A Death in the Family — Vocabulary
James Agee
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	10	top 1000
endureendure → endured:suffered through I endured insult and injury without complaint.more Show sample from book Just do your best to endure it and...10 more suffer through Show general definition for endure (as in: endured the pain) to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
	1	top 1000
endure#2continue to exist She is gone, but her teachings endure through the ages.more Show sample from book the thing she resented with enduring anger and distaste,10 more endure → enduring:lasting (continuing to exist through time) Show general definition for endure (as in: endure through the ages) to continue to exist
	15	top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book You look very nice, she said, studying him earnestly, as if he were her son.†14 more earnest → earnestly:sincerely or seriously Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
	13	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book Well He doesn't, Rufus insisted, angry and bewildered at the turn the discussion had taken.†12 more bewilder → bewildered:confused Show general definition to confuse someone
	10	top 1000
deceivemislead The plan was to deceive the Germans into believing the main attack would take place further north.more Show sample from book I think it's just a perfect shame, deceiving a little child like that who's been brought up to trust people, and laughing right in his face!†9 more deceive → deceiving:lying or misleading Show general definition to lie to or mislead someone -- occasionally to lie to oneself by denying reality
	11	top 1000
contemptlack of respect Familiarity breeds contempt.more Show sample from book ...their astonished contempt at his complete lack of spirit to strike out against his tormentors,10 more Show general definition for contempt (as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust Show editor's word notes A famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion". (6th century BC) When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony. The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices."
	8	top 1000
reproachreproach → reproached:criticized and expressed disappointment She reproached him for treating his sister so thoughtlessly.more Show sample from book And if I do break down, why don't reproach yourself.†7 more a criticism; or to express criticism Show general definition a criticism; or to express criticism or disappointment -- especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame Show editor's word notes The expression "beyond reproach" is often used to indicate that one must not only be careful to do everything right, but must be careful not to do anything that might make people suspect they did something wrong. For example, politicians often need to behave in a manner that is beyond reproach. "Beyond reproach" can also suggest that something is perfect. More rarely, it can also be used to suggest that someone is too powerful or too well-connected to criticize.
	1	top 100
consequenceconsequence → consequences:results Your decision will have three major consequences.more Show sample from book She would remember, every ten minutes or so, to inquire courteously whether he was tired, but he was seldom tired in her company; with her, he never felt embarrassment in saying he had to go to the bathroom, for she never seemed annoyed, but in consequence he seldom found it necessary to go when they came together on these downtown trips.†1 more result Show general definition for consequence (as in: a direct consequence of) a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
	1	top 1000
consequence#2consequence → consequential:important Think carefully. This is a consequential decision.more Show sample from book Sometimes on these evenings his father would hum a little and the humming would break open into a word or two, but he never finished even a part of a tune, for silence was even more pleasurable, and sometimes he would say a few words, of very little consequence, but would never seek to say much, or to finish what he was saying, or to listen for a reply; for silence again was even more pleasurable.†1 more importance Show general definition for consequence (as in: of little consequence) importance or relevance
	7	top 1000
incredulousdifficult to believe I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.more Show sample from book This is crazy, he told himself incredulously.†6 more incredulous → incredulously:with disbelief; or with difficulty accepting something so unexpected Show general definition unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
	6	top 500
indifferentwithout interest About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.more Show sample from book Rufus had never seen him so indifferent; and the instant he saw him, he knew that he would never see him otherwise.†5 more Show general definition without interest in various senses, including: unconcerned -- as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat." unsympathetic -- as in "She is indifferent to his needs." not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) -- as in "an indifferent performance" impartial -- as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
	8	top 2000
audiblecapable of being heard She spoke in a barely audible whisper.more Show sample from book An auto engine bore behind the edge of audibility the furious expletives of its incompetence.†7 more audible → audibility:the state of or degree to which something can be heard
	5	top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more Show sample from book Why can't we just keep a reverent silence!†4 more revere → reverent:feeling or showing respect and admiration Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	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 Just ask, she said again, and he nodded again; a strange, cold excitement was rising in him; and in a cold intuition that it would be kind, and gratefully received, he kissed her.†4 more the ability to known instinctively rather than through reasoning; or the thing that is known in such a way Show general definition something known based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning; or the ability to know things in such a manner
	5	top 2000
prostratelying face downward on the ground It is their custom to worship five times a day, prostrate and facing toward Mecca.more Show sample from book The moistures of May drowned all save the most ardent stars, and gave back to the earth the sublimated light of the prostrate city.†4 more lying down - typically face downward on the ground as in submission Show general definition lying down - typically face downward on the ground as in submission
	3	top 1000
vindictiveinclined to seek revenge or desirous of hurting others Not being vindictive by nature, Grant did what he could to see that the Confederate prisoners were treated well.more Show sample from book She broke from him and with an almost vindictive sense of violation sat heavily at the edge of the bed, just where it was turned down, next the plumped pillows.†2 more desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone Show general definition desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone
	2	top 500
annihilatecompletely defeat and destroy She reported that "ISIS needs to understand the Joint Force is on orders to annihilate them."more Show sample from book She felt at once calm and annihilating emptiness, and a cold and overwhelming fullness.†1 more annihilate → annihilating:to completely destroy or defeat Show general definition to completely destroy or defeat
	2	top 1000
discreditdamage the reputation of She spoke only of her strengths, but others on her campaign staff worked to discredit her opponent.more Show sample from book She looked at him very searchingly; without quite knowing why, he felt he had been discovered in a discreditable secret.†1 more discredit → discreditable:tending to damage the reputation of Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Show general definition damage the reputation of -- often causing distrust of or disbelief in
	2	top 1000
scrupulouscareful and thorough You can count on her. She is scrupulous in her work.more Show sample from book He set the knot carefully above the button, glaring into his reflected eyes, made an unusually scrupulous part in his hair, and hurried to the kitchen table.†1 more careful to behave ethically and/or diligently Show general definition careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
	2	top 2000
banaluninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual The movie was banal, but it led to a fascinating conversation.more Show sample from book He began to realize the emotion, and the loneliness, behind the banality of what she had said; he was ashamed of himself to have answered as if it were merely banal.†1 more banal → banality:something that is uninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual Show general definition uninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual Show editor's word notes Pronunciation: Banal is correctly pronounced differently by various educated speakers of American English.