The Book Thief — Vocabulary
Markus Zusak
(Edited)

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Book sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	7	top 2000
patheticpitiful (arousing pity) That pathetic woman. The fact that harder times were coming was surely the best reason for keeping Rosa employed, but no, they fired her.p.261.411 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) She was pathetic as she tried to salvage her dignity.more
	5	top 2000
pathetic#2embarrassingly bad He got strangled and cut up more than twenty years ago! ... He's dead and it's pathetic that you sit here shivering in your own house to suffer for it.p.262.911 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) It was a pathetic attempt to insult me.more so bad it was laughable Show general definition for pathetic (as in: a pathetic attempt to insult me) very bad -- possibly so bad it is laughable (possibly mixed with some feeling of pity)
	5	top 2000
attributecharacteristic AN ATTRIBUTE OF ROSA HUBERMANN: She was a good woman for a crisis.p.211.95 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) The spreadsheet has a column to describe the breed of dog and then ten additional columns to indicate attributes of the breeds. For example, the second column has the average full-grown weight.more attribute → attributes:characteristics Show general definition for attribute (as in: It is an attribute of...) a characteristic or feature (of something or someone)
	1	top 100
attribute#2attribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the cause of) Was he really a coward, as his son had so brutally pointed out? Certainly, in World War I, he considered himself one. He attributed his survival to it.p.106.95 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) She attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.more attribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the source of) Show general definition for attribute (as in: I attribute it to...) to credit (a source for something) in two typical senses: "I attribute it to her work." -- to say who or what made something happen "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." -- indicate the source of a quotation or idea
	4	top 100
consequenceconsequence → consequences:undesired effects On Friday, a statement arrived to say that Hans Hubermann was to be drafted into the German army. A member of the party would be happy to play a role in the war effort, it concluded. If he wasn't, there would certainly be consequences.p.417.54 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Your decision will have three major consequences.more consequence → consequences:results Show general definition for consequence (as in: a direct consequence of) a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
	1	top 1000
consequence#2importance Just bad luck. That's what you say. Of no consequence. That's what you make yourself believe—because deep down, you know that this small piece of changing fortune is a signal of things to come.p.258.24 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Think carefully. This is a consequential decision.more consequence → consequential:important Show general definition for consequence (as in: of little consequence) importance or relevance
	12	top 1000
rationration → rationing:restricting the amount of some things people can have due to not having as much as normal Even when rationing started later in the year, she was known to sell certain hard-to-get items under the counter and donate the money to the Nazi Party.p.50.211 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more ration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	8	top 500
recollectrecollect → recollections:memories Recollections like those merely remind me that he was not deserving of the fate that met him a little under two years later.p.242.17 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more remember 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.
	1	top 100
composecompose → composers:people who write music They'd been learning about composers in school, where despite his obvious stupidity, Rudy excelled.p.299.92 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) The assignment is to compose a poem.more write Show general definition for compose (as in: compose a poem) to write or create something with care
	2	top 100
compose#2compose → composed:calmed or settled Rosa was still in shock, but she composed herself.p.467.22 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) I took a deep breath to compose myself and then began my speech.more calm Show general definition for compose (as in: compose myself) to calm someone or settle something
	1	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Our school is one of the finest ever established.p.409.61 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
	1	top 100
establish#2establish → established:determined (figured out) Unfortunately, she gave herself away. In the eyes. They were agitated. She knew the exact moment when Viktor Chemmel established that the book was a prize possession. "I'll tell you what," he said. "For fifty marks, you can have it back."p.301.51 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	5	top 2000
immaculateperfect He had immaculate teeth.p.513.84 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Check her record. You will see that it is immaculate.more Show general definition for immaculate (as in: immaculate timing) perfect (without fault or error)
	1	top 10
contrastcontrast → by contrast:in a comparison that shows differences Frau Holtzapfel appeared to be waiting for me in the kitchen. ... By contrast, Frau Diller was fast asleep.p.530.5 Show exemplary sample (not from book) Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.more point to differences between Show general definition for contrast (as in: contrast their writing styles) point to differences between; or compare to show differences
	60	top 2000
HitlerHitler → Adolf Hitler:German Nazi dictator who murdered millions In 1933, 90 percent of Germans showed unflinching support for Adolf Hitler.p.63.359 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) Hitler killed disabled children as his first action of "racial hygiene." He pretended to end the program when the public protested.more German Nazi dictator during World War II who murdered millions of Jews and others who were not of the Aryan race Show general definition for Hitler (as in: Adolf Hitler) German Nazi dictator during World War II; murdered millions of Jews and others who were not of the Aryan race (1889-1945)
	35	top 2000
Nazimember of Hitler's political party whose members thought they were superior to all others The young man was a Nazi; his father was not.p.104.134 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) The Nazis murdered about six million Jews as well as others they considered to be inferior or incurably sick.more Nazi → Nazis:members of Hitler's political party who thought they were superior to all others Show general definition Hitler's fanatical and oppressive political party in World War II Germany or: derogatory term for a person who is fanatical in their belief of superiority and their determination to control others
	2	top 100
narratorsomeone who tells a story PROLOGUE: a mountain range of rubble in which our narrator introduces: himself—the colors—and the book thiefp.1.51 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more an actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience) 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
	1	top 100
differentiaterecognize difference That word, however, does not differentiate between the sexes.p.32.9 Show exemplary sample (not from book) The jury determined that she was able to differentiate between right and wrong.more Show general definition for differentiate (as in: differentiate between right/wrong) to recognize difference
	8	top 100
appropriatesuitable or fitting for a particular situation "Pfiffikus!" she echoed, quickly adopting the appropriate cruelty that childhood seems to require.p.53.17 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) These clothes aren't appropriate for work.more suitable (fitting) for a particular situation Show general definition for appropriate (as in: it is appropriate) suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
	13	top 2000
resumeresume → resumed:began again Nearly a month after school resumed, she was moved up to her rightful year level.p.74.912 more Show exemplary sample (not from book) After a brief break, the meeting will resume at 2 p.m.more begin again Show general definition for resume (as in: resume the meeting) begin or take again Show editor's word notes This sense of resume generally means to begin again or continue after a pause. In usage like, "resumed her seat", it scan also mean to take again.