The Bell Jar — Vocabulary
Sylvia Plath
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	9	top 1000
simultaneousat the same time On Super Tuesday a large number of states have simultaneous primary elections.more Show sample from book And while Constantin and I sat in one of those hushed plush auditoriums in the UN, next to a stern muscular Russian girl with no makeup who was a simultaneous interpreter like Constantin, I thought how strange it had never occurred to me before that I was only purely happy until I was nine years old.†8 more
	9	top 2000
physicsthe science of matter and energy In physics class, we learned how gravity affects falling objects.more Show sample from book At college I had to take a required course in physics and chemistry.8 more Show general definition the science of matter and energy and their interactions
	8	top 2000
alcoverecessed (pushing outward from the main room) It is a beautiful room with an alcove window.more Show sample from book I strode blindly out into the hall, not to my room, because that was where they would come to get me, but to the alcove ... in a quiet corner of the hall, where Joan and Loubelle and DeeDee and Mrs. Savage would not come.7 more a recessed or secluded space Show general definition a recessed or secluded space -- such as in a room or garden Show editor's word notes The alcove of a room is a smaller room attached to a larger room and separated by an arch or other architectural feature other than a door.
	5	top 500
intuitionintuition → intuitive:able to understand things from feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning They were perfect partners--one highly intuitive and the other highly analytical.more Show sample from book Oh, he'd managed to get good marks all right ..., but he didn't have one speck of intuition.4 more the ability to known instinctively rather than through reasoning Show general definition something known based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning; or the ability to know things in such a manner
	7	top 2000
seduceseduce → seduced:persuaded to do something She was seduced by the temptation of easy money.more Show sample from book He even seemed relieved to have somebody to tell about how he was seduced.6 more seduce → seduced:lured or enticed to do something he would not normally do Show general definition to persuade someone to do something by tempting them with something pleasurable or desired -- often to make them want to participate in sexual activity
	4	top 200
tentativetentative → tentatively:in a careful way (indicating a lack of confidence) The puppy approached us tentatively until it knew we wouldn't harm it.more Show sample from book Tentatively, I reached down and touched it.3 more tentative → tentatively:in an unsure or hesitant manner Show general definition for tentative (as in: said it tentatively) done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
	4	top 500
profoundintense (of great emotional depth) Her apology was heartfelt--expressing profound sorrow and regret.more Show sample from book In spite of my profound reservations, I thought I would always treasure Joan.3 more deep; or of greatest intensity Show general definition for profound (as in: profound sadness) of greatest intensity or emotional depth
	5
hypocritesomeone who violates claimed moral standards She calls him a hypocrite for suggesting a green lifestyle except when it is personally inconvenient.more Show sample from book I discovered quite by accident what an awful hypocrite he [Buddy Willard] was,4 more someone who says one thing and does another
	5	top 2000
suburbanin an area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't so crowded I want a suburban home with a white picket fence and a big yard.more Show sample from book I didn't know where I was, but it was somewhere in the wealthy suburbs of New York.†4 more suburban → suburbs:residential areas located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded Show general definition relating to a residential area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded
	2	top 200
sinisterevil They created a sinister plan to recruit terrorists.more Show sample from book I also remembered Buddy Willard saying in a sinister, knowing way that after I had children I would feel differently, I wouldn't want to write poems any more.1 more evil, harmful, or frightening Show general definition evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
	3	top 1000
protrudestick out Metal spikes protrude from the dog's collar.more Show sample from book I hated coming downstairs sweaty-handed and curious every Saturday night and having some senior introduce me to her aunt's best friend's son and finding some pale, mushroomy fellow with protruding ears or buck teeth or a bad leg.†2 more protrude → protruding:sticking out Show general definition to stick out from
	2	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book Buddy Willard and the other college boys I knew were usually too poor to buy hard liquor or they scorned drinking altogether.†1 more scorn → scorned:disrespected or rejected Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	2	top 500
artificialmade by humans The plants look real, but they are artificial.more Show sample from book People shoved and bumped by me in the artificially lit dark, hurrying after the trains that rumbled in and out of the intestinal tunnels under Scollay Square.3 more artificial → artificially:done by humans rather than nature Show general definition for artificial (as in: an artificial heart) made by humans -- often to replace something that can be found in nature
	2	top 500
artificial#2not sincere She hated his artificial humility.more Show sample from book Factitious, artificial, sham.3 more not genuine Show general definition for artificial (as in: an artificial smile) not sincere, pretended, or designed to impress
	9
cadaverdead human body A cadaver is assigned to each medical student.more Show sample from book These cadavers were so unhuman-looking they didn't bother me a bit.8 more cadaver → cadavers:dead bodies of human beings -- especially in reference to medical study Show general definition the dead body of a human being -- especially one used for medical study Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Typically cadaver references a body used for medical reasons such as medical education or research. Otherwise a dead body is more likely to be referenced by the word corpse or body.
	2	top 500
lapsetemporary failure Apparently, the error occurred because of a lapse in the air controller's concentration.more Show sample from book In one way it seemed a small thing, starting, after a six months' lapse, where I had so vehemently left off.2 more temporary period of changed behavior Show general definition for lapse (as in: a lapse in judgement) a change in behavior or state--usually undesired such as a temporary failure The exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context: example indicating an undesired change in behavior -- "lapsed into alcoholism" example indicating that the change was short-term and due to a failure (often of effort or diligence) -- "a lapse in judgment" example indicating return to a previous undesired behavior or state -- "lapsed into her old bad habits" examples indicating a change in what was occurring where the change is not necessarily negative -- "There was a lapse in the conversation," or "She stopped talking as she lapsed into her own internal world."
	1	top 500
lapse#2end or terminate She allowed her membership at the club to lapse.more Show sample from book My father had been a Lutheran in Wisconsin, but they were out of style in New England, so he had become a lapsed Lutheran and then, my mother said, a bitter atheist.2 more lapse → lapsed:no longer practicing Show general definition for lapse (as in: allowed the policy to lapse) end or terminate -- often of legal rights or of a person's association with an organization
	7
neuroticexcessively concern She has a neurotic obsession with cleanliness.more Show sample from book I am neurotic.6 more mildly mentally disturbed -- usually worrying too much about something Show general definition mildly mentally disturbed -- usually worrying too much about something; or someone with such symptoms Show editor's word notes More formally, a neurotic might be described as someone with a mild personality disorder -- a neurosis not attributable to any known neurological or organic problem.
	6
idioman expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up Having just arrived from Egypt, I did not understand what she meant by the idiom, "Don't cut corners."more Show sample from book For the first time in my life, sitting there in the soundproof heart of the UN building between Constantin who could play tennis as well as simultaneously interpret and the Russian girl who knew so many idioms, I felt dreadfully inadequate.5 more idiom → idioms:expressions whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make them up Show general definition a way of putting things that is characteristic of a specific group of people Show editor's word notes An idiom typically refers to an expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up (as in "feeling under the weather"). It can also refer to a particular artistic style.
	3
oblongan elongated shape The artist carefully painted an oblong shape on the canvas, using broad strokes to create a sense of movement.more Show sample from book Sunlight measured itself out in regular oblongs on the shabby, but soft red carpets, and a whiff of fresh-cut grass sweetened the air.†2 more oblong → oblongs:an elongated shape (having more length than width) Show general definition an elongated shape (having more length than width) -- typically of a stretched circle that is longer than an oval, but occasionally used to describe a rectangle