carefully and making a judgment about something Show general definition to think carefully and make a judgment about something
	8	top 1000
variablechangeable The weather in this region is highly variable, shifting from sunshine to thunderstorms within hours.more Show context notes The suffix "-able" in variable means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Note that when "-able" is placed at the end of a word that ends in "Y", the "Y" is often replaced with "I" as in enviable and deniable. Show sample from book To Mike, whole world was variable series of electrical pulses, sent or received or chasing around his innards.†7 more able to change Show context notes The suffix "-able" in variable means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Note that when "-able" is placed at the end of a word that ends in "Y", the "Y" is often replaced with "I" as in enviable and deniable. Show general definition able to change, or something that is able to change Show editor's word notes A variable in mathematics refers more specifically to a symbol that represents a value or a set of values.
	10	top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more Show sample from book Nor would he have spoken to Mike; Warden was political lawyer before exile, knew nothing about computers.†9 more to force someone to live outside of their homeland… Show general definition to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
	4	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book As Prof says, a society adapts to fact, or doesn't survive.†3 more adapt → adapts:changes to fit a different situation Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	11
embargoban The country placed an embargo on oil exports to pressure its rival.more Show sample from book Embargo, utter and absolute.†10 more an official ban or restriction -- especially a government-imposed trade barrier Show general definition an official ban or restriction -- especially a government-imposed trade barrier
	9
anarchistsomeone who opposes government or authority At the protest, one anarchist set off fireworks and shouted that all rules were meant to be broken.more Show sample from book I'm a rational anarchist.†8 more someone who favors eliminating all government or authority Show general definition someone who favors eliminating all government or authority
	5	top 100
redundantmore than is needed or desired What is clarifying for one reader can be a redundant distraction for another.more Show sample from book Any method of communication needs redundancy, or information can be lost.4 more redundant → redundancy:a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails Show general definition more than is needed -- often something that is unnecessarily repeated or in technical usage: describing a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails
	6
provisionaltemporary or not final Some states issue a provisional driver's license and require no moving violations under it prior to issuing a full license.more Show sample from book After we decided that Mike should talk voice-to-voice to any comrade under some circumstances, it was necessary to give him more voices and dress him up, make him three dimensions, create "Adam Selene, Chairman of the Provisional Committee of Free Luna."†5 more temporary; OR in effect while awaiting approval or a more permanent solution Show general definition temporary; or in effect while awaiting approval or a more permanent solution
	5
dossiera collection of papers containing detailed information about a particular person The detective meticulously compiled a comprehensive dossier on the suspect, detailing every aspect of his life.more Show sample from book Mike amigo mio, there should be in that file a dossier on me.†4 more a collection of papers containing detailed information about a particular person… Show general definition a collection of papers containing detailed information about a particular person or subject -- often a person's record
	3	top 1000
repudiaterepudiate → repudiated:strongly rejected The parents repudiated their son.more Show sample from book Sir, if nominated, I shall repudiate it.2 more strongly reject Show general definition strong rejection -- especially when the idea or thing being rejected was once embraced
	1	top 500
intrigueintrigue → intrigued:interested, curious, or fascinated She was intrigued by his surprising comment.more Show sample from book This term 'client-employee' I find intriguing.1 more intrigue → intriguing:interesting Show general definition for intrigue (as in: she was intrigued) cause to be interested, curious, or fascinated