The Alchemyst — Vocabulary
Michael Scott
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	85	top 2000
aurasurrounding feeling or atmosphere The place has an aura of romance.more Show sample from book Some appear around the edge of the body, other auras cloak the body like an envelope.†84 more aura → auras:A distinctive quality, mood, or feeling that seems to surround a person, place, … Show general definition A distinctive quality, mood, or feeling that seems to surround a person, place, or thing; or, more literally, a glowing light shown around someone's head or body in spiritual or artistic images
	26	top 2000
immortalto live forever Zeus and the other gods were supposed to be immortal.more Show sample from book The formulation for immortality must be brewed afresh every month.†25 more immortal → immortality:eternal life (to live forever) Show general definition living or existing forever or: someone famous throughout history or: someone who will never die -- such as a mythological god
	7	top 100
focusconcentrate I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.more Show sample from book She focused, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. The liquid twisted and coiled into a face: Jefferson Miller, the ghost of the security guard.7 more focus → focused:concentrated Show general definition for focus (as in: Turn your focus to question #2.) to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
	1
focus#2focus → focuses:concentrates The satellite dish focuses the signal into a relatively narrow beam.more Show sample from book Perenelle quickly became familiar with the ancient systems of magic and began to practice in small ways, developing her skills, concentrating on how to channel and focus the energy of her aura.7 more concentrate at one spot Show general definition for focus (as with technical usage) technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as: physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola) geology — the point of origin of an earthquake See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
	20	top 2000
prophecyprediction of the future The prophecy came true.more Show sample from book And remember the prophecy, he added.†19 more Show general definition a prediction of the future (usually said to be obtained in a supernatural way)
	11	top 200
ornatehaving lots of decorative detail The hotel is decorated with ornate furniture, lots of carved designs, and gold leaf gilding.more Show sample from book She rooted through her bag and pulled out a set of nunchaku two twelve-inch lengths of ornately carved wood linked by four and a half inches of chain.†10 more ornate → ornately:with much decorative detail Show general definition highly decorative or elaborate in style — whether in appearance (with lots of detail) or in language that sounds flowery and overly complicated
	50	top 2000
directwithout intervention from anything (in this case, not sun that is partially blocked or reflected) This flower does best in direct sunlight.more Show sample from book Without signaling, it pulled over directly in front of The Small Book Shop, right across the street.55 more direct → directly:close (without anything in between) Show general definition for direct (as in: directly above; or buy direct) without anything in between -- whether in time, space, or involvement
	1	top 100
direct#2straightforward I left them with direct instructions.more Show sample from book I m glad I brought it, Dee said, not directly answering her.55 more direct → directly:in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity) Show general definition for direct (as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
	5	top 100
direct#3instruct On the SAT test, some questions direct you to look at an underlined or numbered portion of a passage.more Show sample from book Stay in the car, Nicholas Flamel directed, opening the door and stepping outside onto the short-cropped grass.55 more direct → directed:instructed Show general definition for direct (as in: direct a question; or direct a film) to guide, aim, or manage -- such as actions, attention, speech, a project or company
	8	top 1000
intricatecomplicated -- having many complexly arranged elements She came up with an intricate plan.more Show sample from book The walls were covered in smooth blond wood, and there were intricately woven white reed mats on the floor.†7 more
	6	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book Dee focused on the young man and woman, trying to decide if one was older than the other, but the rat's vision was too clouded and distorted for him to be sure.†5 more distort → distorted:altered in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	7	top 2000
serpentsnake There was a picture of a serpent eating its tail.more Show sample from book Tendrils and wisps of green mist gathered in Fleming's palms, then curled in ornate patterns and drifted onto the floor, where they writhed like serpents.†6 more serpent → serpents:snakes Show general definition a snake
	6	top 1000
persistpersist → persisted:continued The child persisted in asking questions despite my obvious desire to be left alone.more Show sample from book Josh persisted, determined to get some answers.†5 more Show general definition to continue -- often despite difficulty or to repeat a question
	1	top 100
perspectiveway of seeing or thinking about things A child who was abused with have a different perspective of family life than one raised in a nurturing home.more Show sample from book Many years before, when Nicholas and Perry had first discovered the secret of immortality, they had realized that their extra-long lives allowed them to view the world from a different perspective.1 more way of seeing and thinking about things Show general definition for perspective (as in: Look at it from her perspective) a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
	1
perspective#2view The penthouse window gives a perspective on half the city.more Show sample from book The images that appeared on the sword blade were surprisingly detailed. They were all from Hekate's perspective.1 more view (appearance from where looking) Show general definition for perspective (as in: a perspective of the entire block) a view -- often stressing that the view is different from a view from another location
	2	top 2000
imbueimbue → imbues:fills She imbues her lectures with a contagious enthusiasm.more Show sample from book She had been Awakened, and the Witch of Endor had imbued her with all her knowledge.†1 more imbue → imbued:filled Show general definition to fill with or diffuse throughout -- especially an emotional quality
	1	top 100
highlightemphasize (call attention to) The main purpose of this passage is to highlight the degree of income inequality.more Show sample from book The brilliance also highlighted the scars on the car's body, the scratches and gouges in sharp relief. highlight → highlighted:emphasized (called attention to) Show general definition for highlight (as in: highlight the main findings) emphasize (call attention to something)
	2
aliasalternative name She is thought to be living under an alias in Los Angeles.more Show sample from book There is far too much paperwork involved in owning a car, paperwork that could be traced directly to us, no matter how many aliases we used.†1 more alias → aliases:an alternative name 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.
	2
cloyingoverly sweet or sentimental She found the movie’s ending cloying, filled with clichés and syrupy dialogue.more Show sample from book The magician recognized the heavy, cloying scent as soon as he stepped into the house: it was frankincense, the rare and incredibly expensive aromatic gum from the Middle East, used in ancient times in Egypt and Greece and as far to the east as China.†1 more overly sweet or sentimental in a way that becomes unpleasant or excessive Show general definition overly sweet or sentimental in a way that becomes unpleasant or excessive -- on the tongue or in sentiment
	2
gossamerdelicate or light The painting has a fairy with gossamer wings.more Show sample from book A silver mist surrounded Perry Fleming, rising off her skin in gossamer threads.†1 more extremely light, delicate, airy, or thin Show general definition extremely light, delicate, airy, or thin