Tamar — Vocabulary
Mal Peet
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	34	top 1000
asylumhospital for the mentally ill She was found not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and she was then committed to an asylum.more Show sample from book I visit my aunt at the asylum two or three times a week.33 more Show general definition for asylum (as in: committed to the asylum) a hospital for the mentally ill
	4	top 2000
directwithout intervention from anything (in this case, not sun that is partially blocked or reflected) This flower does best in direct sunlight.more Show sample from book Koop had the Luger in his right hand, resting it against his chest, the muzzle pointing directly at Dart.†4 more direct → directly:straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis) Show general definition for direct (as in: directly above; or buy direct) without anything in between -- whether in time, space, or involvement
	1	top 100
direct#2straightforward I left them with direct instructions.more Show sample from book These are direct orders from Amsterdam.†4 more clear, straightforward, or to the point Show general definition for direct (as in: gave a direct answer) straightforward -- often clear, open, or blunt in speech or behavior
	9	top 1000
colleaguefellow worker -- especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law My colleague suggested a different approach.more Show sample from book One of your colleagues gave us this information just before he died.†8 more colleague → colleagues:fellow workers -- especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law
	10	top 1000
liberateset free She works to liberate the religious minority from persecution.more Show sample from book I'm almost as afraid of liberation as I am of anything else.†9 more liberate → liberation:the act of being set free Show general definition to set free -- as from prison, political oppression, persecution, expectations...
	6	top 200
sinisterevil They created a sinister plan to recruit terrorists.more Show sample from book Sinister, or something?5 more evil, harmful, or frightening Show general definition evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
	7	top 1000
sequenceordered set The sequence of events leading to the accident was carefully reviewed by the investigators.more Show sample from book An immense number of paint pots filled a shelf, arranged in a strict colour sequence like a stretched and flattened rainbow.†6 more arranged in a specific order Show general definition a set of things arranged or happening in a specific order -- often chronological order
	7	top 1000
continuousconstant (uninterrupted) The national power grid is under almost continuous attack.more Show sample from book By the time I was fourteen or so, her two languages were leaking into one another continuously.†6 more continuous → continuously:continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity Show general definition continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity
	3	top 10
contrastnotable difference The contrast in their leadership styles is striking. Olivia motivated people with fear. Isabella motivated them with praise.more Show sample from book Pieter Grotius's workplace was a complete contrast to the confusion of the shop.2 more something notably different compared (to something) Show general definition for contrast (as in: there is a contrast) a difference -- especially a notable difference; or the side-x-side arrangement of things that draws attention to an unmissable difference
	6	top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more Show sample from book When he was a child, fussy about his food, Marijke had told him stories of rationing and hunger and people who would kill each other for a chicken.†5 more ration → rationing:restricting the amount of something each person can have -- such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	3	top 100
irrelevantnot relevant The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.more Show sample from book His aborted medical training was almost irrelevant.†2 more not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider) Show general definition not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
	5	top 1000
recoilrecoil → recoiled:suddenly moved back (away from) She recoiled in horror.more Show sample from book Grandad's head recoiled as if she had struck him physically, and he stumbled out of the car.4 more recoil → recoiled:moved back suddenly Show general definition to move backward suddenly (sometimes figuratively) especially: the backward jerk of a gun or cannon when it is fired when a person flinches (suddenly draws back) from someone or something, as with fear, disgust, or pain when a person is emotionally repulsed, as by disgust when something intended to go in one direction figuratively falls back in the opposite direction; for example, a story told to hurt someone that comes back to hurt the teller
	3	top 200
indignantindignant → indignantly:with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong "I am not a fool," she said indignantly.more Show sample from book Dart attempted to make his stutter sound indignant.†2 more angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong Show general definition angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
	4	top 1000
collaboratework together on a common enterprise or project The websites lets you collaborate with others on documents.†more Show sample from book So, if he wanted to get to Banjo—and Tamar was fairly certain hewould—he'd have to be guided there by a relay of contacts and couriers, any one of whom could be a collaborator or Gestapo double agent.†3 more collaborate → collaborator:work together on a common enterprise or project… Show general definition work together on a common enterprise or project or more rarely and especially in the form collaborator: cooperate with the enemy as a traitor
	2	top 2000
melodramaexaggerated drama The show’s final episode was pure melodrama—sudden betrayals, secret siblings, and a wedding interrupted by a long-lost lover.more Show sample from book Which was a bit melodramatic, maybe, but it is pretty weird when you see your name everywhere and it's got nothing to do with you.†1 more melodrama → melodramatic:a story or behavior that is overly dramatic Show general definition a story or behavior that is overly dramatic
	2	top 2000
stationarynot moving The car was stationary when it was hit.more Show sample from book Her eyes were still very wild and she was turning her head from side to side, trying to work out where the stationary car was taking her, looking for familiar landmarks along the imaginary route.†1 more standing still; OR not capable of being moved Show general definition standing still; or not capable of being moved Show editor's word notes Stationary is commonly confused with stationery; i.e., paper for writing letters. The words are pronounced identically, so be sure to note the spelling. It might help to remember which is which, by thinking "First sit still; then write."
	1	top 100
analyticallogical and systematic in seeking understanding She has an analytical mind.more Show sample from book As one of very few people gifted with a cool and analytical mind, he knew that only a small number of individuals were strong enough to reject happiness and gratification in order to shape the history of the world, and he was one of them.† relating to logical examination to improve understanding Show general definition relating to logical and systematic examination of something to better understand it -- often implying some kind of quantitative analysis
	2
nocturnalactive during the night The mice are nocturnal, so we never see them, but we see their droppings.more Show sample from book At the end of his nocturnal radio watches he'd slip quietly back to his room through the dark murmuring house.†1 more active during the night; OR relating to night Show general definition active during the night; or relating to night
	2
pompoussounding self-important The host gave a long, pompous speech full of big words that didn’t mean much.more Show sample from book They sounded false and pompous, a quotation from somewhere.†1 more self-important or arrogant in speech or behavior Show general definition self-important or arrogant in speech or behavior -- especially in a way that seems exaggerated or overly formal or more rarely: showing ceremonial splendor (pomp)
	2
stupefystupefy → stupefied:completely surprised The lawyer said his client was stupefied by the accusation.more Show sample from book He'd recalled Tamar's cowardice in the plane on the night of the drop, the look of stupefied terror on his face as he stood at the hatch.†1 more stupefy → stupefied:made unable to think; or completely surprised Show general definition make one unable to think; or to completely surprise