A Hope in the Unseen — Vocabulary
Ron Suskind
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	37	top 2000
providenceluck; or God's plan On the eve of battle, he prayed that providence was in our favor.more Show sample from book There it is: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.†36 more resulting from God's intervention or plan; or lucky Show general definition for providence (as in: divine providence) resulting from God's intervention or plan; or lucky -- especially with regard to when something happened
	25	top 1000
urbancity The planners want to revitalize the downtown and limit urban sprawl.more Show sample from book He's a trailblazing professor of education at the University of Illinois who often works at solving the dilemmas of educating the urban poor.24 more Show general definition relating to a city
	17	top 1000
diversitythe condition of variety Diversity has strengthened our Board of Directors.more Show sample from book The first step is to agree that most people share the goal of true diversity, with many races competing freely and successfully.16 more Show general definition the condition of variety -- especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
	21	top 2000
physicsthe science of matter and energy In physics class, we learned how gravity affects falling objects.more Show sample from book Cedric Jennings gazes at the silvery mesh intercom speaker above the blackboard in Advanced Physics.†20 more Show general definition the science of matter and energy and their interactions
	9	top 100
perspectiveway of seeing or thinking about things A child who was abused with have a different perspective of family life than one raised in a nurturing home.more Show sample from book He needs to make his points and then back it all up with something other than his personal perspective or experiences.†8 more way of seeing and thinking about things Show general definition for perspective (as in: Look at it from her perspective) a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
	8	top 100
contextcontext → out of context:in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted) She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.more Show context notes When someone is quoted "out of context" it means that selected words were quoted that misrepresent the meaning of all their words. For example, if you said "I admire their effort, but they are dead wrong if they think this will work," and someone implied that you supported their plan by quoting you as only saying, "I admire their effort," they would be quoting you out of context. Show sample from book But he can't relate it to anything; he sees only strange terms in a foreign context.†7 more the setting or situation in which something occurs Show general definition the setting or situation in which something occurs
	13	top 2000
paroleconditional early release from imprisonment Being home by 10 pm is one of the conditions of my parole.more Show sample from book But then it dawns on him that any prospect of parole might be changed by this work/release cancellation.†12 more conditional early release from imprisonment in which a person is required to com… Show general definition for parole (as in: released on parole) conditional early release from imprisonment in which a person is required to comply with special conditions
	9	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book He pauses from the recollection for a moment, sits up, pillow propped against the cinder blocks, and gathers himself.†8 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.
	9	top 500
crucialvery important Doing well on the ACT is crucial to getting into the college I want to attend.more Show sample from book No one understands that this is the crucial moment for a show of academic force, a display of pure will.†8 more Show general definition very important or necessary -- often because it determines how something else will turn out
	12
evictioneviction → evicted:forced someone to leave their home The owner evicted the tenants because they didn't pay their rent.more Show sample from book If it goes two weeks, eviction proceedings commence and legal fees swiftly pile up.†11 more the process of forcing someone to leave a place Show general definition the process of forcing someone to leave a place -- typically from a home due to non-payment
	8	top 500
dilemmahard choice It is an ethical dilemma.more Show sample from book He's a trailblazing professor of education at the University of Illinois who often works at solving the dilemmas of educating the urban poor.†7 more dilemma → dilemmas:situations in which difficult choices must be made between imperfect alternatives Show general definition a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
	8	top 500
indulgeindulge → indulges:allows them to get their way She indulges her children more than is good for them.more Show sample from book The dance teacher applauds zestily as he finishes, and Phil, a blush appearing on his light skin, indulges a bow.†7 more indulge → indulges:enjoys to excess Show general definition to give in to a desire or allow someone to enjoy or experience something -- especially something pleasurable
	8	top 500
conspicuouseasy to notice She tried not to look conspicuous as she slipped into class after the tardy bell.more Show sample from book He has rarely felt so conspicuously black.†7 more conspicuous → conspicuously:easily noticed Show general definition easily noticed -- typically attracting attention such as by being large, flashy, or unusual
	9	top 1000
narrativeStory He titled his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.more Show sample from book After a moment, Vida attempts to wrestle Cedric's point about shared values and common ground back to the preordained narrative.†8 more story Show general definition for narrative (as in: Narrative of the Life of...) a story; or related to a story
	8	top 2000
paragonmodel of excellence She is viewed as a paragon of integrity.more Show sample from book All it takes to eat well at Cafe Paragon on Thayer Street, where the eavesdropping is superb, is $10.†7 more an ideal instance; OR model of excellence Show general definition an ideal instance; or model of excellence
	5	top 1000
authenticityquality of being real or original The court confirmed the authenticity of the Anne Frank diary.more Show sample from book In this crowd of assimilated, careerist black and Hispanic kids, it is he, Cedric-king of the Ballou nerds, bottom of the Southeast D.C. pecking order-who can claim a particular brand of racial authenticity.†4 more quality of being real or true Show general definition quality of being real or true
	5	top 2000
discreteseparate We collected data from three discrete studies.more Show sample from book He looks across the room in this upper-level course and decides, then and there, that he'll sign up for discrete math-and stick with all the other classes.†4 more separate or distinct Show general definition separate or distinct
	3	top 500
altercationfight She got in a physical altercation and was expelled.more Show sample from book Fortunately, his math class is the next doorway and he slips into the almost empty classroom, relieved to have avoided an altercation.†2 more a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight Show general definition a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight
	3	top 1000
sumptuousmagnificent The guests were treated to a sumptuous feast, with an array of delicious dishes and desserts.more Show sample from book Donald excuses himself and moves to a central spot in the sumptuous living room to give a toast, holding out his crystal glass of white wine.†2 more magnificent (impressively wonderful) -- often indicating something expensive Show general definition magnificent (impressively wonderful) -- often indicating something expensive
	2	top 500
abysmalvery bad The refugee camp has abysmal living conditions.more Show sample from book Among other things, it crowds out a vision that drove him all but crazy: the look on some MIT professor's face when he sees Cedric's abysmal score of 75 out of a possible 160 on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT.†1 more