Murder in the Cathedral — Vocabulary
T. S. Eliot
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	29	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 Who has stretched out his hand to the fire and remembered the Saints at All Hallows, Remembered the martyrs and saints who wait?†28 more martyr → martyrs:dies or suffers due to upholding principle; or people who have suffered such a fate 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
	4	top 1000
grandeurimpressive magnificence The hotel is well past the days of its grandeur.†more Show sample from book What earthly glory, of king or emperor, What earthly pride, that is not poverty Compared with richness of heavenly grandeur?†3 more Show general definition impressive magnificence -- usually on a grand (large) scale
	2	top 100
precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more Show sample from book I always precede expectation.†1 more to go or do before Show general definition to go or do before
	3	top 500
deceptiondeceiving or misleading The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more Show sample from book Ambition fortifies the will of man to become ruler over other men: it operates with deception, cajolery, and violence, it is the action of impurity upon impurity.†2 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
	5	top 2000
pretensepretending Nobody is fooled by her pretense.more Show sample from book For a little time the hungry hawk Will only soar and hover, circling lower, Waiting excuse, pretence, opportunity.†4 more pretense → pretence:a false appearance or action to help one pretend Show context notes This is a British spelling. Americans use pretense. Show general definition a false appearance or action to help one pretend Show editor's word notes This is sometimes seen in the expression "false pretense" or "false pretenses" which is just emphasizing that behavior or actions do not reflect the true situation.
	2	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book Shall the Son of Man be born again in the litter of scorn?†1 more disrespect or reject as not good enough Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	2	top 500
perpetualcontinuing forever A perpetual flame burns beside the grave of John F. Kennedy.more Show sample from book We can lean on a rock, we can feel a firm foothold Against the perpetual wash of tides of balance of forces of barons and land holders.†1 more continuing forever without change; OR occurring so frequently it seems constant Show general definition continuing forever without change; or occurring so frequently it seems constant
	2	top 500
engrossedwith all attention focused She was so engrossed in her conversation; she didn't realize the bell had rung.more Show sample from book My Lord, forgive me, I did not see you coming, Engrossed by the chatter of these foolish women.†1 more Show general definition for engrossed (as in: engrossed in the book) with all attention focused
	2	top 500
parcheddried out Nothing will grow in this parched soil.more Show sample from book And war among men defiles this world, but death in the Lord renews it, And the world must be cleaned in the winter, or we shall have only A sour spring, a parched summer, an empty harvest.†1 more dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty Show general definition dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty
	3	top 2000
defiledefile → defiled:polluted They defiled the river by emptying raw sewage into it.more Show sample from book And war among men defiles this world, but death in the Lord renews it, And the world must be cleaned in the winter, or we shall have only A sour spring, a parched summer, an empty harvest.†2 more defile → defiles:spoils the beauty or purity of something Show general definition to spoil the beauty or purity of something in various senses, including: pollute a pristine lake harm a reputation or good name damage or disrespect something sacred take a person's virginity in a disrespectful way
	3	top 1000
deprivedeprive → deprived:left without a basic comfort The storm deprived the town of electricity.more Show sample from book Why should he wish To deprive my people of me and keep me from my own And bid me sit in Canterbury, alone?†2 more to take away or keep from having Show general definition to take away or keep from having
	2	top 1000
dispeldrive away She tried to dispel the tension in the room with a lighthearted joke.more Show sample from book And when the Archbishop returns Our doubts are dispelled.†1 more dispel → dispelled:to drive away or put an end to something -- especially a feeling, idea, or doubt Show general definition to drive away or put an end to something -- especially a feeling, idea, or doubt
	1	top 10
inferfigure out or guess by reasoning Which of the following facts can you infer from the first paragraph?more Show sample from book He used every tneane of provocation; from his conduct, step by step, there can be no inference except that he had determined upon a death by martyrdom.† infer → inference:conclusion (reached by reasoning) Show general definition to figure out or guess by reasoning
	3	top 2000
mirthfun and laughter The room filled with mirth as the friends shared stories and laughed late into the night.more Show sample from book Now that the King and you are in amity, Clergy and laity may return to gaiety, Mirth and —sportfulness need not walk warily, Thomas.†2 more
	2	top 2000
enmityhatred between enemies The war has deepened tribal enmity.more Show sample from book Sooner shall enmity turn to alliance.†1 more hatred Show general definition hatred toward someone or between people -- typically long-lasting Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): "Enmity" is used in place of synonyms like "hatred" to indicate a feeling that runs deeper and is typically longer in the making.
	2
desecratedesecrate → desecrated:violated the sacred nature of They desecrated the cemetery on Halloween night.more Show sample from book The Church lies bereft', Alone, desecrated, desolated, and the hea then shall build on the ruins, Their world without God, I see it.†1 more desecrate → desecrated:violated the sacred nature of something Show general definition violate the sacred nature of something
	2
subsistsurvive Fortunately, the museum doesn't have to subsist entirely on admission charges.more Show sample from book But both are fixed In an eternal action, an eternal patience To which all must consent that it may be willed And which all must suffer that they may will it, That the pattern may subsist, for the pattern is the action And the suffering, that the wheel may turn and still Be forever still.†1 more Show general definition to survive or exist -- especially without being able to manage comforts or luxuries
	1	top 500
refuterefute → refuted:argued against The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments.more Show sample from book If you make charges, Then in public I will refute them.† disprove or argue against Show general definition to disprove or argue against
	1	top 1000
concuragree We concur on the action to be taken; though we disagree on the reasons.more Show sample from book Had Becket concurred with the King's wishes, we should have had an almost ideal State: a union of spiritual and temporal administration, under the central government.† concur → concurred:agreed Show general definition for concur (as in: I concur) to agree
	1	top 2000
conciliatoryintended to end bad feelings or build trust Their statements are conciliatory, but their actions are uncompromising.more Show sample from book Every means that had been tried to conciliate him, to restore him to reason, had failed* Now I have unimpeachable evidence to the effect that before he left France he clearly prophesied, in the presence of numerous witnesses, that he had not long to live, and that he would be killed in England.† conciliatory → conciliate:attempt to end bad feelings or build trust