A Dance With Dragons — Vocabulary
George R. R. Martin
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	19	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book The crows burned all them that yielded.p.514.131 more yield → yielded:produced or gave Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	13	top 100
yield#2give in The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more Show sample from book She has to realize that I will not yield.p.105.931 more give in, give way, or give up Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
	65	top 2000
brazenbold and improper She made a brazen attempt to take credit for her colleague’s work during the meeting.more Show sample from book They fear my Brazen Beasts.†p.224.964 more bold and unrestrained by what others consider proper Show general definition bold and unrestrained by what others consider proper
	43
breechrear (in this case indicating that the baby came out of the birth canal butt-first) It was a difficult breech birth.†more Show sample from book Blood had soaked his breeches to the knee and dried into a hard brown crust.†p.5.242 more breech → breeches:pants Show general definition rear Most commonly used today in the phrase breech birth in reference to a baby who comes out of the birth canal butt-first rather than head-first. More-archaic senses seen in classic literature include: breechcloth -- a form of loincloth consisting in a strip of material passed between the thighs and held up in front and behind by a belt or string breeches -- pants a cannon's breech -- the rear of a gun
	40	top 2000
siegethe surrounding and prolonged attack The Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days.more Show sample from book Groleo had been a most unhappy man since they had broken up his ship to build the siege engines that won Meereen for her.†p.234.939 more a military tactic in which a fortified place is surrounded and isolated while it… Show general definition a military tactic in which a fortified place is surrounded and isolated while it is attacked over time or: any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
	38	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 Their caps had only one spike each, and their faces showed so little they might have been cast of bronze as well.p.36.137 more a type of 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.
	36	top 2000
treasonbetraying one's own country He was executed for treason in a time of war.more Show sample from book What we do is treason, make no mistake.†p.94.235 more an act of betrayal Show general definition betraying someone or something -- typically betraying one's own country (in this context, to betray is to not be loyal--often by helping enemies)
	35	top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more Show sample from book Bittersteel saw the strength of House Blackfyre scattering to the four winds, so he formed the Golden Company to bind the exiles together.†p.86.334 more exile → exiles:to force someone to live outside of their 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
	28	top 1000
perilperil → perils:dangers The mountaineers faced many perils on their ascent to the summit, including treacherous icefalls and avalanches.more Show sample from book The Lord of Light has seen his children in their peril and sent a champion to them, Azor Ahai reborn.†p.147.827 more danger Show general definition danger
	21	top 500
perishbe destroyed or cease to exist ...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln — Gettysburg Addressmore Show sample from book They would have perished soon in any case, from exposure or starvation.†p.5.120 more perish → perished:died, was destroyed, or ceased to exist Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way or: to be destroyed or cease to exist Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought." It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
	17	top 200
ornatehaving lots of decorative detail The hotel is decorated with ornate furniture, lots of carved designs, and gold leaf gilding.more Show sample from book In Westeros, it might have been called an oxcart, though it was a deal more ornate than any cart that Quentyn had ever seen in Dome, and lacked an ox.†p.95.316 more Show general definition highly decorative or elaborate in style — whether in appearance (with lots of detail) or in language that sounds flowery and overly complicated
	23
envoyrepresentative sent on a mission The State Department's new envoy to North Korea has a good understanding of the region.more Show sample from book Custom demanded that the queen begin with the Astapori envoy, a former slave who called himself Lord Ghael, though no one seemed to know what he was lord of.†p.43.522 more Show general definition a representative sent on a mission -- often representing a government
	22
jousta contest in which mounted knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances In the medieval festival, the highlight was the joust, where knights on horseback charged at each other with lances.more Show sample from book The little men were done up in wooden armor, miniature knights preparing for a joust.†p.101.921 more a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted l… Show general definition a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances or: any kind of contest
	13
bardsomeone who composes poems about important events and people Shakespeare is sometimes called the Bard of Avon.more Show sample from book He turned his head, his pale cold eyes searching the hall until they found the bard Abel beside Theon.†p.741.112 more someone who composes and recites or sings poems about important events and peopl… Show general definition for bard (as in: written by the bard) someone who composes and recites or sings poems about important events and people; or (as a proper noun) Shakespeare Show editor's word notes Shakespeare is sometimes called the Bard of Avon or just the Bard.
	10
farceridiculous situation What started as a serious debate quickly turned into a farce, with people shouting over each other and making jokes.more Show sample from book The rancor I showed you in the Merman's Court was a mummer's farce put on to please our friends of Frey.†p.427.89 more a ridiculous, exaggerated situation too absurd to be taken seriously… Show general definition a ridiculous, exaggerated situation too absurd to be taken seriously; or a type of comedy that relies on absurd humor, using physical slapstick, unlikely situations, and deliberate misunderstandings
	8
ficklequick to change I can't imagine depending upon the fickle wind to sail around the world.more Show sample from book A pretty metal, but fickle as a woman.†p.229.17 more quick to change… Show general definition quick to change (such as a person quick to change their mind, or the weather in a region where it changes suddenly)
	18	top 1000
sullenunhappy and withdrawn She changed from a happy, outgoing child to sullen teenager.more Show sample from book The princeling was in a sullen mood, angry that he had been forced to remain on the Shy Maid instead of going ashore with Yandry and Ysilla.p.304.418 more unhappy Show general definition for sullen (as in: a sullen mood) being unhappy (and often withdrawn)
	1	top 2000
sullen#2unpleasant She slept poorly in the sullen heat.more Show sample from book The sullen wet heat of Volantis sapped his strength and left him feeling dirty.p.97.518 more Show general definition for sullen (as in: sullen heat) unpleasant
	1
fodderfodder → cannon fodder:readily expendable In the Iran-Iraq war, the ayatollahs sent children and civilians to the front-line as cannon fodder.more Show sample from book To you they are only arrow fodder.p.251.512 more people thought of as readily expendable to further a military campaign Show general definition for fodder (as in: cannon fodder) people thought of as readily expendable -- especially to further a military campaign
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fodder#2food such as hay or straw that is given to domesticated animals We have plenty of hay and fodder for the animals.more Show sample from book I have given you fodder for your horses, and once the stair is done I will lend you builders to restore the Nightfort.p.62.512 more Show general definition for fodder (as in: cattle fodder) food such as hay or straw that is given to domesticated animals; or feeding them such food