Where the Red Fern Grows — Vocabulary
Wilson Rawls
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	4	top 1000
commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book Just then I heard growling, and a commotion off to one side.p.164.63 more noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
	5	top 2000
paralysisloss of the ability to move She suffers paralysis of her legs.more Show sample from book She made an effort to stand but couldn't. Her muscles were paralyzed and the blood had long since ceased to flow.p.137.54 more paralysis → paralyzed:unable to move Show general definition loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it or: inability to act or make a decision
	3	top 500
ceasestop According to the treaty, all offensive military action will cease at midnight.more Show sample from book It seems that the worries and wants of a young boy never cease.p.62.12 more end (discontinue) Show general definition to stop or discontinue
	3	top 500
waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong) Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more Show sample from book The red fern wavered and danced to the music of the hills.p.280.12 more waver → wavered:moved back and forth Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver) or: to change, be unsure, or weak
	4	top 1000
coaxgently persuade Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more Show sample from book I talked to her and tried to coax her out.†p.268.13 more try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
	2	top 500
underminegradually weaken She has taken every opportunity to undermine my influence with the team.more Show sample from book He would sometimes crawl up under an undermined bank or into an old muskrat den.†p.76.91 more undermine → undermined:weakened gradually Show general definition weaken gradually
	2	top 1000
solemnvery serious He took a solemn oath.more Show sample from book In a solemn voice, he said, "We won't talk about this again."p.178.11 more Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
	2	top 1000
debrispieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around She swept up the debris.more Show sample from book Debris from floods had caught in the limbs,p.151.81 more remains (stuff of no value that was left behind)
	3	top 2000
foliageplant leaves It's difficult to spot the birds in the foliage.more Show sample from book Then I saw them--two burning, yellow eyes--staring at me from the shadowy foliage of the tree.p.254.22 more Show general definition plant leaves
	2	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book He was bewildered and mad.p.119.71 more bewilder → bewildered:confused Show general definition to confuse someone
	1	top 100
passagea short part of a longer written work Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.more Show sample from book I remembered a passage from the Bible my mother had read to us: "God helps those who help themselves."p.20.9 Show general definition for passage (as in: In lines 1-9 of the passage...) a short part of a longer written work Show editor's word notes This meaning of passage is commonly seen on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
	2	top 2000
fidgetfidget → fidgeting:making small restless movements The child is always fidgeting in his seatmore Show sample from book Hearing the word beat, Grandpa began to fidget.p.214.61 more make small restless movements Show general definition to make small restless movements
	2	top 2000
twilightthe light from the sky in the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise) It is a beautiful picture taken in twilight.more Show sample from book I was a proud boy as I walked along in the twilight of the evening.p.110.81 more the time of day between daylight and darkness Show general definition for twilight (as in: pink clouds in a twilight sky) the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
	2	top 2000
sulkto overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.more Show sample from book "Yes, Mama," I said, and sulked off to my room.†p.172.21 more sulk → sulked:was overly unhappy and unsociable Show general definition to be overly unhappy and unsociable -- often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
	4
sprainsprain → sprained:joint injury from twisting She couldn’t play in the soccer game because of a sprained ankle from practice.more Show sample from book I don't think it's broken, but it sure is a bad sprain.p.238.63 more injury to the ligaments of a joint caused by stretching them too far Show general definition injury to the ligaments of a joint caused by stretching them too far -- most commonly injuring the ankle (ligaments are the tough, fibrous bands that connect bones across joints) Show editor's word notes Note that a strain is a similar injury caused by stretching the muscle until it rips.
	2	top 2000
dumfoundeddumfounded → dumbfounded:too surprised to know what to say or do She was beyond surprised. She was dumbfounded.more Show sample from book Grandpa was dumbfounded. He tried to say something, but it wouldn't come out.p.24.81 more dumfounded → dumbfounded:so surprised he was made temporarily speechless Show general definition very surprised - often too surprised to know what to say or do
	1	top 1000
cleavesplit Large molecules cleave at their weakest points and produce smaller fragments.more Show sample from book The keen edge cleaved through the tough skin.p.257.2 cleave → cleaved:cut through Show general definition for cleave (as in: cleave through) to split or cut through something Show editor's word notes Ironically, this word can mean to split in two or to hold together. Note that you may see cleaved, cleft, clove, or cloven as the past tense of this sense of cleave.
	1	top 2000
begrudgeresent (feel bitter about) I don't begrudge her making a profit, but this is unreasonable.more Show sample from book Begrudgingly, they walked out.†p.144.5 begrudge → begrudgingly:in a resentful manner; or giving unwillingly Show general definition to resent (feel bitterness--usually over unfairness); or to give unwillingly
	1	top 2000
dormantnot active, but capable of activity in the future We hiked on a dormant volcano.more Show sample from book It's strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years.†p.3.9 not active or growing, but capable of doing so in the future Show general definition not active or growing, but capable of doing so in the future
	1	top 2000
squabbleargument over unimportant things Their petty squabble is disrupting the team.more Show sample from book Just when they were on the verge of sawing it in two, so each would have her allotted share, Papa settled the squabble by giving the oldest one a silver dollar.p.250.3 argument Show general definition an act or instance of arguing -- typically over unimportant things