All Over but the Shoutin' — Vocabulary
Rick Bragg
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	12	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 He tells his congregation that he is living proof that religion can save anyone.11 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	4	top 200
inclinedhave a tendency; or an attitude or mood that favors something I'm inclined to believe him.more Show sample from book He did not want to make his living selling whiskey on a large scale... The men who made it by the trunkload were much more inclined to prison, and that would have left his family alone in the teeth of the Depression. So he made a few gallons, enough to bring out the dogs and the deputies now and again, but never the federal men.4 more tending (to end up in) 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
	1	top 200
inclinesomething sloping upward (such as a hill) It is a steep incline.more Show sample from book She drove to the lake and parked her car on the boat ramp's steep incline,4 more angle (hill) Show general definition for incline (as in: on an incline or incline his head) to be at an angle or to bend
	12	top 2000
pronewith a tendency The child is prone to emotional outbursts.more Show sample from book I climbed trees and was prone to fall out of them.11 more had a tendency (to do something) Show general definition for prone (as in: prone to) having a tendency (to do something)
	5	top 500
legacya gift left in a will She left her vacation home as a legacy for her family.more Show sample from book Even a legacy of a lie is better than hate.4 more something coming from the past Show general definition coming from the past or left to the future in various senses including: in law -- a gift given through a will -- "She left a legacy of $10,000 to her niece." of a situation -- resulting from the past -- "Today's debt problem is a legacy of profligate spending by prior administrations." of culture -- a practice passed from one generation to the next -- "The city has along legacy of bribes and corruption." of technology -- something that still uses old technology -- "We're using a legacy software that only the old-timers know how to update." of a member or potential member of an organization -- the child of a previous member -- "She is a legacy candidate."
	3	top 100
varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book They will tell you that the depth of that meanness and hatred and ignorance varies from soul to soul, that white Southerners are not the same and symmetrical, like the boards in a white picket fence.†2 more vary → varies:differs; or changes Show general definition to be different, or to change Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
	3	top 200
disdainlack of respect She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more Show sample from book It may even be that I saw the disdain in places where it didn't exist.2 more a lack of respect Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
	3	top 200
objectivefact-based (not influenced by personal feelings or preferences) By any objective analysis, you would have to agree that...more Show sample from book We are taught in this business to leave our emotions out of a story, to view things with pure and perfect objectivity, but that was impossible on this story.2 more objective → objectivity:lack of bias (influence of personal feelings or preferences) Show general definition for objective (as in: an objective viewpoint) fact-based without the influence of personal feelings or preferences Show editor's word notes Objective is often contrasted with subjective--which means "influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)."
	3	top 200
inherentbuilt-in or natural The Declaration of Independence began by recognizing the inherent dignity and rights of each person.more Show sample from book Maybe it is because the boy is my brother and I am blind to some things, but I do not believe, not for one minute, that he is cruel, that he is inherently mean, the way that my daddy could be.2 more inherent → inherently:in a manner that exists as an inseparable part or characteristic Show general definition existing as an inseparable part or characteristic Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Less-common, but more specific synonyms include "innate" and "intrinsic." You might choose "innate" when referring to a living entity's inherent characteristic since birth (e.g., an innate intelligence) or to a characteristic that is not obvious at first glance (e.g., "Government has an innate tendency to grow.") You might choose "intrinsic" when referring to an inherent characteristic upon which other characteristics depend (e.g., "Steel beams were intrinsic to the design.")
	4	top 1000
sereneserene → serenely:calmly and peacefully While I lie awake worrying, she sleeps serenely.more Show sample from book I described the serenity of the park,3 more serene → serenity:peaceful calmness Show general definition calm and untroubled
	1	top 2000
howeverno matter how (how much/how hard/how long…) However hard she tried, she couldn't do it.more Show sample from book All it took was an angry word or some insult, however slight, and the subtle differences in our characters vanished and you would have thought we were children of Beelzebub, unbound.1 more regardless of how Show general definition for however (as in: However much she tried...) to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
	1	top 2000
however#2in whatever way However we do it, someone is going to be unhappy.more Show sample from book They did not see what they were doing as anything wrong; their daddies had been free to take game when they wanted, however they wanted.1 more Show general definition for however (as in: However you do it, get it done!) in whatever way
	5	top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more Show sample from book It would be years before I realized the main reason she exiled herself to the little house, going out only to buy groceries.†4 more exile → exiled:forced to leave one's homeland Show general definition to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
	5
correspondentreporter Let's get a report from our correspondent in Mexico City.more Show sample from book The packed bodies turned and ran, and I ran with them, watching a senior foreign correspondent closely, to see when it was right to run and when you were supposed to stand.†4 more Show general definition for correspondent (as in: foreign correspondent of the paper) a reporter or other representative -- typically from a foreign country or with a particular expertise
	5	top 200
validategive evidence for the truth of something To further validate their results, researchers did a larger study the following year.more Show sample from book If nothing else validates the decency of that man, then the story of Jessie Klines will.†4 more validate → validates:give evidence for the truth or value of; OR declare as legally approved Show general definition give evidence for the truth or value of; or declare as legally approved
	4
embargoban The country placed an embargo on oil exports to pressure its rival.more Show sample from book The embargo only inconveniences the rich.†3 more an official ban or restriction -- especially a government-imposed trade barrier Show general definition an official ban or restriction -- especially a government-imposed trade barrier
	3	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 I called Bill Cooke, our free-lance photographer and my friend, but an ornery man even on his best days.†2 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
	3
transistor radiotransistor radio → transistor radios:small portable radios made with transistors Transistor radios were very popular in the 1960s and 1970s.more Show sample from book They bought me a coat, a pair of shoes, a football, and a transistor radio.†2 more a type of small portable radio Show general definition a small portable radio that was popular in the past and made with transistors rather than vacuum tubes
	2	top 1000
subjugatesubjugate → subjugation:forced submission to another's dominance The essay discusses that era's subjugation of women in a male-dominated world.more Show sample from book In their eyes, they had been subjugated by the old Crackers, and now they were subjugated again by people who were not even born there.† subjugate → subjugated:forced into submission Show general definition to force into submission in various senses, including: when a people are defeated in battle and oppressed -- as in "The Romans subjugated most of Europe." when something is treated as less important than something else -- as in "subjugate the desires of the individual to the desires of the state," or "subjugate instinct to reason"
	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 Lozano was eventually convicted of two counts of manslaughter, and the community was satisfied.†1 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).