Marley & Me — Vocabulary
John Grogan
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	1	top 500
disputedisagreement The area has long been a source of dispute between India and Pakistan.more Show sample from book Then one night he settled the dispute once and for all.p.116.82 more Show general definition for dispute (as in: their border dispute) disagreement, argument, or conflict
	2	top 200
dispute#2dispute → disputes:challenges She disputes her landlord's claim that the music was that loud.more Show sample from book They wanted to dispute the central premise of my report, the part in which I insisted Marley was the world's worst-behaved animal.p.283.42 more challenge (argue that it was not true that) Show general definition for dispute (as in: She disputes his claim.) challenge, argue about, or fight over
	6	top 200
optimisticexpecting the best I'm optimistic that I'll get into a good college.more Show sample from book The blank videotape sitting on the bench beside us suddenly seemed like an incredible embarrassment, a sharp reminder of our blind, naive optimism.†p.46.85 more optimistic → optimism:a tendency to expect and see the best in all things Show general definition expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
	5	top 500
nonchalantcalm and unconcerned I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to look nonchalant.more Show sample from book I tried to sound nonchalant, but secretly I was overjoyed at the prospect of having the new puppy all to myself for a few days of uninterrupted male bonding.†p.19.44 more Show general definition calm in manner -- appearing unconcerned
	6	top 2000
incessantcontinuous She grew annoyed by the child's incessant questions.more Show sample from book There were dogs that howled incessantly, dug incessantly, fought incessantly, humped incessantly, and bit incessantly.†p.179.55 more incessant → incessantly:continuously Show general definition continuous -- often in an annoying way
	6	top 1000
nurturehelp to develop We want older employees to help nurture the talents of new employees.more Show sample from book Not that she was trying to; if anything, she nurtured the poor thing to death.†p.2.75 more nurture → nurtured:helped to develop or grow Show general definition help develop or grow Show editor's word notes A particular sense of nurture is often contrasted with a particular sense of nature. In the comparison, nurture refers to external influences on a person's development such as being loved, cared for, and taught. Nature in contrast refers to the inherent genetic influences on a person's development. Studies of identical twins who grew up in different homes are used to better understand the influences of each.
	4	top 500
irrationalunreasonable I have an irrational fear of spiders.more Show sample from book I even tried my best to indulge her increasingly bizarre and irrational behavior.†p.94.93 more Show general definition not reasonable
	6	top 2000
genea DNA sequence or unit of heredity that influences biological traits The gene determines hair color.more Show sample from book It was in their genes and in their job description.†p.52.15 more gene → genes:DNA sequences or units of heredity that influence biological traits
	4	top 500
empathythe understanding and sharing of others' feelings She lacks empathy and is very selfish.more Show sample from book He looked up at me with those big empathetic eyes that I swore could almost talk.†p.193.53 more empathy → empathetic:the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional s… Show general definition the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional state
	4	top 500
techniqueway of doing something She developed a new surgical technique that shortens recovery time.more Show sample from book Kathy did flinch noticeably a few times, especially as we went over tick-removal techniques, but she kept any misgivings to herself.†p.86.93 more technique → techniques:ways of doing things Show general definition a way of doing something; or the methods used to do it well
	5	top 1000
recoilrecoil → recoiled:suddenly moved back (away from) She recoiled in horror.more Show sample from book We could tell from the wide berth strangers gave him and the way they recoiled when he bounded their way that they no longer viewed him as a harmless puppy.†p.40.44 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
	5	top 1000
intimidateintimidate → intimidated:made afraid (of being inadequate) I was intimidated on my first day at the job, but I'm comfortable now.more Show sample from book The timbre of his bark had deepened to an intimidating boom.†p.39.74 more intimidate → intimidating:making fearful Show general definition to cause fear, nervousness, or a sense of inadequacy
	4	top 1000
commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book Just as we were reaching the car, we heard a commotion coming from the woods.†p.9.63 more noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
	6	top 500
devourdevour → devoured:ate rapidly and completely She devoured everything on her plate in less than two minutes and asked for more.more Show sample from book Instead of spraying for insects, he unleashed thousands of ladybugs and other beneficial insects that devoured the destructive ones.p.208.36 more devour → devoured:ate rapidly Show general definition for devour (as in: devoured three sandwiches) eat rapidly and completely -- usually due to being very hungry
	1	top 500
devour#2devour → devoured:read with eager interest She devoured everything he wrote.more Show sample from book I ran down to the bookstore and returned with a small fortune in reading materials, which Jenny devoured in the first three days.p.129.16 more devour → devoured:read completely with eager interest Show general definition for devour (as in: devours crime novels) to read, listen, or watch with eager interest
	2	top 200
inhibitinhibit → inhibits:slows or prevents The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.more Show sample from book Dr. Sherman ordered an intravenous saline drip and an injection of the labor inhibitor Brethine.†p.125.11 more inhibit → inhibitor:someone or something that limits activity Show general definition for inhibit (as in: inhibited the growth of...) to limit the activity of someone or something
	2	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 We chose the breed on one criterion alone: curb appeal.†p.15.81 more criteria → criterion:a reference point against which things can be evaluated 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.
	3	top 2000
ebullientfilled with energy and joy Her family was jumping for joy, but she was less ebullient.more Show sample from book Marley seemed positively ebullient to have us out there, lending a hand with his remodeling efforts.†p.70.72 more happy and energetic Show general definition happy and energetic
	2	top 1000
recuperaterecuperate → recuperating:regaining health The patient is recuperating.more Show sample from book The knife had punctured Lisa's lung, and she spent five days in the hospital and several weeks recuperating at home.†p.121.11 more recuperate → recuperating:regaining health or strength Show general definition to regain good health or strength
	3
phobiaphobia → phobias:extreme and unreasonable fears of things One of the most common phobias is agoraphobia--the fear of being in public places.more Show sample from book We had hoped the chipper-shredder incident in the garage was an isolated aberration, but it turned out to be just the beginning of what would become a lifelong pattern of phobic, irrational behavior.†p.72.32 more phobia → phobic:related to an extreme and unreasonable fear of something Show general definition extreme and unreasonable fear of something Show editor's word notes Many words end with "phobia" to indicate "fear of" something. It is also common to turn the noun into an adjective with an "ic" suffix; e.g., "phobic" or "xenophobic."