Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports — Vocabulary
James Patterson
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
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howeverdespite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas) Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.more Show sample from book Some of the mutants, however, didn't seem to have gotten Angel's latest memo and were still fighting one another, and us too.†4 more a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc. Show general definition for however (as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas) Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
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however#2no matter how (how much/how hard/how long…) However hard she tried, she couldn't do it.more Show sample from book However many you can eat without barfing.4 more whatever number of Show general definition for however (as in: However much she tried...) to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
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genea DNA sequence or unit of heredity that influences biological traits The gene determines hair color.more Show sample from book As usual, the leopard genes were expressed in some unexpected ways.†7 more gene → genes:DNA sequences or units of heredity that influence biological traits
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appallingshockingly terrible or horrible The live in appalling conditions.more Show sample from book My shriek of appalled rage could probably be heard in California, or maybe Hawaii.†5 more appalling → appalled:shocked by how terrible or horrible something is
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deludedelude → deluded:with a false belief She is a sincere but deluded idealist.more Show sample from book And if you look in the dictionary under 'delusional megalomaniac,' you'll see your picture.†5 more delude → delusional:out of touch with reality (having false beliefs) Show general definition deceive (convince to have a false belief)
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ominousthreatening I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.more Show sample from book But it had been ominously quiet on the Eraser front.†3 more ominous → ominously:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come) Show general definition threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
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earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book She looked up at me earnestly.†2 more earnest → earnestly:sincerely or seriously Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
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nimblequick and agile She watched her daughter's nimble fingers type instructions into the iPhone.more Show sample from book Total crawled out and jumped nimbly into Iggy's arms.†4 more nimble → nimbly:quickly and easily Show general definition quick and agile -- typically physically, but can also reference quick, agile thinking (someone who is agile does things easily)
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enhanceimprove This sauce will enhance the flavor of the meat.more Show sample from book She had a lot to carry on those genetically enhanced shoulders, and all in all, she did a dang good job.†2 more enhance → enhanced:increased or improved Show general definition increase quantity or improve quality
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suppresssuppress → suppressed:kept from spreading She claimed that Facebook suppressed and promoted news that met a political agenda.more Show sample from book Barely suppressing a shriek of rage, I flung myself down the hall and into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind me.†3 more suppress → suppressing:trying to keep under control Show general definition trying to keep under control The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example: "suppressed the revolution" -- to stop others from doing something by force "suppressed a smile" -- kept something from happening "suppressed the story" -- kept news from spreading "suppressed her fear" -- controlled an emotion "suppressed the memory" -- avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory) Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Suppress and repress can be interchanged; though in psychology something that is repressed is done unconsciously while something that is suppressed is done voluntarily.
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speciesa group of similar animals or plants It is an endangered species.more Show sample from book Some were "enhanced" but not combined with another species.†3 more a similar group of animals or plants Show general definition a group of animals or plants that are similar -- typically identified as belonging to the same group when they are of a kind that can reproduce new members of the group together
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devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book He tests off the charts of every intelligence scale devised.†1 more devise → devised:came up with (invented or created) Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
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gendermale/female/trans Gender roles were more defined when my grandmother was growing up.more Show sample from book All genders are equal.†1 more gender → genders:males, females, or various trans categories Show general definition for gender (as in: gender discrimination) male or female or (especially regarding self-identification): the state of being male, female, or in any of many trans categories Show editor's word notes While the word sex can almost always be substituted for this meaning of gender, gender is typically used in reference to cultural or social differences, while sex is typically used for biological differences.
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motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book See, when you're an evil, endlessly funded insane scientist, you have both the means and the motive to, say, suddenly gas a whole room of hostage bird kids.†1 more Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
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hybridcar powered by both electricity and gasoline She drives a hybrid that can use electricity or gasoline.more Show sample from book The other ones who function pretty well and last more than a couple days are human-lupine hybrids, or wolf people.10 more hybrid → hybrids:creatures made by combining different life forms Show general definition something made by combining different sources or types in various senses, including: of cars -- powered by both electricity and gasoline in biology -- a plant or animal produced by crossbreeding in linguistics -- a word that is composed of parts from different languages (e.g., monolingual has a Greek prefix and a Latin root)
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anomalysomething outside of the range of what is normally expected They rate a nuclear event from 1 (an anomaly) to 7 (a major accident).more Show sample from book Let's see you go without anything to eat for three days, especially if you're a biological anomaly who needs three thousand calories a day minimum, and then someone presents you with a hot, smoky, charred piece of rat au jus.†2 more Show general definition something outside of the range of what is normally expected
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redundantmore than is needed or desired What is clarifying for one reader can be a redundant distraction for another.more Show sample from book Isn't that redundant?†1 more more than is needed 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
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obsoleteno longer in general use because it was replaced by something better My mother still has a twenty-year-old obsolete computer in storage.more Show sample from book "To begin, Omega will vanquish an obsolete but somewhat successful human-avian hybrid," said the Director.†1 more Show general definition no longer in general use because it was replaced by something better
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cloneclone → clones:genetically identical copies (like identical twins created with technology) To understand differences that could be expected in human clones, it is useful to look at identical twins.more Show sample from book I didn't think Fang had been replaced by a clone the way I had at one point.2 more copy Show general definition for clone (as in: It is a clone.) a copy of something -- especially an organism with identical genetics created through technology
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telepathycommunication from one mind to another without using the known senses My dog is so good at knowing what I'm thinking, you'd think she had canine telepathy.more Show sample from book Angel must have been communicating with him telepathically because he shook his head and looked like he was concentrating hard.†1 more Show general definition communication from one mind to another without using the known senses (often used in fiction but not scientifically supported as real)