Take the Tortillas out of Your Poetry — Vocabulary
Rudolfo Anaya
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	33	top 2000
censorcensor → censoring:suppressing everything considered politically unacceptable The Chinese devote enormous resources to censoring the Internet.more Show sample from book My friend was censoring his creativity in order to fit the imposed criteria.†32 more censor → censoring:removing or suppressing something considered obscene, immoral, or politically unacceptable Show general definition for censor (as related to censorship) to remove or suppress anything considered obscene, immoral, politically unacceptable, or a security threat or: a person who decides which such material should be removed or suppressed
	8	top 1000
liberateset free She works to liberate the religious minority from persecution.more Show sample from book For me, reading has always been a path toward liberation and fulfillment.†7 more liberate → liberation:the act of being set free Show general definition to set free -- as from prison, political oppression, persecution, expectations...
	2	top 100
themean idea that is unifying or recurrent The party had a 1950's theme.more Show sample from book If we leave out our tortillas—and by that I mean the language, history, cultural values, and themes of our literature—the very culture we're portraying will die.1 more theme → themes:recurring ideas Show general definition for theme (as in: theme of the novel) a basic idea that underlies what is being said or done -- especially in a literary or artistic work
	2	top 1000
diversitythe condition of variety Diversity has strengthened our Board of Directors.more Show sample from book At a time when multicultural diversity is challenging the literary canon of this country, the major publishers still are barely now responding to the literary output of Chicano writers.†1 more Show general definition the condition of variety -- especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
	1	top 200
alternativenon-standard I'm taking the pills the doctor prescribed, but I'm also looking into alternative medicine such as acupuncture.more Show sample from book The alternative presses of the 1960s were created to contest the status quo. non-traditional or non-standard Show general definition for alternative (as in: alternative medicine) non-traditional or non-standard
	1	top 500
crucialvery important Doing well on the ACT is crucial to getting into the college I want to attend.more Show sample from book I do not believe we should have to leave out the crucial elements of our language and culture to contribute to American literature, but, unfortunately, this is a conclusion I am forced to reach.† Show general definition very important or necessary -- often because it determines how something else will turn out
	1	top 500
techniqueway of doing something She developed a new surgical technique that shortens recovery time.more Show sample from book Using a technique censors often use, they zoomed in on one detail of the novel, the so-called bad words in Spanish, and they used that excuse.† Show general definition a way of doing something; or the methods used to do it well
	1	top 1000
endeavorendeavor → endeavored:tried or attempted I endeavored to get both sides to agree to a compromise.more Show sample from book Art is a very human endeavor, and itcontains within its process and the objects it produces a road to liberation.† to attempt; OR a project or activity attempted Show general definition to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
	1	top 1000
abateabate → abated:became less intense The storm abated.more Show sample from book The threat to keep us subservient did not abate.† to become less in amount or intensity Show general definition to become less in amount or intensity
	1	top 1000
dismaydismay → dismayed:sad, disappointed, or worried Don't be dismayed. I have a solution.more Show sample from book I was dismayed by my friend's conclusion.† dismay → dismayed:to feel sadness, disappointment, or worry Show general definition to feel sadness, disappointment, or worry -- typically in response to something surprising
	1	top 1000
clamorloud noise and/or persistent demands She ignored the clamor of the crowd.more Show sample from book Fifteen million Chicanos were clamoring at the door, insisting that the schools also belonged to us, that we had a right to our literature in the schools, and the conservative opposition in power fought back by burning our books.† clamor → clamoring:demanding loudly and/or persistently Show general definition loud noise and/or persistent demands -- especially from human voice
	1	top 1000
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 Show sample from book The liberation is significant not only to the individual artist, it is a revelation for the community. 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
	1	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 The English-Only movement continued the old censorship we had felt on the school playgrounds, but now the game had moved into the state legislatures.† legislature → legislatures:groups of government representatives that have the power to create laws Show general definition a group made up of government representatives (usually elected) that has the power to create laws
	6
status quoexisting state of affairs Despite the rhetoric, the new agreement largely maintains the status quo.more Show sample from book The alternative presses of the 1960s were created to contest the status quo.†5 more the existing situation (the way things are now or the way they typically are) Show general definition the existing situation (the way things are now or the way they typically are)
	3	top 500
criteriareference points against which things can be evaluated We're considering five primary criteria as we compare job applicants.†more Show sample from book My friend was censoring his creativity in order to fit the imposed criteria.†2 more Show general definition reference points against which things can be evaluated Show editor's word notes Note that "criterion" is the singular form. Though not seen as often as "criteria", it is reasonably common. Today, "criterions" is acceptable in place of "criteria", though seldom used.
	2
endowmentgift of money We have a ten-million-dollar endowment to fight Malaria in Ghana.more Show sample from book For some time I have been encouraging Chicano writers to apply for literary fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.†1 more the invested money that provides income for an institution… Show general definition the invested money that provides income for an institution; or an instance of giving such money or: abilities or qualities -- especially those that are nature-given
	1	top 2000
insidiousinsidious → insidiously:in a manner not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time The debt grew insidiously--just a little at a time and always for a good purpose.Alan Greenspan — The Age of Turbulencemore Show sample from book Censorship has affected me directly, and I have formed some ideas on this insidious activity, but fist, I want to give an example of censorship which recently affected a friend of mine.† not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time; OR treacherous Show general definition not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time or: treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
	1
deducededuce → deduced:concluded by reasoning From the muddy footprints and the open window, she deduced that someone had snuck into the house.more Show sample from book My friend rightfully deduced that his poetry was not receiving a fair reading.† Show general definition conclude by reasoning -- especially reasoning from the general to the particular
	1
guisedeceptive outward appearance The spy entered the building under the guise of a maintenance worker.Nathaniel Hawthorne — The Scarlet Lettermore Show sample from book Censorship is fear clothed in the guise of misguided righteousness.† an outward appearance -- often one that hides the true nature of something Show general definition an outward appearance -- often one that hides the true nature of something
	1
omissionleaving something out that should have been included She did not say something that wasn't true. Her lie was a lie of omission.more Show sample from book What are the methods of commission or omission that censorship employs?† something left out that should have been included Show general definition something left out that should have been included or: a mistake resulting from neglect