Unbroken — Vocabulary
Laura Hillenbrand
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
42 top 1000
rationration → rations:fixed portions of food
Because rations were halved for sick men who were unable to work, the ill couldn't recover.p.235.741 more
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Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more
ration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have
Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
7 top 100
yieldyield → yielded:produced
Louie caught a few fish, once parlaying a tiny one, thrown into the raft by a whitecap, into bait that yielded a comparatively fat pilot fish.p.149.87 more
Show context notes In this context, parlaying means "transforming or using to get something more valuable."
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more
produce (lead to)
Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
1 top 100
yield#2give way
Officials waved at Casey, who tried to yield, but Bright and Louie came to him before he could get out of the way.p.23.17 more
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The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more
give in
Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
13 top 100
criticalimportant
Having left USC a few credits short, he had no college degree, a critical asset in a job market glutted with veterans and former war production workers.p.349.912 more
Show context notes In this context, an asset is something of value.
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It is of critical importance.more
highly important
Show general definition for critical (as in: a critical problem) important, serious, or dangerous
3 top 100
accompanytravel with
The police went to Shizuka Watanabe and asked her and her family to accompany them to the mountain.p.361.64 more
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The nurse accompanies the old woman everywhere.more
accompany → accompanies:travels with
Show general definition for accompany (as in: accompany on the journey) to travel along with
2 top 100
accompany#2accompany → accompanying:provided with
At Hamilton Field, an artist was working his way down the planes, painting each one's name and accompanying illustration.p.63.54 more
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The trend is easily seen in the accompanying graph.more
accompany → accompanying:provided together
Show general definition for accompany (as in: the accompanying chart) to be present with at the same time and/or location -- sometimes provided to make something more complete or better
4 top 100
establishestablish → established:existing, or set in place
Stories of cannibalism among castaways were so common that British sailors considered the practice of choosing and sacrificing a victim to be an established "custom of the sea."p.149.14 more
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Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?more
establish → established:created
Show general definition for establish (as in: establish a positive tone) create, start, or set in [a] place
1 top 100
establish#2establish → established:shown or proven
This is one of the many examples of the men missing in action erroneously reported and later being established as a lie.p.254.44 more
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The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more
establish → establishing:showing or demonstrating
Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
16 top 2000
propagandaone-sided information that is purposefully spread to influence opinions
...Japanese photographers circled, snapping photos. Then, just as the men were ready to devour the fruit, the order came to put it all back. The entire thing had been staged for propaganda.p.268.315 more
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There is no free press in that country -- just government-approved propaganda.more
one-sided information spread to influence opinions
Show general definition one-sided information that is purposefully spread to influence opinions -- often misleading information of a political nature
2 top 10
illustrateillustrate → illustrated:helped make clear
Right or wrong, Louie's suspicions illustrated how sensitive he was to the idea that he was unworthy of Cynthia.p.343.13 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.more
make clear
Show general definition for illustrate (as in: as illustrated by this example) to help make clear -- typically by example
1 top 10
contrastcontrast → in contrast:a comparison
The battle was so high that only the giant, shining bombers were consistently visible; the fighters, tiny in contrast, flickered in and out of view as the sunlight caught them.p.263.51 more
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Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.more
point to differences between
Show general definition for contrast (as in: contrast their writing styles) point to differences between; or compare to show differences
1 top 10
contrast#2difference
The snow was so deep that residents had dug vertical tunnels to get in and out of their homes. The contrast to fire-blackened Tokyo was jarring.p.276.71 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The contrast in their leadership styles is striking. Olivia motivated people with fear. Isabella motivated them with praise.more
notable difference
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
9 top 200
tracetrace → traces:indications of what had happened
Metal dog tags were confiscated, in an apparent effort to comply with the stipulation that those executing POWs "not …. leave any traces."p.292.915 more
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There was not a trace of the defendant's DNA at the crime scene.more
a tiny quantity or indication
Show general definition for trace (as in: found a trace of) a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • a small indication that something was present -- as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
  • a very small amount of something -- as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
  • any evidence of something -- as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
1 top 1000
trace#2trace → tracing:drawing
Then he focused on Jesus bending down, his finger tracing words in the sand at the Pharisees' feet, sending the men scattering in fear.p.373.115 more
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She didn't have a camera or a copier, so she used a pencil to trace an outline of the picture on thin paper.more
draw (by following the image)
Show general definition for trace (as in: trace a picture or outline) copy the lines of an image; or draw an outline; or carefully draw a specific pattern
This sense of trace has to do with drawing, but it's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
copying the outline of an image
  • "She used tracing paper to make a copy." -- paper you can see through, so that when it is placed on a picture, you can use a pencil to follow the lines of the image being copied
  • "She projected the image onto the wall, hung a sheet of paper there, and traced the projected image onto the paper." -- followed the lines with her pencil
draw an outline or a specific pattern
  • "She used her toe to trace half the fish symbol in the sand." -- draw a simple outline
  • "The child used a stick to trace circles and swirls in the mud." -- draw
  • "She used her finger to trace his name in the sand." -- draw
6 top 1000
trace#3trace → tracing:following
Louie told the story as the Japanese listened in silent fascination, tracing the journey on a map.p.173.315 more
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They followed a path that traces along the edges of a dark forest.more
trace → traces:follows or runs
Show general definition for trace (as in: traced a path) to follow
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • "The hunters traced the deer into the woods." -- followed or tracked
  • "With soft kisses, she gently traced the scar running down his cheek." -- followed
  • "The path traces along the edge of the forest." -- follows
  • "A single tear traced its way down her cheek." -- followed a specific path
3 top 100
composecompose → composed:written
Finally, a letter arrived, composed by Harvey and dictated to a nurse from his hospital bed.p.255.94 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The assignment is to compose a poem.more
write
Show general definition for compose (as in: compose a poem) to write or create something with care
1 top 100
compose#2compose → composed:made up
...this preliminary list was composed of those accused of the worst crimes, including list-topper Hideki Tojo, mastermind of Pearl Harbor and the man on whose orders POWs had been enslaved and starved, and Masahuru Homma, who was responsible for the Bataan Death March.p.334.94 more
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The United States is composed of 50 states.more
Show general definition for compose (as in: composed of many parts) to create something by arranging parts
1 top 100
compose#3calm
When she pulled up at her parents' house, she had to compose herself before she walked in.p.138.94 more
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I took a deep breath to compose myself and then began my speech.more
Show general definition for compose (as in: compose myself) to calm someone or settle something
9
HiroshimaJapanese port city that was almost completely destroyed by the first atomic bomb dropped on a populated area
At POW Camp 10-D, on the far side of the mountains by Hiroshima, prisoner Ferron Cummins felt a concussion roll down from the hills, and the air warmed strangely.p.300.88 more
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The United States detonated a nuclear weapon over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and then another above Nagasaki on August 9th before Japan surrendered.more
port city in Japan that was almost completely destroyed by the first atomic bomb dropped on a populated area
Show general definition port city in Japan; on August 6, 1945 it was almost completely destroyed by the first atomic bomb dropped on a populated area
20 top 500
virtualvirtual → virtually:almost
Virtually every POW believed that the destruction of this city had saved them from execution.p.320.219 more
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She was virtually broke.more
virtual → virtually:almost completely
Show general definition for virtual (as in: virtual organization) to almost be something; or to effectively be something without entirely being it in a traditional sense