A Walk Across America — Vocabulary
Peter Jenkins
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	8	top 100
howeverdespite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas) Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.more Show sample from book When I got to Selma, however, I found that a lot of changes had taken place.†8 more a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc. Show general definition for however (as in: However, complications may...) though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas) 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 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
	1	top 2000
however#2in whatever way However we do it, someone is going to be unhappy.more Show sample from book But however it felt, it smelled good.†8 more Show general definition for however (as in: However you do it, get it done!) in whatever way
	15	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 The church had been built piece by piece, one dollar at a time, by thedeacons and stout men in the congregation.†14 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	10	top 2000
suburbanin an area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't so crowded I want a suburban home with a white picket fence and a big yard.more Show sample from book Being the suburban pioneer that I was, I saw all the forests from the East to the West cleancut and balded like so many marines' shaved heads.†9 more relating to a residential area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded Show general definition relating to a residential area located near the outer edge of a city where it isn't as crowded
	8	top 1000
repentto feel regret for having done wrong and to firmly decide to be a better person in the future Prisoners who repent are more likely to be released on parole.more Show sample from book Most of what he said about knowing God, repenting and salvation, I didn't clearly understand.†7 more repent → repenting:expressing regret for having done something wrong
	3	top 500
irrationalunreasonable I have an irrational fear of spiders.more Show sample from book Cooper also sensed their coldness and wanted to get out of this irrational town.†2 more Show general definition not reasonable
	2	top 100
varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book The only decent building on the place was surrounded by tire ruts and pickup trucks in varying states of repair.†1 more vary → varying:differing; or changing 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."
	4	top 1000
prejudiceunreasonable and unfair belief or feeling The group works to eliminate racial prejudice.more Show sample from book Right now, I was jealous of Cooper because he didn't have to make our decisions or struggle with social prejudices or worry about camping with these overgrown boys.†3 more prejudice → prejudices:bias that prevents objective consideration Show general definition bias that prevents objective consideration -- especially an unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
	3	top 1000
migratemove from one place to another The birds migrate in the Winter.more Show sample from book Bulleting over my head while I lay flat on my back on the hard rock, flocks of falcons and migrating hawks, maybe in the thousands, passed by.†2 more migrate → migrating:moving from one place to another Show general definition move from one place to another -- sometimes seasonally
	3	top 1000
ponderthink about The question the audience is left to ponder is...more Show sample from book While he gave out the assignments, I pondered the distances these frustrated flower children had come.†2 more ponder → pondered:thought deeply or carefully about Show general definition to think deeply or carefully about something
	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 The evangelist remained reverent and quiet for long seconds.†1 more revere → reverent:feeling or showing respect and admiration Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	2	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 This would be a supreme test of our faith in intuitive discovery and a fitting way to start the New Year.†1 more intuition → intuitive:known instinctively rather than through reasoning Show general definition something known based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning; or the ability to know things in such a manner
	2	top 500
lethargiclacking energy I'm hoping a cold iced tea will help me get past this lethargic feeling.more Show sample from book Even happy Cooper seemed lethargic.†1 more Show general definition lacking energy
	3	top 1000
sparsenot dense The grass was sparse in the dry field, with patches of dirt showing everywhere.more Show sample from book That course was a square of improved road that went through sparsely populated farmland, with miles of golden pastures.†2 more sparse → sparsely:not dense; OR few in number and spread out Show general definition not dense; or few in number and spread out
	18
seminarya school for training ministers, priests, or rabbis Princeton Theological Seminary has the largest theological library in the United States.more Show sample from book The last thing I wanted to happen to me was to get serious with some seminarian.†17 more seminary → seminarian:a school for training clerics -- usually ministers, priests, or rabbis Show general definition a school for training clerics -- usually ministers, priests, or rabbis
	6
evangelista Christian who tries to convince others to become Christians The well-known evangelist, Billy Graham, filled the stadium.more Show sample from book This "revival" started tonight with an evangelist named James Robison.†5 more someone who actively tries to persuade others to accept a belief or cause… Show general definition someone who actively tries to persuade others to accept a belief or cause, especially a Christian preacher who urges people to become Christians Show editor's word notes Most often, evangelist refers to a Christian who preaches and tries to win converts, sometimes on television, radio, or at large revival meetings. More broadly, the word can be used for anyone who strongly promotes an idea, product, or cause—such as a “climate evangelist” or a “tech evangelist.” When capitalized as Evangelist in Christian writing, it can also refer to one of the traditional authors of the four Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
	5
bushellarge amount After the event, we had a bushel of leftover food that we donated to a local shelter.more Show sample from book They also grew 1355 bushels of yellow corn, 166 bushels of cabbage, 25 tons of tomatoes and 800 bushels of spinach.†4 more bushel → bushels:a large amount; OR a unit of measure used for dry goods Show general definition a large amount or: a unit of measure used for dry goods (filling an 8 gallon container)
	2	top 500
inhibitedunable to act naturally due to being overly self-conscious She's personable and funny with her friends, but she tends to be inhibited with strangers.more Show sample from book Here in the simple forest, feelings of uninhibited freedom sprang from my soul like mountain spring water.†1 more inhibited → uninhibited:acting naturally without being overly self-conscious Show context notes The prefix "un-" in uninhibited means not and reverses the meaning of inhibited. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
	4
telepathycommunication from one mind to another without using the known senses My dog is so good at knowing what I'm thinking, you'd think she had canine telepathy.more Show sample from book He had his students read all the books they could read about Zen, science fiction, extrasensory perception, mental telepathy and yoga.†3 more Show general definition communication from one mind to another without using the known senses (often used in fiction but not scientifically supported as real)
	2
preparatorygetting ready The preparatory school has a reputation for sending students to top colleges.more Show sample from book Before leaving for prep school, she broke up and gave back my I.D. bracelet.†1 more preparatory → prep school:done to get ready for something that will happen later Show general definition done to get ready for something that will happen later