The Glass Menagerie — Vocabulary
Tennessee Williams
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	9	top 1000
transparentcapable of being seen through with clarity The transparent shower door shows water spots.more Show sample from book In an old-fashioned whatnot in the living room are seen scores of transparent glass animals.8 more able to be seen through Show general definition for transparent (as in: transparent shower door) able to be seen through with clarity
	4	top 500
deceptiondeceiving or misleading The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more Show sample from book AMANDA: You did all this to deceive me, just for deception?†3 more the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads Show general definition the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
	2	top 100
conventionconvention → conventional:normal It was once conventional wisdom that the earth is flat.more Show sample from book The narrator is an undisguised convention of the play.1 more something treated as normal Show general definition for convention (as in: conventional behavior) something regarded as normal or typical
	5	top 2000
martyrmartyr → martyrdom:someone who dies upholding religious principles Many believe that all the Apostles were martyred except John; however, the Bible reports only on the martyrdom of James.more Show sample from book Amanda leans against the shut door and stares at Laura with a martyred look.4 more martyr → martyred:like someone who has suffered for the sake of principle Show general definition someone who is killed or made to suffer greatly for their beliefs, often unjustly; or someone who acts as if they suffer a lot; or to make someone into such a person
	3	top 1000
ominousthreatening I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.more Show sample from book The music becomes ominous.2 more threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come) Show general definition threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
	2	top 200
optimisticexpecting the best I'm optimistic that I'll get into a good college.more Show sample from book Then vitality and optimism return and she turns from the door, crossing to the portieres.†1 more optimistic → optimism:a tendency to expect and see the best in all things Show general definition expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
	4	top 2000
acquaintcause to know better You should acquaint yourself with the new computer program.more Show sample from book You see, I wasn't acquainted with many-people.3 more acquaint → acquainted:a friend or associate; or familiar with Show general definition to cause to know; or to cause to be familiar with
	3	top 2000
discreetdiscreet → discreetly:in a manner that is unlikely to attract attention I leave my phone on silent mode, so it can alert me discreetly when I receive a text message.more Show sample from book The only way to find out about those things is to make discreet inquiries at the proper moment.2 more unobtrusively (in a manner that doesn't attract attention) Show general definition for discreet (as in: discreet--not showy or gossipy) trustworthy with secrets or subtle (not attracting attention) Show editor's word notes This sense of discreet sometimes indicates that something is small (so as not to attract attention) as in "discreet earrings."
	2	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book She looks at it with a tender, bewildered expression.†1 more bewilder → bewildered:confused Show general definition to confuse someone
	1	top 100
varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book To vary that old, old saying a little bit-I married no planter!† differ; or change Show general definition to be different, or to change Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
	1	top 100
primarilymainly Did the author mention multiple companies primarily to demonstrate diversity of solutions or to show that interest in the industry is widespread?more Show sample from book JIM: Primarily it amounts to-social poise!† Show general definition mainly (most importantly)
	1	top 100
alludeallude → alluded:indirectly referenced He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.more Show sample from book An evening at home rarely passed without some allusion to this image, this specter, this hope. allude → allusion:indirect reference Show general definition to make an indirect reference Show editor's word notes The expression, no allusion can mean "not even an indirect reference"; i.e., neither a direct nor an indirect reference to something.
	2	top 2000
audiblecapable of being heard She spoke in a barely audible whisper.more Show sample from book AMANDA [faintly, almost inaudibly]: —No.1 more audible → inaudibly:unhearable (because she speaks so softly) Show context notes The prefix "in-" in inaudibly means not and reverses the meaning of audibly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
	2	top 2000
jeopardydanger (of suffering a loss) She is in jeopardy of being kicked off the team.more Show sample from book What right have you got to jeopardize your job?1 more jeopardy → jeopardize:put in danger of loss Show context notes The suffix "-ize" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize. Show general definition in danger of misfortune or suffering a loss
	11
menageriecollection of animals The traveling circus included a menagerie of lions, tigers, and exotic birds.more Show sample from book Mother calls them a glass menagerie! Here's an example of one, if you'd like to see it! This one is one of the oldest.10 more a collection of wild animals in captivity Show general definition a collection of wild or unusual animals kept for exhibition; or more generally, a diverse or strange mixture of people or things
	1	top 1000
tumultloud disorderly noise The announcement was greeted with such a tumult that the speaker couldn't be heard.more Show sample from book ...as the music swells tumultuously.1 more tumult → tumultuously:in a loud, unrestrained manner Show general definition for tumult (as in: couldn't hear over the tumult) loud noise -- usually created by an unrestrained crowd or some kind of confusion
	1	top 1000
tumult#2confusion or disorder There was tumult in Tijuana as drug cartels fought for control.more Show sample from book She remains by the table, picks up a piece from the glass menagerie collection, and turns it in her hands to cover her tumult.1 more turmoil (confusion)
	2	top 100
narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience) The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more Show sample from book The narrator is an undisguised convention of the play.†1 more storyteller Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance
	3
fiascocomplete failure Their battle plan was a fiasco. They were in retreat after five minutes.more Show sample from book After the fiasco at Rubicam's Business College, the idea of getting a gentleman caller for Laura began to play a more and more important part in Mother's calculations.2 more something that was a complete failure Show general definition a complete failure or humiliating situation
	2	top 2000
vivacioushas an engaging liveliness She's a charming and vivacious hostess.more Show sample from book When people have some slight disadvantage like that, they cultivate other things to make up for it-develop charm-and vivacity-and-charm!1 more vivacious → vivacity:engaging liveliness Show general definition having an engaging liveliness -- when said of a person, typically said of a female