Abraham Lincoln and the Self-Made Myth — Vocabulary
Richard Hofstadter
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by subsection of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	28	top 2000
republicrepublic → republics:governmental systems in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws The United States and each of its states are republics.more Show sample from book Again and again the Republican press of the Northwest referred to the Republican Party as the "White Man's Party."27 more republic → republican:of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives … Show general definition for republic (as in: the country is a republic) of a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws; or someone in favor of such a form of government
	16	top 2000
emancipatedreleased from social restraints (used as a metaphor for the literal sense of being released from slavery) She was an emancipated 20th century woman pursuing her career.†more Show sample from book District slaveholders who wanted to emancipate their slaves were to be compensated from the federal Treasury.†15 more emancipated → emancipate:to release from slavery or servitude; or (metaphorically) from social restraints Show general definition released from slavery or servitude; or (metaphorically) from social restraints
	13	top 2000
legislatureelected body that makes laws The state legislature passed a law to increase the minimum wage, but the governor vetoed it while claiming it would reduce the number of entry-level jobs for young people.more Show sample from book He early became a party wheelhorse, a member of the Illinois State Whig Committee, and in the legislature a Whig floor leader.†12 more a group, made up of government representatives, that has the power to create laws Show general definition a group made up of government representatives (usually elected) that has the power to create laws
	9	top 1000
democracya system of government in which citizens have power with equal votes The United States has a representative democracy.more Show sample from book It was the legitimate inheritance of Jacksonian democracy.†8 more
	5	top 200
eminentrespected and well-known She studied under an eminent scientist who had won multiple international awards.more Show sample from book He was not, of course, the first eminent American politician who could claim humble origins, nor the first to exploit them.†4 more respected and famous or important Show general definition famous, respected, or important within a particular field or profession
	4	top 200
malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more Show sample from book Here is a drama in which a great man shoulders the torment and moral burdens of a blimdering and sinful people, suffers for them, and redeems them with hallowed Christian virtues—"malice toward none and charity for all"—and is destroyed at the pitch of his success.†3 more the desire to hurt others or see them suffer Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
	5	top 2000
abolishabolish → abolishing:eliminating (doing away with) She is in favor of abolishing the death penalty.more Show sample from book "Slavery," Fitzhugh predicted, "will everywhere be abolished, or everywhere be reinstituted."†4 more abolish → abolished:eliminated Show general definition eliminate (end, or do away with)
	5	top 2000
inferiorof lower quality Nazis believed other races were inferior.more Show sample from book Chicago, July 10, 1858: Let us discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man, this race and that race and the other race being inferior, and therefore they must be placed in an inferior position.†4 more (adjective) of low quality, or of lower quality or rank than something else OR (more rarely as a noun) a person of lower rank or status Show general definition of low quality, or of lower quality or rank than something else -- sometimes used as a noun to refer to a person of lower rank or status
	2	top 100
omitomit → omitted:left out She recounted the whole story except that she omitted names.more Show sample from book It expressly omitted the loyal slave states from its terms.†1 more omit → omitted:to exclude or neglect something Show general definition to exclude or neglect something
	2	top 200
disdainlack of respect She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more Show sample from book Lincoln's connection with such a tribe could only spur his loyalty to the democratic ways in which he had been brought up; he never did "belong," and Mary Todd's attitude toward him as a social creature was always disdainful.†1 more disdain → disdainful:full of disrespect Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
	3	top 1000
doctrineprinciple She argues that the action is protected under the separation-of-powers doctrine that is fundamental to the US Constitution.more Show sample from book The supporters of this doctrine vote for Buchanan.†2 more a belief (or system of beliefs or principles) accepted as authoritative by some … Show general definition a belief (or system of beliefs or principles) accepted as authoritative by some group
	4	top 2000
denouncedenounce → denounced:strongly criticized or accused publicly She denounced him as a liar.more Show sample from book We know that he refused to denounce the Fugitive Slave Law, viciously unfair though it was, even to free Negroes charged as runaways.†3 more to strongly criticize or accuse publicly… Show general definition to strongly criticize or accuse publicly or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
	4	top 2000
expedientpractical but not ideal It was a necessary expedient to get the job done.more Show sample from book His attitude was based on justice tempered by expediency—or perhaps more accurately, expediency tempered by justice.†3 more expedient → expediency:convenient, speedy, or practical; or an action that is speedy or practical Show general definition convenient and practical, but sometimes not the best or most moral choice
	2	top 200
inconsistentnot the same at different times Her play is inconsistent. Sometimes she's unbeatable and other times she beats herself.more Show sample from book Douglas did what he could to use Lincoln's inconsistency against him.†1 more inconsistent → inconsistency:not the same in different parts or at different times… Show general definition not the same in different parts or at different times or: not in agreement [with something else]
	23
abolitionending the system or practice The abolition of slavery in the United States was officially achieved with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment.more Show sample from book The implication is clear: Lincoln was half abolitionist and the Emancipation Proclamation was fulfillment of that young promise.†22 more abolition → abolitionist:a reformer who favored ending slavery Show general definition the act of formally ending a system, practice, or institution -- most often used to refer to the movement to end slavery when no specific system is named
	4	top 1000
suffrageright to vote Although few of the women who pioneered women's suffrage lived long enough vote, the right was finally granted to women in 1920.more Show sample from book Consequently I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms (by no means excluding females).†3 more Show general definition the right to vote
	2	top 200
implicitunderstood (without having been directly said) "Did she explicitly promise?" "Well, I guess not explicitly, but nobody who was there could have missed the implicit promise."more Show sample from book Although it was no part of his constitutional function, Lincoln did what he could to speed this amendment toward ratification by announcing that he considered it only an explicit statement of what was already implicit in the Constitution—1 more Show general definition for implicit (as in: not explicitly but implicitly) not stated directly, but understood (or capable of being understood) from something else Show editor's word notes Shared information is often divided into two categories: That which is said explicitly (directly in words that leave no room for confusion or doubt) and that which is said implicitly.
	3	top 2000
canvasscanvass → canvassing:talking with people individually She has been canvassing the membership to see how they feel and to ask for their support.more Show sample from book 1840 and 1844—placed on Harrison and Clay electoral tickets "and spent much time and labor in both those canvasses";†2 more canvass → canvasses:examines an issue, gets opinions by asking specific questions; and/or asks people for political support individually Show general definition for canvass (as in: canvass the crowd) examine an issue, get opinions by asking specific questions; and/or ask people for political support individually
	3
ratifyratify → ratifies:approves The President already signed the treaty, but it won't take effect unless the Senate ratifies it.more Show sample from book It was ratified by a vote of 50,261 to 21,297.†2 more ratify → ratified:approved Show general definition to approve -- typically the formal approval of an agreement by an organization
	2
preeminentsurpassing all others I think of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra as the world's most preeminent orchestra.more Show sample from book No, replied the Little Giant, but "he is preeminently a man of the atmosphere that surrounds him."†1 more preeminent → preeminently:in a manner that surpasses others in status, ability, or possession of a notable characteristic Show general definition outstanding or surpassing others in status, ability, or possession of a notable characteristic