A Christmas Memory — Vocabulary
Truman Capote
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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neverthelessdespite that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.more
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Nevertheless, he retreats into the shadowed cafe and seconds later appears carrying a bottle of daisy-yellow unlabeled liquor.†
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.
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moreoverin addition to what has just been said
The company has too much debt. Moreover, it is responsible for a long-term lease on expensive office space.more
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And it is very beautiful; though not as beautiful as the one she made me, which is blue and scattered with gold and green Good Conduct stars; moreover, my name is painted on it, "Buddy."†
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devisecome up with (invent or create)
She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more
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I make sketches and my friend cuts them out: lots of cats, fish too (because they're easy to draw), some apples, some watermelons, a few winged angels devised from saved-up sheets of Hershey bar tin foil.†
devise → devised:came up with (invented or created)
Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
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deceivemislead
The plan was to deceive the Germans into believing the main attack would take place further north.more
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Our backs hurt from gathering them: how hard they were to find (the main crop having been shaken off the trees and sold by the orchard's owners, who are not us) among the concealing leaves, the frosted, deceiving grass.†
deceive → deceiving:lying or misleading
Show general definition to lie to or mislead someone -- occasionally to lie to oneself by denying reality
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simultaneousat the same time
On Super Tuesday a large number of states have simultaneous primary elections.more
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But by and by we begin to sing, the two of us singing different songs simultaneously.†
Show general definition at the same time
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accumulategradually increase
Greenhouse gas continues to accumulate in the atmosphere.more
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But one way and another we do each year accumulate Christmas savings, a Fruitcake Fund.†
collect or gradually increase
Show general definition to collect or gradually increase
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chastisechastise → chastising:criticizing
She said the United Nations resolution amounted to chastising Israel for wanting to exist.more
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A mile more: of chastising thorns, burrs and briers that catch at our clothes; of rusty pine needles brilliant with gaudy fungus and molted feathers.†
chastise → chastising:scolding or criticizing
Show general definition to scold or criticize
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glowerglower → glowering:staring angrily
Shake hands and stop glowering at each other.more
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No, he glowers at us through Satan-tilted eyes and demands to know: "What you want with Haha?"†
glower → glowers:stares angrily
Show general definition to stare angrily
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humiliatehumiliate → humiliated:extremely embarrassed (feeling decreased dignity)
She felt humiliated by his public insults.more
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humiliation!†
humiliate → humiliation:extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride
Show general definition extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride -- especially in front of others)
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persistpersist → persisted:continued
The child persisted in asking questions despite my obvious desire to be left alone.more
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The mill owner's wife persists.†
persist → persists:continues
Show general definition to continue -- often despite difficulty or to repeat a question
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deprivedeprive → deprived:left without a basic comfort
The storm deprived the town of electricity.more
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Queenie begs to taste, and now and again my friend sneaks her a mite, though insisting we deprive ourselves.†
to take away or keep from having
Show general definition to take away or keep from having
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stationerypaper and envelopes for writing letters
It was a form-letter, but it was written on the President's stationery with a White House return address.more
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Also, the scrapbooks we keep of thank-you's on White House stationery, time-to-time communications from California and Borneo, the knife grinder's penny post cards, make us feel connected to eventful worlds beyond the kitchen with its view of a sky that stops.†
Show general definition paper and envelopes for writing letters
Show editor's word notes Stationery is commonly confused with stationary; i.e., remaining still. The words are pronounced identically, so be sure to note the spelling. It might help to remember which is which, by thinking "First sit still; then write."
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conspiracysecret plot
She discovered a conspiracy to overthrow the government.more
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Silently, wallowing in the pleasures of conspiracy, we take the bead purse from its secret place and spill its contents on the scrap quilt.
a secret agreement or plot
Show general definition a secret agreement or plot -- especially to do something illegal or harmful
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operaa classical music play in which most of the dialogue is sung
She is a popular opera singer.more
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A trunk in the attic contains: a shoebox of ermine tails (off the opera cape of a curious lady who once rented a room in the house), coils of frazzled tinsel gone gold with age, one silver star, a brief rope of dilapidated, undoubtedly dangerous candylike light bulbs.†
a musical play with orchestra in which most of the dialogue is sung (or the art form that consists of such musicals; or describing something as related to that art form)
Show general definition a form of musical theater with orchestra in which most of the words are sung, often in a classical style and sometimes in a foreign language
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goadgoad → goaded:provoked (angered or annoyed)
She goaded him into an argument.more
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But we have the strength of triumphant huntsmen; that and the tree's virile, icy perfume revive us, goad us on.†
to provoke or annoy someone into doing something
Show general definition to provoke or annoy someone into doing something—often something unwise

or:

to prod an animal to move, or the stick used to do so
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gaudytastelessly showy
By local standards, her outfit was gaudy.more
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A mile more: of chastising thorns, burrs and briers that catch at our clothes; of rusty pine needles brilliant with gaudy fungus and molted feathers.†
Show general definition tastelessly showy
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burnishburnish → burnished:polished
The jeweler carefully burnished the silver bracelet until it gleamed.more
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Frozen rime lusters the grass; the sun, round as an orange and orange as hot-weather moons, balances on the horizon, burnishes the silvered winter woods.†
burnish → burnishes:polishes and makes shiny; or improves something
Show general definition to polish, especially to make metal shiny; or more generally, to improve or enhance something’s appearance or reputation
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squandersquander → squandered:wasted
She squandered the money she inherited from her grandmother.more
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Besides, a person my age shouldn't squander their eyes.†
waste
Show general definition to waste -- money, resources, or opportunities
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suffusesuffuse → suffused:filled or spread over
The sunset suffused the sky with a warm, orange glow.more
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Eggbeaters whirl, spoons spin round in bowls of butter and sugar, vanilla sweetens the air, ginger spices it; melting, nose-tingling odors saturate the kitchen, suffuse the house, drift out to the world on puffs of chimney smoke.†
to spread or flood through
Show general definition to spread or flood through
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garishtastelessly showy
The clown’s garish outfit, with its bright colors and bold patterns, made the children laugh.more
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As we approach his cafe (a large log cabin festooned inside and out with chains of garish-gay naked light bulbs and standing by the river's muddy edge under the shade of river trees where moss drifts through the branches like gray mist) our steps slow down.†
Show general definition tastelessly showy; or excessively bright