The Golden Apples — Vocabulary
Eudora Welty
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	25	top 2000
recitalsolo performance As part of her degree requirements, the music major performed a challenging piano recital, showcasing her technical skills and musical interpretation.more Show sample from book But recital night was Virgie's night, whatever else it was.24 more a performance of music Show general definition a performance such as music, dance, or a poetry reading Show editor's word notes A music recital is usually done solo or with a single accompanist. A dance recital may include many dancers.
	3	top 200
inclinedhave a tendency; or an attitude or mood that favors something I'm inclined to believe him.more Show sample from book They weren't very lovingly inclined these days, with the heart taken out of them by sorrow;4 more disposed (of that attitude or mood) Show general definition for inclined (as in: I'm inclined to) a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
	2	top 200
inclinesomething sloping upward (such as a hill) It is a steep incline.more Show sample from book she would dismiss Cassie and incline her head toward Virgie,4 more bend (or angle) Show general definition for incline (as in: on an incline or incline his head) to be at an angle or to bend
	5	top 1000
endureendure → endured:suffered through I endured insult and injury without complaint.more Show sample from book Just so everybody had a piece to play, and a new dress finished in time, and kept the secrets, there was nothing to do but endure May.5 more suffer through 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 The lapse must have endured for a solid minute or two, and afterwards he could recollect it.5 more endure → endured:lasted (continue to exist) Show general definition for endure (as in: endure through the ages) to continue to exist
	1	top 500
obscureobscure → obscured:hidden or made less visible The stars are obscured by the clouds.more Show sample from book Standing in the brown that cut them off where they waited, ankle-deep, waist-deep, knee-deep, chin-deep, they made a little V, with Miss Moody in front and partly obscuring their vision with her jerky butterfly cap.3 more obscure → obscuring:blocking (making less visible) Show general definition for obscure (as in: it obscured my view) to block from view or make less visible or understandable Show editor's word notes Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can also refer to situation where something makes something else harder to detect or as when a noise makes another noise difficult to hear. Similarly it can reference something overshadowing something else, as in "Her memory of her dog's death was obscured by her brother's death the next day."
	3	top 1000
obscure#2not clearly understood For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.more Show sample from book The reason orphans were the way they were lay first in nobody's watching them, Nina thought, for she felt obscurely like a trespasser.3 more obscure → obscurely:in a manner that is not clearly understood Show general definition for obscure (as in: the view or directions are obscure) not clearly seen, understood, or expressed Show editor's word notes Although this meaning of obscure typically refers to seeing or understanding, it can refer to difficulty with any type of detection as when something is hard to hear. It can also more specifically mean vague, or mysterious, or unknown by anyone. Much more rarely, it can mean secretive.
	5	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book And Plez, of course, he said, "No'm, Mistis, I don't recollect one soul pass me, whole way from town."†4 more 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.
	5	top 1000
luminousshining The sky was luminous with stars.more Show sample from book Virgie looked at the naked, luminous, complicated flower, large and pale as a face on the dark porch.4 more glowing (or perhaps beautiful) Show general definition glowing or shining (also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
	4	top 500
contemplatethink deeply about After the meeting, she needed some time alone to contemplate her next move.more Show sample from book She stamped her foot, nothing happened, then she approached softly, and down on hands and knees contemplated him.†3 more contemplate → contemplated:consider or ponder Show general definition consider or ponder
	4	top 1000
formidableintimidating or impressive She is a formidable opponent.more Show sample from book So punctual and so formidable was Miss Eckhart that all the little girls passed, one going and one coming, through the beaded curtains mincing like strangers.†3 more Show general definition intimidating or impressive -- arousing fear or admiration due to impressiveness or challenge
	2	top 100
neverthelessdespite that (used to connect contrasting ideas) The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.more Show sample from book Nevertheless, standing there with the tent slanting over him and his arm knobby as it reached up and his head bent a little, he looked rather at loose ends.†1 more Show general definition despite that Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 was just stated, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	5	top 2000
hideousextremely ugly, offensive, and/or frightening The beast had hideous fangs.more Show sample from book The Spaniard, when Eugene looked to him, was making a hideous face over the lighting of another cigarette.†4 more
	4	top 1000
revelationsomething surprising and previously unknown It was a revelation to me. Until they gave us those tests, I had no idea that I was better than most people at clerical accuracy.more Show sample from book He clung to one small revelation: that today he was not able to take those watches apart.3 more something previously unknown; or making such a thing known Show general definition something that was previously unknown (and typically surprising); or making such a thing known
	7
obeliskstone pillar with a pyramidal top The Washington Monument, a towering obelisk in the National Mall, is a tribute to the first President of the United States.more Show sample from book But he could not tell what it was—a small brown wooden box, shaped like the Obelisk.†6 more a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person o… Show general definition a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person or event
	3	top 2000
impudentimproperly bold or disrespectful She is an impudent girl given to insulting strangers.†more Show sample from book Miss Eckhart had made an exception of Virgie Rainey; she had first respected Virgie Rainey, and now fell humble before her impudence.†2 more Show general definition improperly bold or disrespectful -- especially toward someone who is older or considered to be of higher status
	3
infernalvery annoying Please stop making that infernal noise!more Show sample from book It sounded worse than the infernal regions.†2 more very bad; OR very annoying; OR characteristic of hell or the underworld Show general definition very bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell or the underworld
	2	top 2000
belligerenthostile or combative She spoke to her teacher in a belligerent tone and was sent to the office.more Show sample from book it was more belligerent;1 more hostile (as though eager to fight) Show general definition hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
	2	top 2000
judiciousshows good judgment She is judicious when spending her money.more Show sample from book With her gaze at a judicious distance from the colors she dipped in, Cassie was now for a little time far away, perhaps up in September in college, where, however, tie-and-dye scarves would be out-of-uniform, though something to unfold and show.†1 more showing good judgment Show general definition showing good judgment
	2
indelibleunforgettable or permanent The trip left an indelible impression on her, shaping the way she saw the world.more Show sample from book If some indelible red false-fronts joined one to the other like a little toy train went by, I didn't think of my childhood any more.†1 more impossible to remove, forget, or erase Show general definition impossible to remove, forget, or erase -- can refer to physical marks or lasting memories