The Horse Whisperer — Vocabulary
Nicholas Evans
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	17	top 2000
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 Show sample from book He was a stallion by the name of Cruiser, once the fastest racehorse in the land.†16 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
	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 She would tell Gates that if he didn't reinstate Lucy Friedman she would resign.4 more resignation → resign:quit her 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
	4	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 Her footsteps as she came through the hall sounded more resigned than angry.4 more resignation → resigned:like someone who had accepted something undesired as unavoidable Show general definition for resignation (as in: accepted it with resignation) acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
	9
sedativea drug that calms or puts to sleep She gave him a sedative to help him sleep.more Show sample from book Logan loaded a syringe with sedative and stuffed some other things he thought he might need into the pockets of his parka.†8 more a drug that calms or puts to sleep; or describing something as calming Show general definition a drug that calms or puts to sleep; or describing something as calming
	6	top 500
confideconfide → confided:placed trust (in someone) by talking about private things She confided in me. I won't repeat what was said.more Show sample from book Well, they all had, but there was something special about the way Diane talked with her, something confiding, almost sisterly.†5 more confide → confiding:placing trust (in someone) by talking about private things Show general definition to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
	7	top 2000
dauntdiscourage or intimidate It is a challenge that would daunt a lesser diplomat.more Show sample from book It was as though their mere survival in this daunting land were in itself some mighty triumph.†6 more daunt → daunting:discouraging or intimidating Show general definition to discourage or intimidate
	7	top 2000
manelong coarse hair growing around the head It was a healthy male lion with a golden mane.more Show sample from book But she stayed on, wrapping a fist into Pilgrim's silky mane as he slid down the slope beneath her.†6 more long coarse hair on an animal Show general definition long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
	7	top 2000
interstatefreeway, or highway that runs between states There was an accident on the interstate.more Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show sample from book Some forty miles into Montana, neither looking nor caring where it led, she took an exit off the interstate.†6 more freeway, or highway that runs between states… Show context notes When a word begins with the prefix, "inter-", the prefix often means between. In this case, interstate means between different states. Interstate is often used as an abbreviation for interstate highway, a highway that runs between states. It has also come to mean freeway in a place like Hawaii where no major highway connects to another state. Show general definition for interstate (as in: interstate commerce) freeway, or highway that runs between states or: relating to the mutual relations between states -- especially of the United States Show editor's word notes Note that interstate is often contrasted with intrastate. An intrastate highway is used to move from one location in a state to another, rather than to move between states. Similarly, interstate commerce is business between states; whereas intrastate commerce affects a state without affecting other states. Under the U.S. Constitution, the interstate/intrastate distinction is important when determining when the federal government has authority to override state government.
	4	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 Inquests of stunning objectivity were held and Annie learned for the first time how facts could be so subtly rearranged to render different truths.3 more objective → objectivity:understanding or decisions 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)."
	5	top 500
techniqueway of doing something She developed a new surgical technique that shortens recovery time.more Show sample from book Dorothy Chen, who had devised a kind of matador technique to give him his daily shots, was rewarded by a perfect set of teeth marks on her shoulder.†4 more Show general definition a way of doing something; or the methods used to do it well
	4	top 500
nonchalantcalm and unconcerned I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to look nonchalant.more Show sample from book She remembered how she had offered to do it and how hurt she had been when Grace said nonchalantly that she'd rather Elsa do it.†3 more nonchalant → nonchalantly:calmly (appearing unconcerned) Show general definition calm in manner -- appearing unconcerned
	2	top 10
implyimply → implied:hinted or suggested She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more Show sample from book The tone usually worked with cops, respectful but fraternal, implying some working kinship of the road.†1 more imply → implying:suggesting (saying indirectly) Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence
	4	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book But the blurred mirror was giving her back a distorted, pink abstraction of herself, like a Francis Bacon painting, and Annie found it so disturbing that she turned off the light and went quickly back into the bedroom.†3 more distort → distorted:altered in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	4	top 1000
intricatecomplicated -- having many complexly arranged elements She came up with an intricate plan.more Show sample from book The horse's white-socked feet made intricate steps without any visible guidance, steered, so it seemed to Annie, by Tom's thoughts alone.†3 more
	17
foalyoung horse I've trained her to ride since she was a foal.†more Show sample from book But his mare, Bronty, was about to foal and he'd had to leave her back in Montana.†16 more a young horse; OR giving birth to a young horse Show general definition a young horse; or giving birth to a young horse
	3	top 2000
litigatego to court to settle I'm hoping we won't have to litigate the matter.more Show sample from book The litigation dragged on for three years.†2 more litigate → litigation:the process of a engaging in a lawsuit Show general definition use a court to settle a disagreement with force of law
	2	top 2000
deviousdeceitful and clever It is a devious plan.more Show sample from book The Friday-night crawl of traffic invariably made her crabby and impatient and she would compensate by taking charge, telling Robert, Grace's father, to slow down or speed up or take some devious route to avoid delays.†1 more deceitful (not honest and straightforward) Show general definition for devious (as in: a devious plan) deceitful (not honest and straightforward) -- often in a complicated, clever manner
	2	top 2000
squaliddirty and unpleasant She lives in a squalid overcrowded apartment in the poorest part of town.more Show sample from book Quite why the life of a savage horse slammed up in a squalid country stall should seem now so crucially linked with her daughter's decline, Annie had no idea.†1 more dirty and unpleasant;; OR (more rarely) immoral Show general definition dirty and unpleasant; or (more rarely) immoral
	2	top 2000
tacitimplied (not directly said, but understood) There was a tacit understanding that Jessica would play good cop and Tyler would play bad cop.more Show sample from book There seemed some tacit and exploitable acknowledgment that it was wrong to have forced Grace to join this escapade.†1 more implied Show general definition implied or understood, but not expressed directly
	2
farceridiculous situation What started as a serious debate quickly turned into a farce, with people shouting over each other and making jokes.more Show sample from book First, as usual, he would call the personal injury lawyer they'd hired to look after the convoluted legal farce Grace's accident seemed destined to become.†1 more a ridiculous, exaggerated situation too absurd to be taken seriously… Show general definition a ridiculous, exaggerated situation too absurd to be taken seriously; or a type of comedy that relies on absurd humor, using physical slapstick, unlikely situations, and deliberate misunderstandings