The Color of Water — Vocabulary
James McBride
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by chapter of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	29
synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more Show sample from book She'd had no problems walking into the synagogue.28 more a place where members of the Jewish faith worship Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
	2	top 500
resolveresolve → resolved:decided This year I resolved to lose a pound a week for 5 weeks.more Show sample from book I knew Jack was right, and when I got back to New York in the fall of 1973 for my junior year in high school I resolved to jump back into my studies and rebuild myself.4 more Show general definition for resolve (as in: I resolved to stop drinking.) to decide -- typically a firm or formal decision Show editor's word notes In modern writing resolve is typically used to emphasize a firm or formal decision. In classic literature, it is used more frequently and often simply replaces decide or determine.
	3	top 500
resolve#2determination (firmness of purpose) She never waivered in her resolve to attend a good college.more Show sample from book Like most mothers, she wielded tremendous power and my staunch resolve would crumble like a sandcastle before her frontal assaults, which were like tidal waves.4 more determination (firmness in holding to his decision) Show general definition for resolve (as in: Her resolve weakened.) firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
	9	top 500
congregationpeople who worship together in the same building It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.more Show sample from book He was used to us getting hand-me-downs from the congregations and that was fine with him.8 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	11	top 2000
orthodoxnormal The new findings challenge orthodox views.more Show sample from book I was born an Orthodox Jew10 more conforming to traditional religious practices Show general definition normal (describing thinking or behavior as commonly or traditionally accepted)
	10
metropolitancity Do you live in the metropolitan area?more Show sample from book That elite list included my late father, the late Rev. W. Abner Brown of Metropolitan Baptist in Harlem, our family friend Rev. Edward Belton, and a few others, all of whom were black, and with the exception of Rev. Belton, quite dead.†9 more relating to or characteristic of a large city Show general definition relating to or characteristic of a large city
	5	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 They were all old women, immigrants who had come over with their children, and America fascinated them.†4 more immigrate → immigrants:people who came to live in a new country Show general definition come to live in a new country
	3	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book Mommy's contradictions crashed and slammed against one another like bumper cars at Coney Island.†2 more contradict → contradictions:things that disagree with themselves; or (more rarely) acts 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."
	2	top 100
explicitprecisely and clearly expressed She gave us explicit instructions.more Show sample from book She hung up the phone and summoned my brother Richie to the kitchen, gave him carfare and explicit instructions:1 more clear and detailed Show general definition for explicit (as in: explicit instructions) clear and with enough detail so there is no confusion Show editor's word notes Shared information is often divided into two categories: explicit and implicit
	2	top 100
alternativealternative → alternatives:possibilities Let's think of at least three alternatives before we decide what to do.more Show sample from book Of course the alternative was Tateh would pull his belt off and skin you alive.1 more other possibility Show general definition for alternative (as in: an alternative plan) a different choice or possibility, or describing something that offers a different choice or possibility
	2	top 100
dominatecontrol Democrats dominate the committee.more Show sample from book the home was run by one dominating figure with strict rules and regulations.1 more dominate → dominating:controlling; or most influential or powerful Show general definition to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
	3	top 1000
impendingabout to happen She plans to spend more time on that after her impending retirement.more Show sample from book "It's still light," I'd suggest, my voice wavering, as my siblings gathered behind her to watch the impending slaughter.†2 more Show general definition about to happen -- especially of something unpleasant or feared
	3	top 1000
naivenaive → naïve:lacking the understanding or sophistication that comes from experience She criticized America's naïve foreign policy.more Show sample from book Helen was the second-eldest of my sisters, all of whom were gentle, naive, talkative, and curious, which is why Mommy kept them off the street and away from men at all times.†2 more lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them Show general definition lacking experience or sophistication, and the understanding that comes from them -- often too trusting or optimistic
	2	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 spoke eloquently, with reverence1 more revere → reverence:feelings of deep respect and admiration Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	1
Shivaimportant Hindu god worshipped as the destroyer (or transformer who destroys in order to re-create) It is a Hindu sect that worships Shiva.more Show sample from book They buried him before sundown that day and we sat shiva for him.4 more Jewish tradition: a period of seven days of mourning after the death of close relative
	2	top 1000
clairvoyancehe supposed ability to know things beyond normal perception The detective's ability to solve cold cases seemed almost like clairvoyance, though it was really just careful observation and intuition.more Show sample from book She sometimes wrapped her head in scarves and worked as a cook and domestic, usually for white people, but beneath her domestic look was an intelligent, clairvoyant woman who understood more about me as a mixed child than I understood about myself.†1 more clairvoyance → clairvoyant:to perceive things beyond the natural range of the senses Show general definition to perceive things beyond the natural range of the senses -- especially foreseeing the future
	2
bourgeoistypical middle class Our lifestyle upsets their bourgeois sensibilities.more Show sample from book She couldn't stand racists of either color and had great distaste for bourgeois blacks who sought to emulate rich whites by...1 more typical of the middle class or their values and habits Show general definition typical of the middle class or their values and habits - typically used disapprovingly or (in Marxist theory): typical of the property-owning class Show editor's word notes Bourgeois is often used to refer to the values of the upper middle class. You may also see the term petit bourgeois to describe very small business owners. Note that bourgeois, bourgeoisie, and bourgeoise are often interchanged. Bourgeois is most common and can be used as an adjective or a noun. Bourgeoisie is typically used only as a noun, and bourgeoise is occasionally used as an alternate spelling of bourgeois.
	2
macabregruesome or death-related It is a macabre tale of the walking dead.more Show sample from book Finding Ruthie Back in June 1993, during the course of putting together Mommy's will-something I had to force her to do-the macabre subject of her burial came up.†1 more disturbing and related to death or horror -- especially in a grim or eerie way Show general definition disturbing and related to death or horror -- especially in a grim or eerie way
	2
opportunefavorable They launched their company at an opportune time.more Show sample from book During the rare, inopportune social moments when I found myself squeezed between black and white, I fled to the black side,1 more opportune → inopportune:bad circumstances Show context notes The prefix "in-" in inopportune means not and reverses the meaning of opportune. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure. Show general definition favorable circumstances for a particular purpose -- especially the circumstance of good timing
	2
dowrymoney or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage She was given her inheritance in the form of a dowry.more Show sample from book Kosher My parents' marriage was put together by a rov, a rabbi of a high order who goes to each of the parents and sees about the dowry and arranges the marriage contract properly according to Jewish law, which meant love had nothing to do with it.†1 more in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at… Show general definition in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage or less formally: money or property a bride brings to a marriage