The Bill of Rights (of the US Constitution) — Vocabulary
Philadelphia Constitutional Convention
without preamble
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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compensatecompensate → compensated:paid
She is generously compensated for her work.more
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...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
compensate → compensation:payment
Show general definition for compensate (as in: she is generously compensated) to make payment to someone
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controversydisagreement
The film benefited from the controversy.more
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Amendment VII In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.†
Show general definition disagreement -- especially regarding a public issue that arouses strong feelings
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disparagedisparage → disparaging:criticizing or making seem less important
She has a reputation for disparaging the efforts of her co-workers.more
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Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.†
Show general definition to criticize or make seem less important -- especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
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impartialwithout favoritism or bias
An impartial judge is necessary for a fair trial.more
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Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.†
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grievancegrievance → grievances:complaints
The First Amendment also says Congress will make no law depriving the right of people to peaceably "assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."more
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Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.†
Show general definition the cause of a complaint (real or imagined); or the complaint in formally written form
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delegateassign (responsibility)
As the company grew larger, she had to delegate more responsibility to others.more
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The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
delegate → delegated:assigned
Show general definition for delegate (as in: delegate the job) assign tasks to other people (rather than doing them personally)
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infamousfamous (for something bad)
He is one of Chicago's most infamous mobsters.more
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Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.†
having an exceedingly bad reputation
Show general definition having an exceedingly bad reputation
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prescribeprescribe → prescribed:gave medical instructions instructing that the patient should take
The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for the infection.more
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Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.†
prescribe → prescribed:recommended or required what should be done  OR  (of a medical doctor) gave medical instructions -- such as writing that a patient should take antibiotics
Show general definition to recommend or require what should be done

or more specifically:

of a medical doctor:  to give medical instructions -- such as writing that a patient should take antibiotics
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compelforce
Does our DNA compel us to act as we do?more
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Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.†
compel → compelled:forced; or (more rarely) convinced
Show general definition to force someone to do something

or more rarely:

to convince someone to do something
Show editor's word notes Most typically, compel describes an external influence forcing someone to do something, but it can also describe being driven by an internal desire.
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respectiverelating separately to the people or things just mentioned
Our salespeople are paid in accordance with their respective sales.more
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Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.†
respective → respectively:separately in the specified order
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deprivedeprive → deprived:left without a basic comfort
The storm deprived the town of electricity.more
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Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.†
deprive → deprived:lacking things most people enjoy
Show general definition to take away or keep from having
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enumerateenumerate → enumerated:listed one after another
She enumerated the many obstacles she had encounteredmore
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Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.†
enumerate → enumeration:to name or list things one-by-one
Show general definition to name or list things one-by-one
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redressfix, compensate, or make up for
Action must be taken to redress the wrongs of the past.more
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Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.†
fix a problem; or make up for a wrong
Show general definition for redress (as in: redress the problem) fix a problem; or make up for a wrong
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construeinterpret
The executive branch does not construe the provision as requiring it to share additional information with Congress.more
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Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.†
construe → construed:understood something to have a specific meaning
Show general definition to interpret (understand) something as have a specific meaning
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grand jurya group of citizens who decide whether or not there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime
During his testimony before the grand jury, she repeatedly said she had no memory of such a conversation.more
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Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.†
a group of citizens who decide whether there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime
Show general definition a group of citizens who decide if there is enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime
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abridgeabridge → abridged:shortened
The first commercially available audiobook was a 1981 abridged version of the Doctor Who story, State of Decay.more
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Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.†
abridge → abridging:shortening; or reducing in scope while retaining essential elements
Show general definition reduce in scope while retaining essential elements -- especially to a book
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confrontdeal directly with an unpleasant situation
You must confront your problems.more
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Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.†
confront → confronted:to deal directly with an unpleasant situation or person; OR to challenge someone
Show general definition to deal directly with an unpleasant situation or person

or:

to challenge someone -- often by presenting evidence