All the Pretty Horses — Vocabulary
Cormac McCarthy
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
4 top 100
consequenceconsequence → consequences:results
Your decision will have three major consequences.more
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But I have seen the consequences in the real world and they can be very grave indeed.6 more
Show general definition for consequence (as in: a direct consequence of) a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
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consequence#2consequence → consequential:important
Think carefully. This is a consequential decision.more
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In an ideal world the gossip of the idle would be of no consequence.6 more
importance
Show general definition for consequence (as in: of little consequence) importance or relevance
18 top 2000
hobbledwalked with difficulty
After injuring her ankle, she hobbled between classes.more
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They walked out through the grass, Blevins hobbling after them.17 more
hobbled → hobbling:walking with difficulty
Show general definition for hobbled (as in: she hobbled up the hill) walked with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment)

or:

hindered (made the action or progress of something difficult)
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stallionstallion → stallions:a male horse that has not been castrated
Breeders carefully select stallions with excellent lineage to improve the bloodline of their horses.more
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The stallion I have bought is a half brother out of the same mare.†12 more
a male horse that has not been castrated (gelded)
Show general definition a male horse that has not been castrated (gelded) -- especially one used for breeding purposes
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proprietorowner
The proprietor of the bookstore greeted each customer warmly and offered personalized recommendations based on their interests.more
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The proprietor came over to take their order.†8 more
the owner of a business
Show general definition the owner of a business
8 top 2000
twilightthe light from the sky in the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise)
It is a beautiful picture taken in twilight.more
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The sun was down and a blue twilight filled the park and...7 more
the light from the sky between daylight and darkness
Show general definition for twilight (as in: pink clouds in a twilight sky) the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
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recollectremember
I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more
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Yet my recollection of them was a child's recollection and I must have been to them something wholly unknown.†4 more
recollect → recollection:memory
Show general definition to remember -- especially experiences from long ago
Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):

Relative to its synonyms, recollect brings to mind a leisurely piecing together of distant memories. It may be used in a less formal manner than remember and is almost always less formal than recall.
4 top 200
deferencerespect
They changed their strategy in deference to the President's wishes.more
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The man stood at his bed and took off his hat as though in deference to some wounded hero.3 more
polite respect
Show general definition polite respect -- often when submitting to another's wishes
6 top 2000
patronpatron → patrons:customers
The café was filled with patrons enjoying coffee and studying for exams.more
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Like theatre patrons anxious to avoid the crush.5 more
Show general definition for patron (as in: a patron of the arts) a regular customer; or someone who gives money or support to an organization, cause, or person
5 top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country
She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more
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Some news that had moved through the prison but bypassed him in his exile.†4 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
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varybe different
Your mileage may vary.more
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They were bunched against the fence at the far side of the enclosure and they were a mixed lot, roans and duns and bays and a few paints and they were of varied size and conformation.†1 more
vary → varied:differed; or changed
Show general definition to be different, or to change
Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
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naivenaive → naïve:lacking the understanding or sophistication that comes from experience
She criticized America's naïve foreign policy.more
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You know what is naive?†2 more
lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them
Show general definition lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them -- often too trusting or optimistic
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inclinesomething sloping upward (such as a hill)
It is a steep incline.more
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The loose horses walked uncertainly down the shallow rock incline of the basin and blew at the water and drank.1 more
slope
Show general definition for incline (as in: on an incline or incline his head) to be at an angle or to bend
2 top 200
enableenable → enables:makes possible
The test enables earlier identification of autism.more
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Of course the times enabled some of these men to style themselves revolutionaries.†1 more
enable → enabled:made possible
Show general definition to make possible
in various senses, including:
  • to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something -- as in "The study will enable an informed discussion."
  • to activate a computer system for use -- as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page."
  • to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern -- as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
2
retinuegroup (of people following and attending to an important person)
The celebrity was accompanied by a large retinue of assistants and bodyguards.more
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When he rode up to the gerente's house that morning he was accompanied by four friends and by a retinue of mozos and two packanimals saddled with hardwood kiacks, one empty, the other carrying their noon provisions.†1 more
a group of people following and attending to an important person
Show general definition a group of people following and attending to an important person
2
bartertrade things of value
She doesn't have money, but she is willing to barter.more
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The prison was no more than a small walled village and within it occurred a constant seethe of barter and exchange in everything from radios and blankets down to matches and buttons and shoenails and within this bartering ran a constant struggle for status and position.†1 more
barter → bartering:trading
Show general definition to trade things of value without involving money
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rancorfeelings of deep and bitter anger or hatred
She made the suggestion to reduce the partisan rancor.†more
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His movements were precise and without rancor.
anger or hatred
Show general definition deep and bitter anger or hatred -- especially when long-standing
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constrainedrestricted
The standard of living is ultimately constrained by worker productivity.more
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The names of the entities that have power to constrain us change with time.†
constrained → constrain:restrict
Show general definition restricted or inhibited
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myopicnear-sighted (unable to see distant objects clearly)
About one in five people in the world is myopic and it is thought to be impacted by genetic and environmental factors.more
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Sometimes I think we are all like that myopic coiner at his press, taking the blind slugs one by one from the tray, all of us bent so jealously at our work, determined that not even chaos be outside of our own making.†
unable to see distant objects clearly…
Show general definition unable to see distant objects clearly

or (figuratively):  not thinking or understanding beyond immediate effect to future or broader effect
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perfunctorydone without much interest or effort
She gave us menus and a perfunctory smile.more
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They had about them a perfunctory air, like men accustomed to caring for livestock.
working without much effort
Show general definition done without much interest or effort -- especially as when dispensing with a formality