The Women of Brewster Place — Vocabulary
Gloria Naylor
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	7	top 500
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 Canaan's congregation, the poor who lived in a thirty-block area around Brewster Place, still worshiped God loudly.†p.62.96 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	5	top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way These sunglasses distort my vision.more Show sample from book He wanted to kill the man who had sneaked into his home and distorted the faith and trust he had in his child.†p.23.34 more distort → distorted:altered in an unnatural or untrue way Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
	5	top 1000
bewilderconfuse Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more Show sample from book Sergeant Manchester massaged the tightness between his sleepy eyes and looked wearily at the desperate bewilderment that stood in front of him.†p.46.64 more bewilder → bewilderment:a feeling of extreme confusion Show general definition to confuse someone
	4	top 500
persistentcontinuing over time She has a persistent cough.more Show sample from book It never ended—someone's somebody—all persistently filed in to bruise their heads upon the rigid walls of due process.†p.46.83 more persistent → persistently:in a continuing manner -- especially despite difficulties or opposition Show general definition continuing -- especially despite difficulties or opposition
	3	top 200
indignantindignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong "I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more Show sample from book Kiswana threw her shoulders back and unsuccessfully tried to disguise her embarrassment with indignation.†p.79.32 more indignant → indignation:anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
	4	top 1000
protrudestick out Metal spikes protrude from the dog's collar.more Show sample from book Cora said, sitting on the steps with her hands resting on her protruding stomach.†p.181.43 more protrude → protruding:sticking out Show general definition to stick out from
	3	top 500
deceptiondeceiving or misleading The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more Show sample from book Etta and Mattie had taken totally different roads that with all of their deceptive winding had both ended up on Brewster Place.†p.60.92 more deception → deceptive:misleading Show general definition the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
	4	top 1000
nurturehelp to develop We want older employees to help nurture the talents of new employees.more Show sample from book And she had watched and coaxed and nurtured the greenery about her.†p.43.23 more nurture → nurtured:helped to develop or grow Show general definition help develop or grow Show editor's word notes A particular sense of nurture is often contrasted with a particular sense of nature. In the comparison, nurture refers to external influences on a person's development such as being loved, cared for, and taught. Nature in contrast refers to the inherent genetic influences on a person's development. Studies of identical twins who grew up in different homes are used to better understand the influences of each.
	3	top 1000
ebbebb → ebbed:gradually declined The patient's strength ebbed away.more Show sample from book Her youth had ebbed away quickly under the steady pressure of the changing times, but she was existing as she always had.†p.60.82 more ebb → ebbed:declined -- typically gradually as with the height of the tide Show general definition decline -- typically gradually as with the height of the tide
	2	top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more Show sample from book She gently lifted the dimpled arms and legs and then reverently placed them back.†p.107.31 more revere → reverently:with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	4	top 2000
baptismbaptism → baptized:"spiritually renewed" in a Christian ceremony She was baptized at the same church as her grandmother.more Show context notes The suffix "-ize" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize. Show sample from book It was born three months later in the city legislature, and since its true parentage was hidden, half the community turned out for its baptism two years later.†p.1.83 more a Christian ceremony signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth… Show general definition a Christian ceremony signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth or: a challenging experience that initiates or purifies Show editor's word notes Most churches baptize infants, but some require an adult to request baptism, and a few (such as the Quakers) require no baptism at all. Typically, water is used as part of the ceremony, such as sprinkling a little water on a baby's head; though some churches use complete submersion in water.
	4
monologuemonologue → monologues:a long speech by one person In books we find monologues from the greatest minds. And where those books disagree, it is up to the reader to create a dialogue.more Show sample from book The voice droned on in its practiced monologue, peppered with sterile kindness.†p.95.63 more a long uninterrupted speech Show general definition a long speech by one person, whether it's a dramatic speech in a play, a run-on talk that keeps others from getting a word in, or a comedian's continuous stream of jokes and stories delivered alone Show editor's word notes Although less frequently used, "monolog" is also a correct spelling in the United States.
	2	top 500
parcheddried out Nothing will grow in this parched soil.more Show sample from book And then, agonizingly slow, it broke its way through the parched lips in a spaghetti-thin column of air that could be faintly heard in the frozen room.†p.103.51 more dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty Show general definition dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty
	1	top 2000
minutetiny Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.more Show sample from book But the glass splinters found some minute, untouched place—as they always did—and tore the heart and let the whistling in.p.149.92 more small Show general definition for minute (as in: minute size) small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
	2
minuteswritten record of what happens at a meeting The secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting.more Show sample from book I'll take the minutes for you.p.143.82 more formal notes Show general definition for minutes (as in: keep the minutes) a written record of what happened at a meeting
	4	top 2000
ornerycranky (easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue) I avoid contact when he's in an ornery mood.more Show sample from book But Simeon got very ornery when I said I was heading home, and he refused to give me the money he'd promised for my plane fare.†p.58.43 more easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue Show general definition for ornery (as in: is ornery when she first wakes up) quick to get annoyed, complain, argue, and be uncooperative
	2	top 2000
begrudgeresent (feel bitter about) I don't begrudge her making a profit, but this is unreasonable.more Show sample from book Cora looked begrudgingly at the flyer.†p.119.11 more begrudge → begrudgingly:in a resentful manner; or giving unwillingly Show general definition to resent (feel bitterness--usually over unfairness); or to give unwillingly
	2	top 2000
brazenbold and improper She made a brazen attempt to take credit for her colleague’s work during the meeting.more Show sample from book But she had chosen this man's side against him, and in his fury, he tried to stamp out what had hurt him the most and was now brazenly taunting him—her disobedience.†p.23.41 more brazen → brazenly:bold and unrestrained by what others consider proper Show general definition bold and unrestrained by what others consider proper
	2	top 2000
eulogyformal speech praising someone at their funeral She gave the eulogy at his funeral.more Show sample from book She intoned the words as if she were reciting a eulogy.†p.67.91 more formal expression of praise -- typically speeches delivered at someone's funeral Show general definition a formal expression of praise -- typically a speech given at someone's funeral Show editor's word notes A eulogy almost always refers to someone who has recently died, but it is also used under other circumstances. A related word, eulogize (to speak or write a eulogy praising someone or something), may be even more commonly used in non-death circumstances than in circumstances of death.
	2
manslaughterunintentional killing of a person The girl who sent texts to her boyfriend encouraging him to kill himself was charged with involuntary manslaughter.more Show sample from book He was being held for involuntary manslaughter and assaulting a peace officer.†p.46.31 more Show general definition unintentional killing of a person Show editor's word notes Manslaughter can be involuntary (as when a drunk driver accidentally kills someone), or voluntary (as when there was no plan to kill someone, but then the person kills in the heat of passion).