Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance — Vocabulary
Robert M. Pirsig
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	86	top 500
rhetoricuse of words to make a point She has convincing rhetoric, but she makes bad decisions.more Show sample from book What you're supposed to do in most freshman-rhetoric courses is to read a little essay or short story, discuss how the writer has done certain little things to achieve certain little effects, and then have the students write an imitative little essay or short story to see if they can do the same little things.85 more study of the technique and rules for using language effectively -- especially to persuade Show general definition the use of (or study of using) words to make a point -- typically implying skillful use Show editor's word notes Rhetoric is used with many connotations. "Effective rhetoric" has a positive connotation, If someone says something is "just rhetoric," they're implying that the words may make a good surface impression, but they are lacking in substance.
	80	top 1000
rationalrational → rationally:in a reasonable manner It's hard to think rationally when I'm this upset.more Show sample from book Not everyone understands what a completely rational process this is, this maintenance of a motorcycle.79 more based on using reason Show general definition for rational (as in: rational behavior) reasonable, able to think clearly, or based on logic rather than emotion
	52	top 100
hypothesisa seemingly reasonable, but unproven, idea The study will test the hypothesis that a good marriage is more important than a higher income when measuring happiness.more Show sample from book Such a student, the demonstrator hypothesized, would go to his first class, get his first assignment and probably do it out of habit.51 more hypothesis → hypothesized:proposed a seemingly reasonable, but unproven, idea Show context notes The suffix "-ize" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize. Show general definition for hypothesis (as in: a study to test her hypothesis) a seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts Show editor's word notes In casual conversation, theory is a synonym for hypothesis, but a scientist would say that a hypothesis needs to pass rigorous tests before it could be accepted as a theory.
	15	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show sample from book He described how a second wave of crystallization, guided by analogies to established mathematics, produced what he later named the "Theta-Fuchsian Series."15 more establish → established:generally accepted 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's proper to begin with the regular facts, but after a rule is established beyond all doubt, the facts in conformity with it become dull because they no longer teach us anything new.15 more establish → established:demonstrated or proved Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	23	top 100
analyticallogical and systematic in seeking understanding She has an analytical mind.more Show sample from book I remember reading this for the first time and remarking about the analytic craftsmanship displayed.†22 more analytical → analytic:relating to logical examination of something to better understand it Show general definition relating to logical and systematic examination of something to better understand it -- often implying some kind of quantitative analysis
	20	top 100
contextcontext → out of context:in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted) She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.more Show context notes When someone is quoted "out of context" it means that selected words were quoted that misrepresent the meaning of all their words. For example, if you said "I admire their effort, but they are dead wrong if they think this will work," and someone implied that you supported their plan by quoting you as only saying, "I admire their effort," they would be quoting you out of context. Show sample from book Also, to arrive in the Rocky Mountains by plane would be to see them in one kind of context, as pretty scenery.†19 more the setting or situation in which something occurs Show general definition the setting or situation in which something occurs
	21	top 500
entityperson or organization The law applies to any legal entity that can enter into a contract.more Show sample from book He regarded himself as the fixed entity, not the pilgrimage or the mountain, and thus wasn't ready for it.†20 more person, organization, or anything with a separate existence Show general definition a person, organization, lifeform, or anything with a separate existence
	19	top 200
objectivefact-based (not influenced by personal feelings or preferences) By any objective analysis, you would have to agree that...more Show sample from book The knife of subjectivity-and-objectivity had cut Quality in two and killed it as a working concept.18 more objective → objectivity:understanding based on facts without the influence of personal feelings or preferences Show general definition for objective (as in: an objective viewpoint) fact-based without the influence of personal feelings or preferences Show editor's word notes Objective is often contrasted with subjective--which means "influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)."
	17	top 100
phenomenonsomething that is of special interest It is a growing social phenomenon on high school campuses.more Show sample from book The success of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance seems the result of this culture-bearing phenomenon.†16 more something that exists or happened -- often of special interest Show general definition something that exists or happened -- especially something of special interest -- sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary Show editor's word notes "Phenomenons" and "phenomena" are both appropriate plural forms of this noun. "Phenomena" is generally used in scientific or philosophical contexts.
	15	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 At the end of the quarter the students were asked to write an essay evaluating the system.†14 more Show general definition to think carefully and make a judgment about something
	17	top 500
dilemmahard choice It is an ethical dilemma.more Show sample from book What Phaedrus had been presented with by the faculty of the English department of Montana State College was an ancient logical construct known as a dilemma.†16 more a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives Show general definition a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
	16	top 200
analogycomparison of different things to point to a shared characteristic Her analogy is flawed.more Show sample from book It's analogous to the kind of hang-up Sir Isaac Newton had when he wanted to solve problems of instantaneous rates of change.†15 more analogy → analogous:similar in some respect Show general definition a comparison of different things to point to a shared characteristic Show editor's word notes Analogies are typically used to explain something unfamiliar by comparing it to something that is simpler or more familiar. They are also used in argument to suggest that what is true for one situation is also true in the other.
	10	top 500
thesistheory or proposition to be evaluated Her thesis is that efficiencies gained through competition outweigh the costs of redundancy, marketing, and profit.more Show sample from book He said he wasn't sure, but the thesis on Quality appeared to turn into an anti-Aristotelian thesis.13 more theory Show general definition for thesis (as in: the thesis of her editorial) a proposition (unproved statement or theory) put forward as a premise for evaluation
	4	top 500
thesis#2a formal and lengthy research paper advancing a new point of view Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's undergraduate thesis was a detailed history of the rise and fall of New York's Socialist Party in the early 20th Century.more Show sample from book It would take quite a University to accept a doctoral thesis in which the candidate refused to define his central term.13 more research paper Show general definition for thesis (as in: her Master's thesis) a formal and lengthy research paper advancing a new point of view -- usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree
	28	top 2000
subjectiveinfluenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact) Existing evaluations are largely subjective. The union wants objective criteria, so our employees will know how to succeed and will not need to worry about bias.more Show sample from book Or, he could take the right horn, and refute the idea that subjectivity implies "anything you like."†27 more subjective → subjectivity:the quality or degree of being influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact) Show general definition influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact) Show editor's word notes Subjective is often contrasted to objective--meaning based upon fact without the influence of personal feelings or preferences.
	20
metaphysicalabout things beyond the physical world, like the soul or God Many people are comforted by metaphysical beliefs about the soul continuing to exist after death.more Show sample from book Phaedrus' second metaphysical phase was a total disaster.†19 more about things beyond the physical world, such as existence, reality, or the soul Show general definition relating to things beyond the physical world—such as existence, reality, God, or the soul—and sometimes to ideas that are very abstract or overly theoretical Show editor's word notes People often use metaphysical for beliefs or questions that go beyond what can be directly tested by science—for example, beliefs about the soul, God, or what ultimately makes something real. These are usually things without material form that you cannot touch or measure. In philosophy, metaphysical specifically refers to metaphysics, the branch of philosophy that studies being and knowing—questions like "What is real?", "Do we have free will?", or "What does it mean for something to exist?" In everyday language, someone might call a discussion metaphysical if it feels very abstract or "off in the clouds," as in "They got lost in a metaphysical argument about whether anything is truly knowable."
	10	top 200
empiricalbased on experience or observation rather than theory Is her theory supported by empirical data?more Show sample from book In other words, what is the scientific empirical basis of causation itself?†9 more Show general definition based on experience or observation rather than theory
	9	top 500
refuterefute → refuted:argued against The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments.more Show sample from book He was able to get away with this because logical refutation required more talent than any of the students had.8 more refute → refutation:evidence or argument that something is false Show general definition to disprove or argue against
	12
continuityconsistency Despite maintaining continuity in an alternate world, each episode can stand alone as a complete story.more Show sample from book There is a silence and a break in the continuity.†11 more Show general definition consistency or lacking interruption