Learning to See - One Writer's Beginnings - Chpt 2 — Vocabulary
Eudora Welty
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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pervasiveexisting throughout something
We were losing 35 to 0 at halftime and there was a pervasive sense of gloom in the locker room.more
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And in the parlor where the blinds were drawn, the smell of being unvisited would pervade, pervade, pervade.†
pervasive → pervade:spread
Show general definition existing throughout something; or generally widespread
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pessimisticexpecting that things will turn out badly;
Despite the team's losing streak, the coach tried to remain optimistic, while the players grew increasingly pessimistic.more
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You're a good deal of a pessimist, sweetheart.†1 more
pessimistic → pessimist:someone who expects the worst; or who focuses on the bad part of things
Show general definition expecting that things will turn out badly; or focusing on the bad part of things
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correlatecorrelate → correlation:a relationship between two things so that one can be predicted from the other
My opponent is confusing correlation with causation. Just because kids who play violent video games are also more likely to behave violently, doesn't mean the video games cause the violence.more
Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
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She sat at the alert all the way at Daddy's side as he drove, correlating the AAA Blue Book and the speedometer, often with the baby on her lap.†
correlate → correlating:to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a cha…
Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
Show general definition to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a change in one helps predict a change in the other
Show editor's word notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.'

For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
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revelationsomething surprising and previously unknown
It was a revelation to me. Until they gave us those tests, I had no idea that I was better than most people at clerical accuracy.more
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They changed something in my life: each trip made its particular revelation, though I could not have found words for it.1 more
something previously unknown; or making such a thing known
Show general definition something that was previously unknown (and typically surprising); or making such a thing known
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adversaryopponent
She is his greatest adversary.more
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Our road always became her adversary.†
Show general definition an opponent
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dubiousquestionable or unreliable
The theory is based on dubious evidence that hasn’t been verified.more
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He proposed to prove it, and invited the jury of dubious mountaineers to watch him do it.†
doubtful; or suspicious; or full of uncertainty -- sometimes to indicate that something described as good is actually bad
Show general definition doubtful, questionable, or suspicious -- especially in a way that makes something seem unreliable, improper, or uncertain

doubtful
in various senses, including:
  • questionable or doubtful that something should be relied upon -- as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
  • suspicious or doubtful that something is morally proper -- as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
  • bad or of questionable value -- as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
  • uncertain or doubtful -- as in "She is dubious about making the change."
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scarcityshortage
There is a scarcity of work in the region.more
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Compared to the Andrews clan, the Welty family at the time of the first visit I remember was very scarce in the way of uncles and cousins and kin of an older generation.†
scarcity → scarce:in short supply  OR  barely or hardly (by a small margin)
Show general definition shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
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componentcomponent → components:parts
It has only three major components.†more
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Such were my mother's component parts.†
a self-contained part of something that when combined with other parts makes som…
Show general definition a self-contained part of something that when combined with other parts makes something that is larger or more complex
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sequenceordered set
The sequence of events leading to the accident was carefully reviewed by the investigators.more
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The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, butin their significance to ourselves they find their own order, a timetable not necessarily—perhaps not possibly—chronological.†
arranged in a specific order
Show general definition a set of things arranged or happening in a specific order -- often chronological order
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continuousconstant (uninterrupted)
The national power grid is under almost continuous attack.more
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The time as we know it subjectively is often the chronology that stories and novels follow: it is the continuous thread of revelation.†
continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity
Show general definition continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity
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lucidcapable of thinking clearly
Although she was on heavy pain medication, she was still lucid.†more
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The last lucid remark he'd made to my mother was "If you let them tie me down, I'll die."†
of a person:  capable of thinking clearly…
Show general definition of a person:  capable of thinking clearly

or:

of language:  clearly expressed so it is easily understood
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sparsenot dense
The grass was sparse in the dry field, with patches of dirt showing everywhere.more
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Now I look back, or listen back, in the same desire to imagine, and it seems possible that the sound of that sparse music, so faint and unearthly to my childhood ears, was the sound he'd had to speak to him in all that country silence among so many elders where he was the only child.†
not dense; OR  few in number and spread out
Show general definition not dense; or few in number and spread out
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compelforce
Does our DNA compel us to act as we do?more
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It really is the only thing I can remember she ever said about Grandma Welty, though she did feel often compelled to repeat it, and never said anything different after the old lady died.†
compel → compelled:forced; or (more rarely) convinced
Show general definition to force someone to do something

or more rarely:

to convince someone to do something
Show editor's word notes Most typically, compel describes an external influence forcing someone to do something, but it can also describe being driven by an internal desire.
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afflictafflict → afflicted:made to suffer
The region was afflicted by a long drought that destroyed most crops.more
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It was in the quilted bed in the front room of this house where he lay in so much pain (probably from the affliction thatbrought on his death, an infected appendix) that he once told Mother, a little girl, to bring the kitchen knife and plunge it into his side; she, hypnotized, almost believed she must obey.†
afflict → affliction:something that causes ongoing suffering
Show general definition to cause pain, suffering, or trouble -- especially something long-lasting or hard to endure
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chronologicalfrom oldest to newest
Events are listed in chronological order.more
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The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, butin their significance to ourselves they find their own order, a timetable not necessarily—perhaps not possibly—chronological.†
arranged according to time
Show general definition arranged according to time
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reticentreluctant to speak
She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.more
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My father was his very opposite, all that was stable, reticent, self-contained, willing to be patient if need be, and, in all he said, factual.†
reluctant -- usually to speak freely
Show general definition reluctant -- especially to speak freely
Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):

Consider using taciturn rather than reticent when the reluctance to speak is a general disposition rather than a short-term situation brought about by particular circumstance.
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subjectiveinfluenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)
Existing evaluations are largely subjective. The union wants objective criteria, so our employees will know how to succeed and will not need to worry about bias.more
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The time as we know it subjectively is often the chronology that stories and novels follow: it is the continuous thread of revelation.†
subjective → subjectively:in a manner influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)
Show general definition influenced by personal belief, feelings, or preferences (rather than being based purely upon fact)
Show editor's word notes Subjective is often contrasted to objective--meaning based upon fact without the influence of personal feelings or preferences.
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balladslow, emotional song that tells a story
The singer ended the concert with a heartfelt ballad about lost love.more
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They had a repertoire of ballads and country songs and rousing hymns.†
ballad → ballads:a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings
Show general definition a song (or poem) that tells a story or expresses strong feelings -- typically slow in tempo
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epitaphtext written on his tombstone
John Belushi's epitaph reads, "I may be gone, but Rock and Roll lives on."more
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As time eats from the tombstones of the past the epitaphs of primeval greatness, and covers the pyramids with the moss of forgetfulness, she directs the eye to the new temples of art and progress that make America the monumental beacon-light of the world.†
epitaph → epitaphs:short texts in memory of dead people
Show general definition a short text in memory of a dead person -- especially text written on a tombstone
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primevalancient
She found the fossilized remains of a primeval palm tree.more
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As time eats from the tombstones of the past the epitaphs of primeval greatness, and covers the pyramids with the moss of forgetfulness, she directs the eye to the new temples of art and progress that make America the monumental beacon-light of the world.
Show general definition ancient (of or from a long time ago); or having existed from ancient times