Native Son — Vocabulary
Richard Wright
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by book of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	70	top 2000
communisman economic system that abolishes private ownership of property with the goal of a classless society A challenge with communism is that it is harder to know how to allocate capital when prices are subjective rather than the product of individual valuations.†more Show sample from book He had heard about unions; in his mind unions and Communists were linked.69 more communism → communists:people who support an economic system that abolishes private ownership of property
	26	top 1000
tauttight The string is pulled taut.more Show sample from book His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting and violent to relieve the tautness.†25 more taut → tautness:pulled or drawn tight; OR subjected to great tension Show general definition pulled or drawn tight; or: subjected to great tension
	17	top 500
motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book But he had to stand here until that picture came back, that motive, that driving desire to escape the law.†16 more Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
	17	top 2000
defendanta person (or institution) legally accused or sued in court The defendant is confident she will be found innocent.more Show sample from book The judge rapped for order and asked, "Is the defendant ready to enter a plea to this indictment?"†16 more a person or institution legally accused or sued in court
	10	top 500
evokeevoke → evoked:aroused Her story evoked sympathy.more Show sample from book Every slight movement in the street evoked a casual curiosity in him.†9 more evoke → evoked:called forth or caused Show general definition to call forth or cause -- typically to arouse an emotion or bring a memory to mind
	9	top 200
enableenable → enables:makes possible The test enables earlier identification of autism.more Show sample from book He held his hand over her mouth and his head was cocked at an angle that enabled him to see Mary and Mrs. Dalton by merely shifting his eyes.†8 more enable → enabled:made possible Show general definition to make possible in various senses, including: to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something -- as in "The study will enable an informed discussion." to activate a computer system for use -- as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page." to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern -- as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
	11	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book To Bigger it was plainly a bewildered and questioning look, a look that asked: What on earth is wrong with him?†10 more bewilder → bewildered:confused Show general definition to confuse someone
	13	top 2000
hysteriastate of excessive, uncontrolled emotion We need to get past the hysteria and decide what to do.more Show sample from book He frowned in the darkened movie, hearing the roll of tom-toms and the screams of black men and women dancing free and wild, men and women who were adjusted to their soil and at home in their world, secure from fear and hysteria.†12 more a state of excessive, uncontrollable emotion Show general definition a state of excessive, uncontrollable emotion Show editor's word notes In addition to being the adjective form of hysteria, the form hysterical can also indicate that something is exceedingly funny (leading to uncontrollable laughter)
	10	top 1000
wistfulwistful → wistfully:showing longing or unfulfilled desire Sitting in her wheelchair, the old woman looked wistfully at the young dancers.more Show sample from book "Yeah," Bigger said, wistfully.†9 more wistful → wistfully:with longing or unfulfilled desire
	10	top 1000
yearnstrongly desire or wish I yearn for her return.more Show sample from book He knew that whites thought that all Negroes yearned for white women, therefore he wanted to show a certain fearful deference even when one's name was mentioned in his presence.†9 more yearn → yearned:strongly desired Show general definition have a strong desire -- often for something difficult or impossible to have
	9	top 1000
elatedhappy and excited I felt elated the first day of summer break.more Show sample from book He walked over the snow, feeling giddy and elated.8 more had a feeling of happiness and excitement Show general definition full of happiness and excitement
	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 I shall resign my office...2 more resignation → resign:quit from Show general definition for resignation (as in: submitted her resignation) to quit -- especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
	2	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 ...a sigh of resignation, a giving up, a surrender of something more than her body.2 more acceptance of 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
	8	top 2000
poisecomposure (calm confidence -- even when under pressure) She has great charm and great poise.more Show sample from book The silver lightning flashed in his eyes and he knew that the men had taken pictures of him with the cat poised upon his shoulder.†7 more poise → poised:calm, confident, and in control Show general definition calm, confident, and in control—especially in movement, behavior, or when ready to act
	9	top 500
mitigatemitigate → mitigating:serving to make less harmful or unpleasant Don't judge her so harshly until you consider the mitigating circumstances.more Show sample from book And, also, the law permits the offering of evidence toward the mitigation of punishment.8 more mitigate → mitigation:reduction (of something bad) Show general definition make less harmful or unpleasant
	10
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 The rattling of the tiny lumps against the tin sides of the chute came loudly to his ears as the oblong mound of red fire turned gradually black and blazed from the fanwise spreading of coal whirling into the furnace.†9 more 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
	2	top 100
omitomit → omitted:left out She recounted the whole story except that she omitted names.more Show sample from book I omitted to mention her until now because she was largely omitted from the consciousness of Bigger Thomas.† omit → omitted:to exclude or neglect something Show general definition to exclude or neglect something
	4	top 2000
aspirationdesire Her aspiration to become a famous author motivated her to write every day.more Show sample from book Dimly, he felt that there should be one direction in which he and all other black people could go whole-heartedly" that there should be a way in which gnawing hunger and restless aspiration could be fused" that there should be a manner of acting that caught the mind and body in certainty and faith.†3 more Show general definition a desire to achieve something
	4
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 Show sample from book The Grand Jury will determine whether the testimony offered here has any relation or not.†3 more 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
	2	top 500
latentpotentially existing but not presently active She is unschooled, but I think she has latent talent as an engineer.more Show sample from book Who, then, fanned this latent hate into fury?1 more potentially existing but not presently evident or active Show general definition potentially existing but not presently evident or active