Wringer — Vocabulary
Jerry Spinelli
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
2 top 100
traditiona long-established practice
My family's Thanksgiving tradition is to gather together and eat turkey.more
Show sample from book
Pigeon Day is the traditional climax of Family Fest, a weeklong celebration of amusement rides, pie-eating contests…p.i.91 more
tradition → traditional:of something typically done for a long time
Show general definition a long-established or previously long-established practice or belief

and/or:

one or more practices, beliefs, or stories passed down through generations within a specific culture or group
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tauntintentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone
She used Twitter to taunt the opposing candidate.more
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He played with the guys, and when they came to taunt Dorothy, he did not feel as bad as he had before.†p.36.42 more
(verb) to intentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone -- especially by mocking them or hurling insults  OR  (noun) an insult or other action intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
Show general definition to intentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone -- especially by mocking them or hurling insults

or (as a noun): an insult or other action intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
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ultimatefinal
The president has ultimate responsibility for directing a war.more
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He was about to receive the ultimate honor, the ultimate test, The Treatment.†p.21.2
most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamental
Show general definition most extreme as in final, best, worst, most important, or most fundamental
The exact meaning of ultimate depends upon its context. For example:
  • "the ultimate decision-maker" -- the final
  • "the ultimate car" -- the best
  • "the ultimate insult" -- the worst
  • "the ultimate source" -- original or most fundamental
  • "the ultimate sacrifice" -- most extreme
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indicateindicate → indicated:pointed out (shown)
These maps are drawn with north to the top unless otherwise indicated.more
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The empty look on Beans's face indicated that the answer had reached his ears, but no farther.†p.165.2
indicate → indicated:showed
Show general definition to show (point out, demonstrate, express, or suggest)
Show editor's word notes The form, indicator can refer to many different kinds of things including intentional signals (such as a turn indicator), gauges (such as one that indicates pressure), or a measurement (such as an economic or chemical indicator).
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expelexpel → expulsion:the act of forcing out (in this case, kicking someone out of school)
Her records show expulsion from two schools.more
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The others were outside sucking fresh air and trying to expel from their nose buds the odor of warm, dead muskrat.†p.103.71 more
force out
Show general definition force out
especially in 2 primary senses:
  • kicking someone out of an organization -- such as a school or country
  • squeezing something to eliminate a liquid or gas
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contradictdisagree with
Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more
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It had long seemed a curious contradiction to Palmer, that among the three kids rollicking on the field, Henry was the tallest yet also the meekest.†p.16.9
contradict → contradiction:something (typically a statement) that disagrees with itself; or (more rarely) the act of disagreeing
Show general definition disagree
in various senses, including:
  • to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony."
  • to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
  • to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
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acknowledgeacknowledge → acknowledged:admitted
She acknowledged that she might have forgotten.more
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Except to walk around them when they planted themselves in front of her, she in no way acknowledged their existence.†p.109.9
acknowledge → acknowledged:recognized
Show general definition for acknowledge (as in: acknowledge her or the truth) express recognition or appreciation of someone or something; or to admit or express something
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harassharass → harasses:persistently bothers
This man harasses his female co-workersmore
Show sample from book
Beans and the guys hated Dorothy and harassed her whenever they got the chance.†p.13.61 more
harass → harassed:to repeatedly bother or attack
Show general definition to repeatedly bother or attack
2 top 2000
hobbledwalked with difficulty
After injuring her ankle, she hobbled between classes.more
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And most of all the pigeon, the one pigeon that hurried across the grass lopsided—"loppysided," as Palmer would have said then—as if one leg had been kicked out from under it, hurrying, hobbling, wobbling in goofy loops, tilting like a sailboat blown over, a boy chasing after, running and reaching, the boy laughing, the people laughing, little Palmer thinking, The boy wants it for a pet.†p.39.61 more
hobbled → hobbling:walked with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment); OR hindered
Show general definition for hobbled (as in: she hobbled up the hill) walked with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment)

or:

hindered (made the action or progress of something difficult)
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tormenttorment → tormenting:causing great mental or physical suffering
She enjoys tormenting others.†more
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As for the Beans Boys, as they sometimes called themselves, by spring they had tired of tormenting Dorothy and pretty much ignored her.†p.124.21 more
Show general definition to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
2 top 2000
preventstop (something from happening)
We can't prevent earthquakes, but we can prepare for them.more
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This, however, had not prevented Beans from climbing the stairs to the bathroom no fewer than three times during the party.†p.169.41 more
prevent → prevented:stopped (something from happening)
Show general definition to stop (something from happening)
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disdainlack of respect
She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more
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"Good," she said with a disdainful sniff.†p.35.7
disdain → disdainful:full of disrespect
Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
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agitateagitate → agitating:stirring up emotions to increase unrest
We are agitating public unrest, so there will be a cry for change.more
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The more agitated he became, the faster he paced.†p.136.2
agitate → agitated:not calm; or stirred up (often emotionally)
Show general definition to stir up or shake -- emotionally (as when people are angered or upset) or physically (as when a washing machine cleans clothes)
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gravegrave → gravity:seriousness or importance (weightiness)
Her smile disappeared as she suddenly realized the gravity of her situation.more
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He whistled softly, he nodded gravely.†p.26.5
grave → gravely:in a serious and solemn manner
Show general definition for grave (as in: Her manner was grave.) serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." -- important, dangerous, or causing worry
  • "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." -- sad or solemn
  • "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." -- in a sincere and serious manner
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ambleamble → ambling:walking slowly or leisurely
An old woman was ambling across the street.more
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It flew to the bookcase, ambled across the booktops, pecked at pages.†p.83.13 more
amble → ambled:walked leisurely
Show general definition to walk leisurely or slowly
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monopolycomplete control of a product
The company was accused of trying to create a monopoly by buying out all its competitors.more
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Palmer opened them: a soccer ball, a book, a pair of sneakers, a Monopoly game.†p.9.11 more
complete control over a product, service, or resource
Show general definition complete control over a product, service, or resource -- usually by a single person, company, or group
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influenzainfluenza → the flu:a highly contagious respiratory disease commonly called the flu
Influenza is caused by RNA viruses that mutate and spread around the world in seasonal epidemics -- which is why the flu vaccine is changed each year.more
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"My mother's afraid I'll catch the flu," he blurted and ran from the room before she could stop him.†p.142.81 more
influenza → the flu:influenza -- a highly contagious respiratory disease
Show general definition highly contagious respiratory disease commonly called the flu
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dilemmahard choice
It is an ethical dilemma.more
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It was a dilemma: you wanted to be a year older, you did not want The Treatment, and you couldn't have one without the other.†p.120.5
a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
Show general definition a situation in which a difficult choice must be made between imperfect alternatives
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teemare full (with many)
The tide pools teem with tiny, fascinating creatures.more
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Heaven, Palmer thought with a smile, must be teeming with pigeons.†p.42.4
teem → teeming:filled (has many)
Show general definition have a large number of things -- especially things that are moving
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climaxmost exciting or important part
The deathbed scene is the climax of the play.more
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Pigeon Day is the traditional climax of Family Fest, a weeklong celebration of amusement rides, pie-eating contests ... Wringer†p.i.9
the most exciting or important part of a story, musical piece, or other thing th…
Show general definition for climax (as in: climax of the story) the most exciting or important part of a story, musical piece, or other thing that has a series of events