Seventeenth Summer — Vocabulary
Maureen Daly
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	6	top 1000
musemuse → mused:reflected (thought) deeply He mused aloud about the afternoon's developments.more Show sample from book We mused over the thought for a while and soon the quiet stretched into long minutes5 more muse → mused:reflected (thought) deeply on a subject Show general definition for muse (as in: her musings) reflect (think) deeply on a subject -- perhaps aloud
	4	top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book Jack was sprawled on the grass, talking very fast and earnestly, his eyebrows knit together.†3 more earnest → earnestly:sincerely or seriously Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
	4	top 500
pungentstrong It's the pungent odor of oregano.more Show sample from book I broke off a bit of the tall spruce that grows beside our steps and smelled the pungent piny odor rising in the air.†3 more strong smelling or tasting… Show general definition strong smelling or tasting or much more rarely: anything sharp, painful, or penetrating -- physically or emotionally Show editor's word notes In reference to taste or smell, pungent is more often associated with a strong flavor than a particular flavor. Some associate it with a high level of volatile acidity. Some wine connoisseurs interchange the word pungent with earthy.
	3	top 500
benevolentkind, generous, or charitable They called themselves The Benevolent Association because their mission was to help others.more Show sample from book "Well," answered my mother benevolently, "I don't see as that makes much difference. Having no folks of his own in town to spend the holiday with, he might as well come along with us."2 more benevolent → benevolently:with kindness or generosity
	4	top 1000
listlesslacking energy and normal enthusiasm She was listless and bored.more Show sample from book His thoughts must have dragged as slowly and listlessly as mine with the same painful dullness.3 more listless → listlessly:with a lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
	4	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book It was such a quick, urgent feeling and yet all very bewildering.†3 more bewilder → bewildering:confusing Show general definition to confuse someone
	5	top 2000
coyplayfully shy She gave him a coy smile before looking away.more Show sample from book "I know, Martie," she answered coyly, her lips pouted, "I know we just got here, but I want to go."4 more coy → coyly:playfully suggesting modesty while knowingly encouraging a romantic situation. Show general definition playfully shy or subtly flirtatious; and/or, deliberately evasive to avoid giving information or making a commitment Show editor's word notes Writers often use coy when someone acts shy or innocent in a playful way, while being aware of the effect—like giving a coy smile. The word can also describe being deliberately evasive or withholding information, as in a coy answer that dodges the real question or a coy response that modestly downplays an accomplishment. In many cases, the person is both playful and withholding at once, as when teasing someone with coy hints about a surprise without revealing what it is.
	3	top 500
parcheddried out Nothing will grow in this parched soil.more Show sample from book The grass on the side lawn was parched brown with irregular scallops of green where the shade of the trees shadowed the ground.2 more dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight Show general definition dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty
	3	top 500
exasperatedgreatly annoyed She was exasperated by his teasing.more Show sample from book It was my turn to sound exasperated, but inside my head words were bumping together so fast that I didn't know what to say.2 more Show general definition greatly annoyed
	3	top 1000
solemnvery serious He took a solemn oath.more Show sample from book She nodded solemnly and padded back to her room on feather-soft feet, turning back to me with a cautious finger on her lips.†2 more solemn → solemnly:with seriousness and dignity Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
	3	top 1000
tangibleclear (easily understood and measured) They set tangible goals.more Show sample from book It seemed as if I were drinking in the almost tangible pleasure of the morning like a rich, heavy malted milk that comes slow and thick through the straws.2 more capable of being touched Show general definition capable of being touched, or easily understood so there is no question of its value or reality
	4	top 2000
insistentfirm and continuing We questioned her repeatedly and she remained insistent that she knew nothing of the event.more Show sample from book Even when I was talking to Jack I could see it out of the corner of my eye, the slow, blurred turnings of the lights, quietly insistent.†3 more persistent or continuing or firm Show general definition persistent or continuing or firm -- especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
	2	top 500
condescendingacting superior She gave me that condescending look as though I wasn't worthy to ask her a question.more Show sample from book "Of course," Lorraine went on with pointed condescension, "that depends on whether you're a genius or not."1 more condescending → condescension:treating others as inferiors Show general definition treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
	2	top 1000
ominousthreatening I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.more Show sample from book Late the next afternoon all the ominous, heavy gloom I felt inside of me seemed to come out in the weather.1 more threatening, suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come Show general definition threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
	3	top 1000
assentconsent or agreement The patient gave her assent to the surgery, even though she was nervous about it.more Show sample from book "You're right there," Jack assented.†2 more assent → assented:to express agreement -- especially with a statement or proposal to do something Show general definition to express agreement -- especially with a statement or proposal to do something
	3	top 1000
petulantunreasonably annoyed or upset She stomped her foot like a petulant child.more Show sample from book Dollie sat down backwards suddenly with her legs sprawled in front of her and cried with a petulantly accusing voice, "Johnnie, you pushed me on purpose!" and everyone laughed.2 more Show general definition unreasonably annoyed or upset or: easily annoyed or upset
	3	top 2000
gaudytastelessly showy By local standards, her outfit was gaudy.more Show sample from book The hushed night seemed so real, so lovely that I felt almost ashamed of the gaudy efforts of the faded rockets.†2 more Show general definition tastelessly showy
	2	top 1000
poignantarousing deep emotion It is a poignant story about a girl who is paralyzed in a car accident.more Show sample from book The music seemed to fill the whole room at Pete's with its poignant tilt,1 more sharp or intense Show general definition sharp or intense -- typically arousing deep emotion such as sadness, but possibly having or creating a sharp smell, taste, or insight
	3
tantalizetantalize → tantalizing:making someone excited about getting something -- especially something they can't get I have to walk past the bakery with its tantalizing aromas.more Show sample from book Those last days seemed to slip through my fingers like egg white and I almost wished the end would come, for the waiting was so hopeless and so tantalizing.†2 more tantalize → tantalizing:making someone excited about getting something Show general definition to make someone excited about getting something -- often something they cannot get Show editor's word notes The word, tantalize, comes from a Greek mythological story about the eternal punishment of someone named Tantulus. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree. But when he reached up for the fruit, it withdrew just out of his reach. And when he bent down to drink, the water receded before his lips could reach it.
	3
bushellarge amount After the event, we had a bushel of leftover food that we donated to a local shelter.more Show sample from book My mother was in the basement canning a bushel of early peaches and I went down casually to tell her it was Jack who had just called.†2 more a large amount; OR a unit of measure used for dry goods Show general definition a large amount or: a unit of measure used for dry goods (filling an 8 gallon container)