The Red Pyramid — Vocabulary
Rick Riordan
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	27	top 2000
serpentsnake There was a picture of a serpent eating its tail.more Show sample from book It lunged at the fiery man, who effortlessly grabbed the serpent by its neck.†26 more Show general definition a snake
	8	top 1000
banishbanish → banished:forced to leave He was banished from his own country.more Show sample from book For the last two thousand years or so, we magicians have spent much of our time binding and banishing them whenever they appear.†7 more banish → banishing:expelling or getting rid of Show general definition to expel or get rid of in various senses, including: to force someone to leave a country as punishment to push an idea from the mind
	8	top 1000
abyssseemingly bottomless pit At the end of the story, Gandalf falls with the demon into the abyss.more Show sample from book The dagger should've impaled me in the chest, but somehow I deflected it with my blade and sent it sailing into the abyss.†7 more a hole or dropoff so deep the bottom cannot be seen -- often used figuratively to imply a frightening bottomless pit Show general definition a hole or dropoff so deep the bottom cannot be seen -- often used figuratively to imply a frightening bottomless pit
	8	top 2000
deflectturn aside She used humor to deflect the awkward question about her personal life.more Show sample from book The dagger should've impaled me in the chest, but somehow I deflected it with my blade and sent it sailing into the abyss.†7 more deflect → deflected:turned aside from a fixed direction or line of interest Show general definition turn aside from a fixed direction or line of interest
	8	top 2000
chidechide → chides:corrects or criticizes She constantly chides me for my grammar.more Show sample from book "An old trick, Julius," the fiery man chided.†7 more chide → chided:scolded or criticized Show general definition to tell someone they have done wrong -- sometimes in a gentle way to encourage better behavior
	8	top 2000
aurasurrounding feeling or atmosphere The place has an aura of romance.more Show sample from book The residual life aura can interfere with spells?†7 more A distinctive quality, mood, or feeling that seems to surround a person, place, … Show general definition A distinctive quality, mood, or feeling that seems to surround a person, place, or thing; or, more literally, a glowing light shown around someone's head or body in spiritual or artistic images
	8	top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more Show sample from book He was exiled, I suppose you would say.†7 more exile → exiled:forced to leave one's homeland Show general definition to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
	7	top 2000
avengetake revenge for In the story, she wants to avenge the murder of her brother.more Show sample from book I thought about the myths I knew—how Horus, the son of Osiris, had to avenge his father by defeating Set.†6 more Show general definition take revenge for a perceived wrong
	7	top 2000
chasma large, deep, and steep-sided opening on the earth's surface You can't leap a twenty-foot chasm with two 10-foot jumps.more Show sample from book We were standing at the edge of a chasm.†6 more a large gap or divide Show general definition a large and deep and steep-sided opening on the earth's surface; or (more rarely) any large gap or: a very large difference -- often of opinion
	7	top 2000
insistentfirm and continuing We questioned her repeatedly and she remained insistent that she knew nothing of the event.more Show sample from book Muffin said, more insistently.†6 more insistent → insistently:in a persistent or firm manner Show general definition persistent or continuing or firm -- especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
	7	top 2000
bronzea brownish metal that is made of copper and (usually) tin The sculpture of a bull on Wall Street is made of bronze.more Show sample from book On the right was a massive set of bronze doors with fires blazing on either side; on the left, a twenty-foot-tall sphinx carved into the wall.6 more made of a type of high-quality metal Show general definition for bronze (as in: bronze won't corrode in salt water) a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin Show editor's word notes Bronze metals in the Olympics and many other contests are awarded for third place. With the discovery of bronze (about 3,000 BC), people could make tools and weapons that were harder and more durable than those made of copper and stone that preceded bronze.
	43
obeliskstone pillar with a pyramidal top The Washington Monument, a towering obelisk in the National Mall, is a tribute to the first President of the United States.more Show sample from book In case you've never seen it: the Needle is an obelisk, not a needle, and it doesn't have anything to do with Cleopatra.†42 more a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person o… Show general definition a stone pillar with a pyramidal top erected as a monument to remember a person or event
	7	top 1000
cruxmost important part I see the crux as whether you trust people to make those kinds of decisions for themselves.more Show sample from book I will arrange to be in Las Cruces, New Mexico, tonight.†6 more crux → cruces:the most important or difficult part of a problem, argument, or situation Show general definition the most important or difficult part of a problem, argument, or situation
	8
initiateinitiate → initiates:new members Initiates will be formally accepted and presented at the ceremony on Friday.more Show sample from book "Our initiates," Zia said, "learning to scry."7 more initiate → initiates:potential new members Show general definition for initiate (as in: She is a new initiate.) someone who has formally started in an organization, or been introduced to or attained some expertise in a particular field
	3	top 100
narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience) The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more Show sample from book It seems impossible that the two young narrators are telling the truth, but you, the reader, must decide for yourself.†2 more narrator → narrators:storytellers Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance
	4	top 1000
auspiciousfavorable With good weather and no traffic, we had an auspicious start on our journey.more Show sample from book sunrise is the most auspicious moment for magic.3 more Show general definition favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
	24	top 100
focusconcentrate I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.more Show sample from book If he hadn't given me something to focus on, I'd probably still be hunting field mice over the Potomac.27 more Show general definition for focus (as in: Turn your focus to question #2.) to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
	1	top 100
focus#2area where attention is concentrated Since we're running out of time, let's narrow our focus to just what needs to be done tomorrow.more Show sample from book A magician can use these artifacts as focal points to work more powerful spells.27 more Show general definition for focus (as in: The focus of our study is...) where attention is concentrated or directed
	2	top 2000
focus#3into view (as an area of attention) The bridge collapse brought aging infrastructure into focus as a political issue.more Show sample from book Between the columns on either side of us, images shifted, coming into focus and then blurring out again like holograms in a sandstorm.27 more view (a state where something can be seen clearly) Show general definition for focus (as in: bring into focus; or out of focus) a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly; or an adjustment made to permit a clear view
	1
focus#4focus → focuses:concentrates The satellite dish focuses the signal into a relatively narrow beam.more Show sample from book The pyramid had been ripped from its source of power, the desert, and in front us loomed the default gateway for North America, the tall white obelisk that was the most powerful focal point of Ma'at on the continent: the Washington Monument.27 more focus → focal:area where power is concentrated Show general definition for focus (as with technical usage) technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as: physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola) geology — the point of origin of an earthquake See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.