How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents — Vocabulary
Julia Alvarez
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	1	top 100
analysisdetailed examination According to my analysis, we should focus on improving customer service.more Show sample from book She had read in a handwriting analysis book that this was the style of the self-assured.6 more understanding based upon examination Show general definition for analysis (as in: analysis of relevant data) the process or result of examining and thinking about something to better understand it
	6	top 2000
analysis#2psychiatric treatment I visited the psychiatrist who recommended I undergo analysis.more Show sample from book Carla, of course, knew the story well, and had analyzed it for unresolved childhood issues with her analyst husband.6 more analysis → analyst:psychiatrist Show general definition for analysis (as in: psychiatrist suggested analysis) psychiatric treatment -- (using any of many theories of the human mind that use talk therapy to understand the unconscious mind)
	7	top 500
confideconfide → confided:placed trust (in someone) by talking about private things She confided in me. I won't repeat what was said.more Show sample from book "The girls are having such fun," she heard her mother confide to Mrs. Fanning.6 more place trust (in someone) and talk about private things Show general definition to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
	5	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book "There have been some incidents lately," Tia Carmen says in a quiet voice that does not brook contradiction.†4 more contradict → contradiction:something (typically a statement) that disagrees with itself; or (more rarely) the act of disagreeing Show general definition disagree in various senses, including: to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony." to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened." to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
	8	top 1000
coaxgently persuade Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more Show sample from book Their high voices squealing with delight when Carla mispronounced some word they coaxed her to repeat.†7 more coax → coaxed:tried to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuaded Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
	1	top 1000
determinedfirmly planning I'm determined to become a lawyer.more Show sample from book She is determined to get over this allergy.1 more firm in purpose Show general definition for determined (as in: is determined to succeed) firm in purpose
	1	top 500
determinedetermine → determines:controls The research paper determines 50% of the class grade.more Show sample from book In the close quarters of an American nuclear family, their mother's prodigious energy was becoming a real drain on their self-determination.1 more determine → determination:the process of controlling how something turns out Show general definition for determine (as in: this game determines the champion) to control (how something will turn out)
	6	top 1000
immigrateimmigrate → immigrated:came to live (from another country) About 1 of each 8 people in the United States immigrated from somewhere else.more Show sample from book For the hundredth time, I cursed my immigrant origins.5 more immigrate → immigrant:person who came from another county to live Show general definition come to live in a new country
	7
preparatorygetting ready The preparatory school has a reputation for sending students to top colleges.more Show sample from book It was a long train ride up to our prep school in Boston, and there were guys on that train.6 more preparatory → prep school:preceding and preparing for something Show general definition done to get ready for something that will happen later
	6	top 1000
yearnstrongly desire or wish I yearn for her return.more Show sample from book Carla thought yearningly of the lush grasses and thick-limbed, vine-ladened trees around the compound back home.†5 more yearn → yearningly:with strong desire Show general definition have a strong desire -- often for something difficult or impossible to have
	6	top 2000
interrogateinterrogate → interrogation:the process of aggressively asking questions The CIA's controversial interrogation program lasted from 2002 to 2007.more Show sample from book The interrogation proceeded through a description of the man's appearance, and then the dreaded question came.5 more interrogate → interrogation:questioned in an aggressive manner Show general definition ask a series of questions of someone -- typically asked by law enforcement officials or by someone in an aggressive manner
	3	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 It gave solace to the third daughter, who was always so tentative and terrified and had such troubles with men.3 more careful or unsure 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)
	1	top 200
tentative#2subject to change (likely or possibly going to change) My plans are still tentative.more Show sample from book Those tenuous, tentative first life-impressions have scattered like reflections in a pond under the swirling hand of an older brother or sister saying, I remember the day you ate the rat poison, Carlos, or, I remember the day you fell down the stairs…3 more subject to change
	1	top 500
lapsetemporary failure Apparently, the error occurred because of a lapse in the air controller's concentration.more Show sample from book I guessed I'd resolved the soul and sin thing by lapsing from my heavy-duty Catholic background, giving up my immortal soul for a blues kind of soul.2 more lapse → lapsing:changing 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."
	2	top 500
lapse#2end or terminate She allowed her membership at the club to lapse.more Show sample from book Instead, I did something that even as a lapsed Catholic I still did for good luck on nights before exams.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
	1
coupthe sudden overthrow of a government by use of limited force A successful coup with no bloodshed.more Show sample from book But tonight, as we've agreed, we're staging a coup on the same Avenida where a decade ago the dictator was cornered and wounded on his way to a tryst with his mistress.3 more a sudden overthrow of a government by use of limited force Show general definition for coup (as in: deposed in the coup) the sudden overthrow of a government by use of limited force Show editor's word notes This sense of coup is also called a coup d'état.
	3
coup#2brilliant and notable success We consider it a coup for the University to get the new presidential library.more Show sample from book But the coup the youngest daughter most wanted was to reconcile with her father in a big way.3 more notable achievement Show general definition for coup (as in: a financial coup) a brilliant and notable success Show editor's word notes The term "coup de theatre" indicates a sensational moment in a theatrical stagecraft -- typically a surprise; or possibly a highly successful theatrical production.
	7
sonnetpoem of a particular form I like the sonnet that begins, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"more Show sample from book Our next workshop, no one understood what my sublimated love sonnet was all about, but Rudy's brought down the house.†6 more a poem consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme Show general definition a poem consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme Show editor's word notes As an example, here is Shakespeare's 17th Sonnet: Who will believe my verse in time to come, If it were fill'd with your most high deserts? Though yet, heaven knows, it is but as a tomb Which hides your life and shows not half your parts. If I could write the beauty of your eyes And in fresh numbers number all your graces, The age to come would say 'This poet lies: Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.' So should my papers yellow'd with their age Be scorn'd like old men of less truth than tongue, And your true rights be term'd a poet's rage And stretched meter of an antique song: But were some child of yours alive that time, You should live twice; in it and in my rhyme.
	3	top 1000
concuragree We concur on the action to be taken; though we disagree on the reasons.more Show sample from book Rudy would concur, "Me too," but then, he wouldn't move from his place at the foot of my bed next to my desk where I sat writing.†2 more Show general definition for concur (as in: I concur) to agree
	4	top 2000
vivacioushas an engaging liveliness She's a charming and vivacious hostess.more Show sample from book His bad boy always drove me to my vivacious good girl.†3 more having an engaging liveliness Show general definition having an engaging liveliness -- when said of a person, typically said of a female