Atonement — Vocabulary
Ian McEwan
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	20	top 2000
probationperiod of being watched closely After breaking school rules, she was put on disciplinary probation for the rest of the semester.more Show sample from book At four-thirty in the morning the probationers were sent to their lodgings to sleep, and told to report back at eleven.19 more probation → probationers:a period during which a new employee is tried out on the job and during which the employee does not have all the privileges of a regular employee Show general definition a period of time when a person is being tested or watched to see if they meet certain expectations or follow rules
	3	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book Briony supposed she should get her cousin home, but she was reluctant to break this closeness for the moment—she had her arms around the older girl's shoulders and she seemed to yield now to Briony's touch.†5 more give Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	3	top 100
yield#2give in The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more Show sample from book It cracked loudly as it yielded to her unblemished incisors, and there was revealed the white edge of the sugar shell, and the dark chocolate beneath it.5 more yield → yielded:gave in, gave way, or gave up Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
	10	top 500
contemplatethink deeply about After the meeting, she needed some time alone to contemplate her next move.more Show sample from book They were safe, Cecilia was with Leon, and she, Briony, was free to wander in the dark and contemplate her extraordinary day.†9 more consider or ponder Show general definition consider or ponder
	7	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book Even harder was the threat, or the confusion of feeling contradictory things.†6 more contradict → contradictory:in disagreement Show general definition disagree in various senses, including: to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony." to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened." to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
	8	top 1000
clarityclearness (the quality of being clearly expressed) The speaker presented her argument with such clarity that even those unfamiliar with the topic could easily understand her main points.more Show sample from book The indistinct murmur of voices heard through a carpeted floor surpassed in clarity a typed-up transcript; a conversation that penetrated a wall or, better, two walls, came stripped of all but its essential twists and nuances.†7 more seen, expressed, or understood clearly… Show general definition seen, expressed, or understood clearly; or a degree of transparency such as the quality of clear water
	9	top 1000
tranquilcalm I love a lake with tranquil blue water.†more Show sample from book His expression was of tranquil incomprehension.†8 more calm and undisturbed Show general definition calm and undisturbed
	5	top 100
reviseimprove (change) How can you revise that paragraph to improve the expression of ideas?more Show sample from book That notion was due for revision.†4 more revise → revision:a change; or a changed version Show general definition to change (and hopefully improve) -- most frequently to improve a written document, but it can be any intentional change such as a change in an estimated amount, a plan, or a series of procedures
	5	top 100
precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more Show sample from book As on the preceding afternoon, the trouble lay in assembling the cast.†4 more precede → preceding:prior (in time or space) Show general definition to go or do before
	9
sensualrelating to pleasing the body's senses The novel described the scene with sensual detail, focusing on textures and scents.more Show sample from book He might be thinking she was talking to him in code, suggestively conveying her taste for the full-blooded and sensual.†8 more Show general definition relating to pleasing the body's senses (in contrast to the intellect)
	7	top 1000
dispeldrive away She tried to dispel the tension in the room with a lighthearted joke.more Show sample from book This illusion, or hope of one, was dispelled as her eyes adjusted to the gloom.†6 more dispel → dispelled:to drive away or put an end to something -- especially a feeling, idea, or doubt Show general definition to drive away or put an end to something -- especially a feeling, idea, or doubt
	2	top 100
adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation) Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more Show sample from book It was the time of adapting to unthinking obedience, of learning to carry bedpans in a stack, and remembering a fundamental rule: never walk up a ward without bringing something back.†2 more adapt → adapting:changing to fit a different situation Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	1	top 100
adaptedadapted → well adapted:well suited Penguins are especially well adapted for cold weather.more Show sample from book He discovered he was already well adapted to an army regime, to the terrors of kit inspection and the folding of blankets into precise squares, with the labels lined up.†2 more Show general definition for adapted (as in: the species is well adapted for) to be especially well suited or appropriate for something
	1	top 1000
interveneget involved They do not like America to intervene in the Middle East.more Show sample from book But though she sometimes longed to rise up and intervene, especially if she thought Briony was in need of her, the fear of pain kept her in place.1 more get involved to influence an outcome Show general definition for intervene (as in: intervened in the war) the process of getting involved to influence an outcome The exact meaning of intervention can depend upon its context. For example: "intervention program for at-risk youth" -- a process of trying to influence the direction of someone's life "medical intervention" -- action taken to improve a medical outcome "military intervention" -- interference by a government in affairs of another government (in this case to interfere militarily) "had a family intervention" -- an organized meeting of family members to encourage someone (who is often surprised) to recognize and work at solving a problem such as substance abuse
	1	top 1000
intervene#2intervene → intervening:time during the I knew her as a child and then saw her again in college. She had grown into an articulate woman during the intervening years.more Show sample from book He remembered no intervening time, no sore feet—but here he was, addressing in the politest terms an old lady who stood in the doorway of a flat-fronted terraced house.1 more intervene → intervening:in between Show general definition for intervene (as in: in the intervening years) something between two other things -- especially the passage of time between two events
	1
opaqueunable to be seen through They are engineering a window that can convert from transparent to opaque with the push of a button.more Show sample from book Desperate, he thought of running to the weir to fish her out from there, but the water was an opaque muddy green.1 more impossible to see through Show general definition for opaque (as in: opaque shower door) not able to see through
	1
opaque#2difficult or impossible to understand We made a game of guessing at the meaning of her opaque lyrics.more Show sample from book ...but Lola had crossed her arms and paid decorous, grown-up compliments through a half smile that was too opaque for the detection of irony.1 more hard to read (not showing what he was thinking) Show general definition for opaque (as in: opaque explanation) difficult or impossible to understand -- especially due to complexity or obscurity
	4
solicitorlawyer Before signing the contract, she asked her solicitor to review the terms carefully.more Show sample from book Cecilia said in a quiet level voice, "When I got your letter I went to see a solicitor."3 more Show general definition for solicitor (as in: the solicitor prepared for a trial) a type of lawyer in some jurisdictions such as Great Britain
	2	top 500
venerablerespected They looked to the venerable old woman for advice.more Show sample from book These were awesome occasions worthy of the ancient silver service; the venerable great-uncles and —aunts and grandparents were Victorians, from their mother's side of the family, a baffled and severe folk, a lost tribe who arrived at the house in black cloaks having wandered peevishly for two decades in an alien, frivolous century.†1 more respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position Show general definition respected (worthy of respect) -- typically because of age or position
	3	top 2000
reticentreluctant to speak She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.more Show sample from book She had green eyes and sharp bones in her face, and hollow cheeks, and there was something brittle in her reticence that suggested strong will and a temper easily lost.†2 more reticent → reticence:reluctance -- usually to speak freely Show general definition reluctant -- especially to speak freely Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Consider using taciturn rather than reticent when the reluctance to speak is a general disposition rather than a short-term situation brought about by particular circumstance.