I Heard the Owl Call My Name — Vocabulary
Margaret Craven
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
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precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more Show sample from book Already nothing looked the same because it was going to end, because he was going to leave it, and the thought filled him with a twinge of sudden anguish and the little, unexpected fear that precedes any big change, sad or joyous.†1 more precede → precedes:goes, does, or is before Show general definition to go or do before
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varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book When Mark stopped to ask how things were, the reply never varied, "Calamitous," and when Calamity Bill asked if he might come aboard, Mark's reply never varied either, "Yes, if you take off your cork boots."† vary → varied:differed; or changed 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."
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congregationpeople who worship together in the same building It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.more Show sample from book Then he ... went to the church where the congregation was waiting.2 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
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dominatecontrol Democrats dominate the committee.more Show sample from book Now the tide dominated all life.1 more dominate → dominated:was most influential (or controlled) Show general definition to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
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parisha local church community or in some places including Louisiana: a jurisdiction of government like a county Are we talking about a governmental or a religious parish?more Show sample from book On the patrol to the other villages, which somehow he must bind together into a parish, hour passed hour and neither he nor Jim spoke a word.3 more a local church community
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appallingshockingly terrible or horrible The live in appalling conditions.more Show sample from book The young bush pilot was properly appalled by the imminent prospect of birth.2 more appalling → appalled:terrified (dismayed)
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ambleamble → ambling:walking slowly or leisurely An old woman was ambling across the street.more Show sample from book The village is the talking bird, the owl, who calls the name of the man who is going to die, and the silver-tipped grizzly who ambles into the village, and the little white speck that is the mountain goat on Whoop-Szo.†2 more amble → ambles:walks leisurely Show general definition to walk leisurely or slowly
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arrogantwith an excessive sense of superiority She is rude and arrogant.more Show sample from book There was pride in his eyes without arrogance.1 more arrogant → arrogance:an excessive sense of superiority Show general definition having an excessive sense of superiority
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cowercower → cowered:showed fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit She cowered in fear.more Show sample from book They went downriver in a torrential rain, the young wife and the Bishop cowering under a poly-ethelene sheet.†1 more cower → cowering:showing fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit Show general definition show fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit
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torrentan overwhelming amount She screamed a torrent of abuse.more Show sample from book In the night the heaviest of the spring rains fell in torrents as the young vicar struggled with the one fact of his life about which no man has doubt and yet is never ready to meet.†1 more torrent → torrents:overwhelming amounts Show general definition an overwhelming amount -- especially of quickly moving water
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collidecollide → collided:crashed together with violent impact The cars collided and burst into flame.more Show sample from book In the night the village suddenly exploded into sound, and Mark put on his slippers, threw a robe over his pajamas and dashed out to collide with a huge dark shape.†1 more crash together with violent impact; OR come into conflict Show general definition crash together with violent impact; or come into conflict
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tauntintentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone She used Twitter to taunt the opposing candidate.more Show sample from book They taunted each other, fingers to noses, and this time the audience shrieked with laughter, taunting each in turn, and applauding the favourite.†1 more taunt → taunting:intentionally angering, challenging, or upsetting Show general definition to intentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone -- especially by mocking them or hurling insults or (as a noun): an insult or other action intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
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anguishpain I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.more Show sample from book He saw Gordon with a surge of pride and a twinge of anguish.†1 more extreme pain, suffering, or distress Show general definition extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
	2
climaxmost exciting or important part The deathbed scene is the climax of the play.more Show sample from book Past the village flowed the river, like time, like life itself, waiting for the swimmer to come again on his way to the climax of his adventurous life, and to the end for which he had been made.†1 more the most exciting or important part of a story, musical piece, or other thing th… Show general definition for climax (as in: climax of the story) the most exciting or important part of a story, musical piece, or other thing that has a series of events
	6
clergyformal religious leaders She was surprised to hear a member of the clergy talk like that.more Show sample from book Mark and Jim met the clergy at Gilford village.5 more formal religious leadership (in Christianity) Show general definition formal religious leaders (typically in Christianity) Show editor's word notes Clergy is typically used in reference to Christian churches; however, clerics (members of the clergy) are referred to in different ways for different denominations. A Catholic priest is the equivalent of a Protestant minister. A pastor is any Christian cleric in charge of a congregation or parish. The clergy is distinguished from the laity.
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dissentdisagreement The Alien and Sedition Acts were attempts to silence early political dissent in America.more Show sample from book Mark felt a strange little wind of dissent which seemed to whisper in the firs, to precede him, to follow him wherever he went.1 more Show general definition to disagree; or disagreement or conflict -- typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs Show editor's word notes A Supreme Court dissenting opinion is a written opinion that represents the beliefs of one or more justices who disagreed with the majority.
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staticunchanging Despite the rapidly changing technology industry, the company’s sales figures remained static for several years.more Show sample from book Mark tried to say that no village, no culture, can remain static. not changing Show general definition for static (as in: in a static state) not moving or not changing Show editor's word notes Static things are often contrasted to dynamic things.
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materialistictoo concerned with wealth and possessions She thinks Americans are too materialistic.more Show sample from book And how did he handle the growing materialism in which so many people feel no need of faith and consider the church almost an anachronism?† materialistic → materialism:overly concerned with wealth and possessions at the expense of other interests Show general definition overly concerned with wealth and possessions at the expense of other interests
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poignantarousing deep emotion It is a poignant story about a girl who is paralyzed in a car accident.more Show sample from book He had seen the sadness, the richness, the tragic poignancy of a way of life that each year, bit by bit, slipped beyond memory and was gone. poignant → poignancy:intense sadness Show general definition sharp or intense -- typically arousing deep emotion such as sadness, but possibly having or creating a sharp smell, taste, or insight
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enmityhatred between enemies The war has deepened tribal enmity.more Show sample from book On the way back to the boat they passed three young Indians, loud spoken, ill-kempt and slovenly, and he felt the boys stiffen with enmity. 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.