Maniac Magee — Vocabulary
Jerry Spinelli
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	3	top 500
nonchalantcalm and unconcerned I could tell she was nervous, but she was trying to look nonchalant.more Show sample from book John walked out, nonchalantly munching.†p.133.32 more nonchalant → nonchalantly:calmly (appearing unconcerned) Show general definition calm in manner -- appearing unconcerned
	4	top 2000
swaggerswagger → swaggered:walked and behaved in a highly confident manner The team swaggered onto the court--full of confidence.more Show sample from book McNab the father swaggers bare-armed out the front door, bellowing back, "Do yer homework!"p.133.43 more swagger → swaggers:walks in a highly confident manner Show general definition walk or behave in a highly confident or proud manner -- often arrogant and sometimes to impress or intimidate others Show editor's word notes Swagger is often used to imply that someone moves or behaves as though they are so strong and capable as to be above physical fear. Such people are often portrayed on television as gang members or cowboys.
	1	top 500
monopolycomplete control of a product The company was accused of trying to create a monopoly by buying out all its competitors.more Show sample from book Monopoly and stuff.†p.178.7 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
	1	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book His only recollection was a feeling of sheer, joyful exuberance, himself in celebration: shouting "A-men!" in the Bethany Church, bashing John McNab's fastballs out of sight, dancing the polka with Grayson.†p.148.1 recollect → recollection:memory Show general definition to remember -- especially experiences from long ago Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Relative to its synonyms, recollect brings to mind a leisurely piecing together of distant memories. It may be used in a less formal manner than remember and is almost always less formal than recall.
	1	top 500
congregationpeople who worship together in the same building It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.more Show sample from book Another day, Maniac would head for the townships to the north and west, the farmlands of the county, where dew sparkled on spider webs, and nature was doing such fresh and wonderful things that you could almost hear the long, neat congregations of corn clapping "Amen" and "A-men!"†p.172.3 Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
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pungentstrong It's the pungent odor of oregano.more Show sample from book This time the ornaments were nature's brilliant red-and-yellow necklaces of bittersweet, pungent pinecones, wine-red clusters of sumac berries, abandoned bird-bodied boats of milkweed, delicate thumb-size goblets of Queen Anne's lace.p.111.9 strong smelling Show general definition strong smelling or tasting or much more rarely: anything sharp, painful, or penetrating -- physically or emotionally Show editor's word notes In reference to taste or smell, pungent is more often associated with a strong flavor than a particular flavor. Some associate it with a high level of volatile acidity. Some wine connoisseurs interchange the word pungent with earthy.
	1	top 500
abundantpresent in great quantity Farmers in the region enjoy good soil, moderate temperatures, and an abundant supply of water.more Show sample from book The raisins here were even more abundant.†p.132.2 Show general definition present in great quantity
	1	top 1000
contortcontort → contorted:twisted into an unnatural shape Her face contorted in fury and frustration.more Show sample from book It was made of string, but it had more contortions, ins and outs, twists and turns and dips and doodles than the brain of Albert Einstein himself.†p.69.4 contort → contortions:twist or bend to an unnatural shape Show general definition twist or bend to an unnatural shape -- something such as the human body, a facial expression, or the truth
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cunningclever and deceitful She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more Show sample from book He would need the touch of a surgeon, the alertness of an owl, the cunning of three foxes, and the foresight of a grand master in chess.†p.73.1 good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception Show general definition for cunning (as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
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commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book Later on that first day, there was a commotion in the West End.†p.16.1 noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
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protrudestick out Metal spikes protrude from the dog's collar.more Show sample from book Maniac finally yelled, and snatched the two red gun barrels protruding from the slots.†p.156.9 protrude → protruding:sticking out Show general definition to stick out from
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perilperil → perils:dangers The mountaineers faced many perils on their ascent to the summit, including treacherous icefalls and avalanches.more Show sample from book And then one day they gave him the most perilous challenge of all.†p.142.8 peril → perilous:dangerous Show general definition danger
	1	top 2000
ecstaticecstatic → ecstatically:with feelings of intense happiness They are ecstatically in love.more Show sample from book The reunion had been ecstatic and tearful and nonstop happy, and inside he was pure July.†p.149.4 feeling intense happiness and excitement Show general definition feeling intense happiness and excitement (as when in a state of ecstasy)
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forlornhopeless She energized the previously forlorn team.more Show sample from book Forlorn, marooned on concrete and asphalt, no place to burrow, April's orphans.†p.143.9 sad, hopeless, pitiful and/or abandoned Show general definition sad, hopeless, pitiful and/or abandoned
	2	top 2000
goadgoad → goaded:provoked (angered or annoyed) She goaded him into an argument.more Show sample from book It hadn't been easy: finding Mars Bar, taking all his lip about cheating on the race, taking some bumps, some shoves, Mars goading him to fight.†p.159.51 more goad → goading:provoking or prodding Show general definition to provoke or annoy someone into doing something—often something unwise or: to prod an animal to move, or the stick used to do so
	2
pandemoniuma state of noisy confusion and disorder Pandemonium broke out after the announcement.more Show sample from book But his protests drowned in the pandemonium.p.147.91 more state of noisy confusion and disorder
	2
pronelying face down The victim was found prone on the floor.more Show sample from book "The guns'll be real," says Russell, still prone and firing, the stock of the toy gun tight against his cheek.p.134.61 more lying face downward Show general definition for prone (as in: prone position) lying flat -- especially face downward
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divergemove apart The two paths diverge here.more Show sample from book When the workingpeople began leaving their houses, the daybreak boys diverged, Mars Bar to the East End, Maniac to wherever.†p.172.3 diverge → diverged:to move apart; OR be or become different Show general definition to move apart; or be or become different
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ornerycranky (easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue) I avoid contact when he's in an ornery mood.more Show sample from book But even at their orneriest, consonants were fun.†p.101.6 ornery → orneriest:quick to get annoyed, complain, argue, and be uncooperative Show general definition for ornery (as in: is ornery when she first wakes up) quick to get annoyed, complain, argue, and be uncooperative
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squabbleargument over unimportant things Their petty squabble is disrupting the team.more Show sample from book They squabbled over what the surprise should be.p.151.5 squabble → squabbled:argued (about something unimportant) Show general definition an act or instance of arguing -- typically over unimportant things