Going After Cacciato — Vocabulary
Tim O'Brien
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	20	top 2000
refugeerefugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation We're asking for humanitarian aid to assist and resettle the refugees.more Show sample from book For many months now she had been a refugee, traveling west from Saigon with her two aunts.19 more someone who fled their homeland; or related to such people Show general definition someone who has fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation; or related to such people
	11	top 500
motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book Lord knows, he had no villainy in his heart, no motive but kindness.†10 more Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
	16	top 2000
obligationduty Although she had no legal obligation, she wanted to help him.more Show sample from book Obligation is more than a claim imposed on us; it is a personal sense of indebtedness.15 more Show general definition a duty
	6	top 1000
endureendure → endured:suffered through I endured insult and injury without complaint.more Show sample from book How, with luck and courage and endurance, they might have found a way.6 more endure → endurance:the ability to suffer through (or put up with) something difficult or unpleasant Show general definition for endure (as in: endured the pain) to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
	1	top 1000
endure#2continue to exist She is gone, but her teachings endure through the ages.more Show sample from book We want a peace that endures.6 more endure → endures:continues to exist Show general definition for endure (as in: endure through the ages) to continue to exist
	8	top 500
inquiryinvestigation The school launched an official inquiry into the allegations of cheating.more Show sample from book His inquiries were always discreet, hopeful.†7 more inquiry → inquiries:questions or investigations Show general definition a question or investigation -- especially one meant to gather information or find out the truth
	1	top 1000
interprettranslate Can she interpret Spanish to English for us?more Show sample from book Bring along an interpreter.†1 more interpret → interpreter:someone who translates language Show general definition for interpret (as in: interpret Spanish to English) to translate someone’s words into spoken words of another language while they are speaking
	9	top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more Show sample from book Rations, fresh water, a compass, and maps and stuff.†8 more ration → rations:a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel… Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	9	top 2000
monka male member of a religious order typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience The Tibetan monk wore an orange robe.more Show sample from book He was dressed as a monk.†8 more a male member of a religious order typically living under vows of poverty, chast…
	6	top 500
nostalgianostalgia → nostalgic:with a longing for something past The music makes me feel nostalgic.more Show sample from book "Time," Doc said. He put his glasses on. "It's the only antidote for nostalgia. Just give the man time."5 more longing for something from the past Show general definition happiness that come with the memory of good times combined with a hint of sadness that those times are over
	6	top 500
trivialunimportant We're in agreement on the main issues. We just have some trivial details to work out.more Show sample from book In one fuzzed motion he flung himself down and away, rolling, covering his skull, mouth open, yelping a trivial little yelp.†5 more Show general definition of little importance -- sometimes more specifically describing a challenge as easy and uninteresting
	7	top 2000
perimeterouter edges Don't go beyond the perimeter of the campgrounds.more Show sample from book On the sand below, coils of barbed wire circled the observation tower in a perimeter that separated it from the rest of the war.†6 more the outer edge Show general definition the outer edge The exact meaning of perimeter can depend upon its context. For example: "Stay inside the defensive perimeter." -- the outer edges of the area that is defended "It is common on the city's perimeter." -- the outer edges of the city "What is the perimeter of the square?" -- the sum of the length of the sides of a geometric shape
	5	top 1000
speculatespeculate → speculated:thought and guessed without certainty Philosophers have speculated on the question for thousands of years.more Show sample from book It is one thing to speculate about what might be. It is quite another to act in behalf of our dreams, to treat them as objectives that are achievable and worth achieving.4 more think or consider Show general definition for speculate (as in: don't know, but I'll speculate) to think about, wonder, guess or theorize with much uncertainty
	1	top 2000
benignmild or favorable (kind) She predicts benign economic conditions through next year.more Show sample from book His intentions were benign. kind or harmless Show general definition kindly, mild, or harmless (In medicine, a tumor that is not life-threatening, is called benign.)
	3	top 500
censurecensure → censured:formally criticized They censured him for bringing dishonor upon the Senate.more Show sample from book He went to the war because it was expected. Because not to go was to risk censure, and to bring embarrassment on his father and his town.2 more harsh or formal criticism Show general definition harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization -- such as the U.S. Senate
	3
squandersquander → squandered:wasted She squandered the money she inherited from her grandmother.more Show sample from book Imagining how to spend freedom: squander it, invest it, use it like Monopoly money.2 more waste Show general definition to waste -- money, resources, or opportunities
	1	top 100
correlatecorrelate → correlation:a relationship between two things so that one can be predicted from the other My opponent is confusing correlation with causation. Just because kids who play violent video games are also more likely to behave violently, doesn't mean the video games cause the violence.more Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show sample from book On each wrist was a gold watch, and the boy kept glancing at them as if to correlate time.† to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a cha… Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show general definition to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a change in one helps predict a change in the other Show editor's word notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
	2
balladslow, emotional song that tells a story The singer ended the concert with a heartfelt ballad about lost love.more Show sample from book He sang marching songs and nursery ballads.†1 more ballad → ballads:a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings Show general definition a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings -- typically slow in tempo
	2
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 Only once in ten years has a bug been evicted for rowdiness.†1 more eviction → evicted:forced someone to leave Show general definition the process of forcing someone to leave a place -- typically from a home due to non-payment
	2
malingermalinger → malingering:avoiding responsibilities and duties by pretending to be sick They accused me of malingering and insisted I visit their doctor.more Show sample from book First, though, Sidney Martin said there would be no malingering.†1 more Show general definition avoid responsibilities and duties -- often by pretending to be ill or (more rarely): to be slow