Seabiscuit — Vocabulary
Laura Hillenbrand
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	7	top 100
establishestablish → established:created Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more Show sample from book As the weekday wonder and the money man, Pollard and Woolf established themselves in the uppermost tier of North American racing.9 more establish → established:set (caused acceptance of) Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
	3	top 100
establish#2establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more Show sample from book Fitzsimmons soon established himself as the most successful conditioner of Thoroughbreds in the nation.9 more establish → established:proved Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
	4	top 500
despaira feeling of hopelessness Don't give in to despair.more Show sample from book Pollard left the track in despair.5 more a feeling of hopelessness or distress Show general definition for despair (as in: she felt despair) hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
	2	top 500
despair#2lose hope Don't despair. Next year will be better.more Show sample from book The stable hands, despairing of getting help to the track fast enough, fetched the only transportation on hand, a little runabout truck that the track starter used to motor around the course.5 more despair → despairing:losing hope Show general definition for despair (as in: do not despair) lose hope or feel distress
	8	top 500
cultivatedevelop or grow We encourage our representatives to cultivate a close relationship with their clients.more Show sample from book He also lived out a fantasy that he had probably cultivated since childhood.†7 more cultivate → cultivated:developed, grown, or prepared for growing crops Show general definition enhance growth or development in various senses, including: to grow crops or prepare land for them enhance a relationship -- especially for a purpose develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment to grow a culture in a petri dish
	9	top 2000
manelong coarse hair growing around the head It was a healthy male lion with a golden mane.more Show sample from book Even mainstream trainers would drop pennies in mares' water buckets to halt estrus, or exhaust themselves trying to get a mane that fell to the left—a bad omen—to fall to the right.†8 more long coarse hair on an animal Show general definition long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
	8	top 1000
wanewane → waned:gradually decreased When the headlines moved on to other topics, public interest waned and only the companies being regulated paid attention to what was happening.more Show sample from book He was always alone, even back then, in the waning days of the nineteenth century.†7 more wane → waning:declining or diminishing Show general definition gradually decrease in strength, intensity, size, or importance -- especially the part of the moon that is visible
	8	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 "No one coaxed Howard to put his horse in the race because we figured something like this would happen," he sniped.†7 more coax → coaxed:tried to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuaded 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
	5	top 200
unprecedentednot having happened before Human impact on the environment is increasing at an unprecedented rate.more Show sample from book Necessity spurred technological innovations that offered the public unprecedented access to its heroes.†4 more not having happened before; or nothing similar having happened before Show general definition not having happened before; or nothing similar having happened before
	4	top 100
precedeprecede → preceded:were before in time Stone tools preceded bronze tools.more Show sample from book Accordingly, expectations for Woolf's career in the saddle preceded him into the world.†3 more precede → preceded:went or was before Show general definition to go or do before
	5	top 500
lamentlament → lamented:expressed grief about She lamented the loss.more Show sample from book His win percentage dropped to a lamentable 6 percent.†4 more lament → lamentable:regrettable Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Show general definition to express grief or regret
	4	top 100
attributeattribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the source of) She attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.more Show sample from book Falling into a severe depression attributed to his taking constant doses of purgatives to fight a weight problem he could not beat, he shot himself to death at age twenty-nine.3 more attribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the cause of something) Show general definition for attribute (as in: I attribute it to...) to credit (a source for something) in two typical senses: "I attribute it to her work." -- to say who or what made something happen "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." -- indicate the source of a quotation or idea
	5	top 500
intuitionintuition → intuitive:able to understand things from feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning They were perfect partners--one highly intuitive and the other highly analytical.more Show sample from book Sitting together in the clubhouse that afternoon, husband and wife felt a pull of intuition.†4 more the ability to known instinctively rather than through reasoning; or the thing that is known in such a way Show general definition something known based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning; or the ability to know things in such a manner
	5	top 500
empathythe understanding and sharing of others' feelings She lacks empathy and is very selfish.more Show sample from book Habitually putting himself in other people's shoes, he was in his private life charming and engaging, generous and genuinely empathetic.†4 more empathy → empathetic:the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional s… Show general definition the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional state
	11
foalyoung horse I've trained her to ride since she was a foal.†more Show sample from book Seabiscuit had been a very late foal, born at the end of May 1933, but in January 1935, half a year short of his actual birthday, he was deemed a two-year-old, officially eligible to race.†10 more a young horse; OR giving birth to a young horse Show general definition a young horse; or giving birth to a young horse
	8
ligamenttough fibrous tissue that connects bones She tore a knee ligament and will miss the rest of the season.more Show sample from book As a result, the vast majority of horses' sleeping is done standing, which they can do thanks to ligaments that lock their leg joints in the extended position.†7 more ligament → ligaments:tough fibrous tissues that connect bones Show general definition a sheet or band of tough fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages
	4
cavortcavort → cavorted:played in a lively, unrestrained manner The puppies cavorted in the basket.more Show sample from book A guy couldn't cavort with women, and thanks to the ban on cabaret dancing, he couldn't even watch women cavorting by themselves.†3 more cavort → cavorting:playing in a lively, unrestrained manner Show general definition to play in a lively, unrestrained manner -- typically with someone -- sometimes implying sexual play
	4
optimalmost desirable possible Delivering the drug intravenously assures an optimal concentration of the drug.more Show sample from book The difference between a fast fraction and a slow fraction is often less than a second, and a jockey must be able to discriminate between the two to place his horse optimally.†3 more optimal → optimally:most desirable possible -- often given the circumstances Show general definition most desirable possible -- often given the circumstances
	2	top 500
venerablerespected They looked to the venerable old woman for advice.more Show sample from book Rosemont was there, waiting to meet Seabiscuit in the venerable Brooklyn Handicap.†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
harrowingfrightening It was a harrowing journey through war-torn Afghanistan.more Show sample from book He drove his Buicks in breakneck speed races at Tanforan and harebrained hill climbs up the harrowing grades of Diablo Hill and Grizzly Peak.†2 more frightening or unsettling Show general definition for harrowing (as in: a harrowing story) frightening or unsettling