The Good Soldier — Vocabulary
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	7	top 100
conveycommunicate or express She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more Show sample from book The last words conveyed nothing to Nancy—nothing real, that is to say.†6 more convey → conveyed:communicated or expressed
	11	top 1000
remorseregret for doing something wrong There was no sign of remorse until the police caught her.more Show sample from book At any rate, he would have had fewer chances of ruining and of remorse.†10 more deep regret for doing something that was wrong Show general definition a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong Show editor's word notes Synonym comparison (if you're into word choice): Many consider the word remorse stronger than the word regret. Also, it is more personal. One might regret that their team lost the game, but feel remorse that they missed the bus and weren't there to help the team.
	8	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book I mention these last three because my recollection of that night is only the sort of pinkish effulgence from the electric-lamps in the hotel lounge.†7 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.
	10	top 1000
tranquilcalm I love a lake with tranquil blue water.†more Show sample from book IV So began those nine years of uninterrupted tranquillity.†9 more tranquil → tranquillity:peace and quiet; or calmness Show context notes This is a British spelling. Americans use tranquility. Show general definition calm and undisturbed
	9
manora large house that belongs to a wealthy person Bletchley Manor was converted into a home for code breakers during World War II.more Show sample from book They could not possibly keep up Branshaw Manor at that rate after the money had gone to the Grand Duke's mistress.†8 more a large house of a wealthy person; OR historically:… Show general definition a large house of a wealthy person or historically: the main house of a lord and the land around it that was worked by tenant farmers
	6	top 500
perpetualcontinuing forever A perpetual flame burns beside the grave of John F. Kennedy.more Show sample from book Do you understand that, whilst she was Edward's mistress, she was perpetually trying to reunite him to his wife?†5 more perpetual → perpetually:continuing forever without change; OR occurring so frequently it seems constant Show general definition continuing forever without change; or occurring so frequently it seems constant
	5	top 200
tactthe ability and tendency to say or handle things in such a way that others feel good about them She has the tact of a politician or diplomat.more Show sample from book She treated me so very well—with such tact—that, if I ever thought of it afterwards I put it down to her deep affection for me.†4 more the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them Show general definition the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
	4	top 200
sinisterevil They created a sinister plan to recruit terrorists.more Show sample from book Like one of those sinister jokes that Providence plays upon one.3 more evil, harmful, or frightening Show general definition evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
	6	top 2000
deterioratebecome worse The situation could quickly deteriorate.more Show sample from book And they themselves steadily deteriorated.†5 more deteriorate → deteriorated:became worse
	4	top 500
ostentatiousshowy (trying to attract notice and impress others in a manner seen as in bad taste) Although wealthy, the family is not ostentatious.more Show sample from book She opened the door of Ashburnham's room quite ostentatiously, so that Florence should hear her address Edward in terms of intimacy and liking.†3 more ostentatious → ostentatiously:in a manner intended to attract notice and impress others Show general definition intended to attract notice and impress others -- especially with wealth in a vulgar way
	5	top 2000
obstinatestubbornly not doing what others want She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.more Show sample from book And, from that moment, I determined with all the obstinacy of a possibly weak nature, if not to make her mine, at least to marry her.†4 more obstinate → obstinacy:the trait of being stubborn in not doing what others want
	3	top 500
benevolentkind, generous, or charitable They called themselves The Benevolent Association because their mission was to help others.more Show sample from book So it had looked very well—the benevolent, wealthy couple of good people, acting as saviours to the poor, dark-eyed, dying young thing.†2 more Show general definition kind, generous, or charitable
	4	top 1000
loathehate I make New Year's resolutions every year and then loathe myself for breaking them.more Show sample from book You might have thought that Leonora would be just calmly loathing and he lachrymosely contrite.†3 more loathe → loathing:disgust or intense dislike Show general definition hate, detest, or intensely dislike Show editor's word notes Word Confusion: Do not confuse loathe with loath which sounds very similar or the same. Loathe is a verb while loath is an adjective describing "reluctance or unwillingness to do something." Note that loathing and loathsome are forms of the verb loathe even though both word forms lack the "e". Occasionally, you will see loath spelled as loathe even in a published book, but it is rare enough that it is generally considered an error rather than a non-standard spelling.
	3	top 2000
minutetiny Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.more Show sample from book So when she got back to Branshaw she started, after less than a month, to worry him about the minutest items of his expenditure.4 more minute → minutest:smallest Show general definition for minute (as in: minute size) small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
	2
minute#2including even small considerations We discussed it in minute detail.more Show sample from book One remembers points that one has forgotten and one explains them all the more minutely since one recognizes that one has forgotten to mention them in their proper places and that one may have given, by omitting them, a false impression.4 more minute → minutely:with careful attention to detail Show general definition for minute (as in: minute description) detailed (including even small considerations); and/or careful (done with care)
	4	top 500
omnipotentall powerful When I was young, I believed in the myth of omnipotent science, technology and logic.more Show sample from book I suppose that they are reasonable words; it must be extraordinarily reasonable for her, if she can say that she believes in an Omnipotent Deity.†3 more Show general definition all powerful Show editor's word notes note: "omni" means "all". It is often said that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent (all powerful, all knowing, and all present; i.e., present everywhere)
	3	top 500
digressdigress → digresses:wanders from a direct course She always digresses when telling a story.more Show sample from book Is all this digression or isn't it digression?†2 more digress → digression:a wandering from a direct or straight course -- especially verbally Show general definition wander from a direct or straight course -- typically verbally
	5
remonstratecriticize or argue When she has a complaint with her staff, she will remonstrate quietly and in private.more Show sample from book And she just sat absolutely deaf to the remonstrances of the head waiter with his face like a grey ram's.†4 more remonstrate → remonstrances:arguments in protest or opposition Show general definition argue, complain, or criticize
	3	top 2000
contritesorry She apologized, but she didn't seem genuinely contrite.more Show sample from book You might have thought that Leonora would be just calmly loathing and he lachrymosely contrite.†2 more feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense Show general definition feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
	3	top 2000
odiousworthy of hate Though they think the country's government is odious, they're unwilling to help topple it for fear of the consequences.more Show sample from book On that 4th of August I was sitting in the lounge with a rather odious Englishman called Bagshawe, who had arrived that night, too late for dinner.†2 more extremely unpleasant, disgusting, dislikable, or worthy of hate Show general definition extremely unpleasant, disgusting, dislikable, or worthy of hate