The Water is Wide — Vocabulary
Pat Conroy
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	8	top 2000
animateanimate → animating:inspiring people to action The right to pursue happiness is an animating principle of American government.more Show sample from book Even though one of the children suffered a relatively serious injury and I failed by twenty-four hours to transport the group back to the island on time, the power of the children's unanimous, animated support of the venture erased any reluctance the parents might have experienced.p.155.78 more animate → animated:enthusiastic Show general definition for animate (as in: animated by her strong belief) inspire, make more lively, or bring to life
	1
animate#2animate → animated:moving She won an award for best animated cartoon.more Show sample from book My youth sang the glory of books, the psalms of travel, of new faces, of the universe of Disney animation, of Popsicle sticks and county fairs, of parables of war spoken by a. flight-jacketed father, of parables of love and Jesus sung by a blue-eyed mother, a renegade Baptist, a converted Catholic, a soldier of the Lord.p.157.78 more animate → animation:moving cartoons Show general definition for animate (as in: an animated cartoon) make a moving cartoon (a film technique that uses a set of gradually changing pictures to simulate movement when played in series)
	13	top 2000
commuteregular travel between home and work She has a long commute to work.more Show sample from book To have teachers commute to the island or to have a large boat to transport the children to the mainland.p.17.712 more make a regular journey of some distance -- typically between home and work Show general definition for commute (as in: commute from New Jersey) regular travel -- such as between home and work
	11	top 2000
ludicrousabsurd in an amusing way Though she was serious, her suggestion was so ludicrous, I couldn't suppress a laugh.more Show sample from book I felt ludicrously white.†p.25.210 more
	11	top 2000
boycottrefusal to buy Chavez led a nationwide boycott of table grapes.more Show sample from book A few boycotts of white students soon led to a boycott of black students.†p.274.910 more boycott → boycotts:to refuse to buy things (from someone)… Show general definition to refuse to buy things (from someone); or to refuse to participate in an activity (with someone) in order to express disapproval
	10
illiterateunable to read or write She is functionally illiterate, so she will need help filling out the employment application.more Show sample from book I was impatient because I had failed to turn illiterates into lovers of the great classics in the span of a single month.†p.92.99 more illiterate → illiterates:people who can't read or write Show general definition unable to read or write (not literate) or: uninformed in a particular field or general subject area Show editor's word notes Note that "functional illiteracy" means that although one may be able to read or write a little, their ability is inadequate for normal requirements in their society.
	2	top 200
subtlesubtle → subtly:working in a way that is hard to see She is working subtly against us.more Show sample from book It looked as though the Old South was still alive and well, a little more subtle, without the sheets and night riders, but a force that still tolerated little deviation from the norm.p.277.92 more working in an indirect or hidden way Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle poison) working in an indirect or hidden way
	1	top 200
subtle#2making use of slight distinctions She used subtle reasoning to expose the absurdity of his argument.more Show sample from book ...what has remained is an indefinable nonspeech, flavored subtly with a nonaccent, and decipherable to no one, black or white, on the American continent.p.38.92 more subtle → subtly:not obvious, but noticeable Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle difference or thinker) not obvious, but noticeable with enough insight and knowledge or: able to notice or understand things that require insight and sensitivity
	9	top 1000
prejudiceunreasonable and unfair belief or feeling The group works to eliminate racial prejudice.more Show sample from book After the news the four of us argued until the late hours of night, exposing half-hidden prejudices.†p.9.98 more prejudice → prejudices:bias that prevents objective consideration Show general definition bias that prevents objective consideration -- especially an unreasonable belief that is unfair to members of a race, religion, or other group
	9	top 2000
presidelead or direct The principal will preside over the graduation ceremony this year.more Show sample from book Not one of them knew my name, but all of them had prior knowledge that a white teacher would preside over them for the year.†p.25.58 more be in charge; or head; or chair Show general definition to lead or be in charge of a meeting, event, or group -- especially in an official or formal role
	6	top 500
deriveget She likes to win, but she doesn't derive pleasure from watching others lose.more Show sample from book Soon we derived a game out of it.†p.54.45 more derive → derived:got Show general definition to get something from something else (If the context doesn't otherwise indicate where something came from, it is generally from reasoning--especially deductive reasoning.)
	2	top 1000
resignationa document expressing that someone is quitting a job I know you're unhappy there, but don't submit your resignation until you find a better job.more Show sample from book Therefore I wrote to Piedmont, offered my resignation for the following June, and offered to help find a replacement.p.270.12 more Show general definition for resignation (as in: submitted her resignation) to quit -- especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
	1	top 1000
resignation#2(accepted) something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.more Show sample from book Mary, meanwhile, still looked dazed and resigned to a silent, unflinching suffering.p.145.82 more resignation → resigned:having accepted something undesired as unavoidable Show general definition for resignation (as in: accepted it with resignation) acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
	8
self-righteousconvinced of personal moral superiority over others She is self-righteous, seeing minor flaws in her friends while ignorant of her own major shortcomings.more Show sample from book I could be so self-righteous, so inflexible when I thought that I was right or that the children had been wronged.p.289.47 more Show general definition believing oneself morally superior to others -- especially in an annoying manner
	6
macabregruesome or death-related It is a macabre tale of the walking dead.more Show sample from book The masks Barbara picked out ranged from the ludicrous to the macabre.†p.137.95 more disturbing and related to death or horror -- especially in a grim or eerie way Show general definition disturbing and related to death or horror -- especially in a grim or eerie way
	3	top 500
amicablefriendly The two countries have a productive and amicable relationship.more Show sample from book Amicability was not Sam's greatest virtue.†p.91.42 more amicable → amicability:friendly or showing goodwill Show general definition friendly or showing goodwill
	4
literateable to read and write Only 25% of adults are literate in that country.more Show sample from book I asked the eighth graders and the other kids who appeared the least bit literate to retell the story in their own words on paper.p.27.93 more Show general definition able to read and write
	4
repertoirecollection of works an artist is prepared to perform She began to add some ballads to her repertoire.more Show sample from book Every time he named a country, a new dimension or a new frame of reference was added to my class's growing repertoire.†p.57.13 more a collection Show general definition a collection -- often of skills, or of works that an artist is prepared to perform
	2	top 500
antagonistenemy or opponent In the movie, Star Wars, Darth Vader is the antagonist to Luke Skywalker.more Show sample from book If he did, I promised myself, he would be facing an antagonist crazed with fear, a desire to live, and carrying a baseball bat that would remove heads if the occasion required.†p.85.51 more someone who offers opposition or is hostile Show general definition for antagonist (as in: the antagonist in the film) someone who offers opposition or is hostile
	3	top 2000
peremptorynot allowing contradiction or refusal The judge issued a peremptory order, leaving no room for debate or discussion.more Show sample from book Only this time silence reigned where there had once been the peremptory "yes, ma'ams."†p.153.52 more