I Am Number Four — Vocabulary
Pittacus Lore
(Auto-generated)

Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
58 top 500
legacya gift left in a will
She left her vacation home as a legacy for her family.more
Show sample from book
Your Legacies are going to appear any day now.p.24.557 more
legacylegacies:gifts
Show general definition coming from the past or left to the future
in various senses including:
  • in law -- a gift given through a will -- "She left a legacy of $10,000 to her niece."
  • of a situation -- resulting from the past -- "Today's debt problem is a legacy of profligate spending by prior administrations."
  • of culture -- a practice passed from one generation to the next -- "The city has along legacy of bribes and corruption."
  • of technology -- something that still uses old technology -- "We're using a legacy software that only the old-timers know how to update."
  • of a member or potential member of an organization -- the child of a previous member -- "She is a legacy candidate."
9 top 2000
deflectturn aside
She used humor to deflect the awkward question about her personal life.more
Show sample from book
I don't tell her how I split the dead tree's trunk straight down the middle through telekinesis, or how Henri threw knives at me that I deflected into a sandbag fifty feet away.†p.300.38 more
deflectdeflected: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
pavilionfreestanding structure without walls
We're meeting for a picnic under the pavilion at the park.more
Show sample from book
The park itself is made up of three baseball fields, a playground, and a large pavilion where volunteers serve cider and slices of pumpkin pie.†p.133.87 more
a large structure separate from a main structure or temporary
Show general definition a large building or section of a building that stands apart in function or design -- often used for gatherings, exhibitions, or specialized purposes
7 top 2000
conspiracysecret plot
She discovered a conspiracy to overthrow the government.more
Show sample from book
I have the urge to ask what sorts of people create alien conspiracies if it is bored farmers who create crop circles, but I don't.†p.129.66 more
conspiracyconspiracies:secret agreements or plots
Show general definition a secret agreement or plot -- especially to do something illegal or harmful
4 top 200
sinisterevil
They created a sinister plan to recruit terrorists.more
Show sample from book
Or do I want something darker, more sinister, like the ability to kill without touching?p.121.13 more
evil, harmful, or frightening
Show general definition evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
4 top 200
malicemalicemalicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer
I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more
Show sample from book
A malicious smile takes shape and my body feels as though it has grown bigger, stronger.†p.150.93 more
malicemalicious:the intention or desire to see others suffer
Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
5 top 1000
ponderthink about
The question the audience is left to ponder is...more
Show sample from book
"What happened?" he asks in that voice I recognize, the voice he uses when pondering another move.†p.46.14 more
ponderpondering:thinking deeply or carefully about
Show general definition to think deeply or carefully about something
5 top 1000
emitemitemitted:sent out
The ozone layer blocks some harmful rays emitted by the sun.more
Show sample from book
They emitted a small blue trail of smoke that came from the crystals used to power them, never fire like this one.†p.115.64 more
Show general definition to produce and send out -- such as sound or light
3 top 100
varybe different
Your mileage may vary.more
Show sample from book
It varies from Garde to Garde.†p.120.82 more
varyvaries:differs; or changes
Show general definition to be different, or to change
Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
6 top 2000
agonyintense suffering
She was in agony from a toothache.more
Show sample from book
I woke screaming in the middle of the night, in agony, terrified as the scar seared itself into my flesh.†p.6.95 more
Show general definition intense feelings of suffering -- can be from mental or physical pain
2 top 10
implyimplyimplied:hinted or suggested
She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more
Show sample from book
I thought that's what you were implying.†p.321.61 more
implyimplying:suggesting (saying indirectly)
Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence
3 top 200
skepticaldoubtful
I am skeptical about her plan.more
Show sample from book
The light falls on Sarah's skeptical face.†p.162.52 more
doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile); OR  more rarely:…
Show general definition doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)

or more rarely:

generally tending to doubt what others believe
3 top 500
perpetualcontinuing forever
A perpetual flame burns beside the grave of John F. Kennedy.more
Show sample from book
The only discernible sights are the bombs, continually falling, large displays of fire of all colors that sweep through the night sky and the perpetual explosions that follow.†p.279.82 more
continuing forever without change; OR  occurring so frequently it seems constant
Show general definition continuing forever without change; or occurring so frequently it seems constant
5 top 2000
asthmaa common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children.more
Show sample from book
"Just a bad case of asthma," Henri tells him, and walks past.†p.42.34 more
Show general definition a common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
4 top 500
economicsthe study of how limited resources are allocated in an attempt to satisfy unlimited wants
I don't know much about economics, but I know her plan doesn't make sense.more
Show sample from book
I have home economics after lunch—not because I necessarily care about cooking, but because it was either that or choir.†p.68.83 more
the study of how limited resources are allocated in an attempt to satisfy unlimi…
3
solar systeman area that includes a star and everything that revolves around it
Our solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, their moons, and many smaller objects like asteroids.more
Show sample from book
"The solar system," he says.†p.174.42 more
the area that includes the sun (or any star) and everything that revolves around…
Show general definition the area that includes the sun (or any star) and everything that revolves around it
2 top 2000
transcendtranscendtranscends:exceeds or surpasses
The book transcends our expectations from a romance novel.more
Show sample from book
Sarah gives some purpose to our running, and hiding, a reason that transcends mere survival.†p.173.81 more
Show general definition exceed (go beyond); or surpass (to be more or better)
1 top 100
conformconformconformist:someone who thinks and acts like others in a group
Most teenagers are surprisingly conformist within their subgroup.more
Show sample from book
It defiantly reaches one hand over its shoulder and returns with a cannonlike gun that begins conforming to its body, the gun wrapping around its forearm.†p.392.6
conformconforming:complying, fitting in, or being similar to what is normal
Show general definition to comply, fit in, or be similar to what is normal
2
vertigodizziness
I felt a sense of vertigo as I looked over the ledge.more
Show sample from book
A sense of vertigo seeps in.†p.339.81 more
a dizzy sensation or a feeling that you are about to fall
Show general definition a dizzy sensation or a feeling that you are about to fall
2
oblongan elongated shape
The artist carefully painted an oblong shape on the canvas, using broad strokes to create a sense of movement.more
Show sample from book
It is perfectly smooth and oblong, clear on the outside but cloudy in the center.†p.79.31 more
an elongated shape (having more length than width)
Show general definition an elongated shape (having more length than width) -- typically of a stretched circle that is longer than an oval, but occasionally used to describe a rectangle