The Cay — Vocabulary
Theodore Taylor
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	4	top 2000
harassharass → harasses:persistently bothers This man harasses his female co-workersmore Show sample from book "Don't talk nonsense, Timothy," I said "D'evil spirit harass an' meliss us," he said daddy.†p.81.63 more to repeatedly bother or attack Show general definition to repeatedly bother or attack
	1	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book Timothy answered scornfully, "Dere, look, maim, look ..."†p.54.1 scorn → scornfully:in a disrespectful or rejecting manner Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	1	top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more Show sample from book This time, I dived in earnest.†p.122.4 earnest → in earnest:serious; or in a serious manner Show general definition characterized by sincere belief or: intensely or excessively serious or determined
	1	top 500
legacya gift left in a will She left her vacation home as a legacy for her family.more Show sample from book They were one more part of the legacy Timothy had left me.p.116.2 something someone created and left from the past 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."
	1	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book I 'ave no recollection o' any-thin' 'cept dese islan's.†p.41.1 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 1000
deftquick and skillful She painted with deft, swift touches.more Show sample from book Before total darkness, he had skinned them, deftly cutting meat from their sides.†p.37.8
	1	top 1000
debrispieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around She swept up the debris.more Show sample from book Feeling it everywhere under my feet, I knew that the cay was littered with debris.p.114.9 Show general definition pieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around
	1	top 1000
recedediminish (decrease) Interest in the story is beginning to recede.more Show sample from book When the water receded, it would tug at us, and Timothy's strength would fight against it.†p.108.9 recede → receded:move away or diminished (became less) Show general definition to move away or diminish (become less) The exact meaning of recede depends upon its context. For example: "We can't move back in until the floodwaters recede." -- diminish and move away "Her fear receded." -- diminished "The waves first advance and then recede." -- move away "The news story receded into the background as it was replaced by new stories." -- received diminished attention "a receding hairline" -- diminished hair (each year the line where hair stops growing is higher on the forehead) "She has a receding chin." -- sloping back (as contrasted to sticking out)
	1	top 2000
anguishpain I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.more Show sample from book There was a silence until Timothy broke it with anguish.†p.68.3 extreme pain, suffering, or distress Show general definition extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
	1	top 2000
tethertether → tethered:tied The horses were tethered to a post.more Show sample from book I knew that if I kept going that way, I'd touch or fall over the length of life-line rope that tethered the raft.p.85.1 Show general definition to tie so as to limit the boundaries of movement; or the rope or other material used to do the tying
	1	top 2000
notifynotify → notified:told On Friday, the governor notified the legislature of her decision.more Show sample from book The Navy had notified them that I was blind, so that it would not be a shock.†p.135.8 notify → notified:told someone about something Show general definition to tell someone about something -- typically in an official manner
	1	top 2000
rouserouse → roused:awakened A persistent knocking at the door finally roused her from her dreams.more Show sample from book When the sky began to turn a deep blue, Timothy roused himself and looked around.†p.37.2 rouse → roused:to awaken, make more active, or excite Show general definition to awaken, make more active, or excite
	12	top 2000
Dutchthe people of the Netherlands (including Holland) The Dutch are famous for their tulips.more Show sample from book Or sometimes we'd pretend we were the Dutch going out on raids against Spanish galleons.†p.11.311 more the people of the Netherlands (including Holland); OR relating to them Show general definition the people of the Netherlands (including Holland); or relating to them (including the name of their language) Show editor's word notes Many people refer to the Netherlands as Holland -- which is more accurately the most populous region of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is best known for having 25% of its land below sea level.
	4	top 2000
Amsterdamlargest city of the Dutch Although the constitution of the Netherlands makes Amsterdam the official country capital, the national government meets in the country's third largest city, The Hague.more Show sample from book He looked toward Fort Amsterdam.†p.12.83 more largest city of the Netherlands Show general definition largest city of the Netherlands; known for its canals, museums, and multiculturalism
	2	top 500
parcheddried out Nothing will grow in this parched soil.more Show sample from book My lips were parched and my throat was dry.†p.35.71 more dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty Show general definition dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty
	3
whitecapswind-blown waves with white foam at their crest The strong winds caused whitecaps to form on the surface of the lake.more Show sample from book Men with binoculars had them trained toward the whitecaps, and everyone was tense.†p.11.92 more Show general definition wind-blown waves with white foam at their crest
	1
mutinyrebellion against authority The tank battalion's mutiny was put down.more Show sample from book They were angry with the Chinese crews, and on the third day, my father said that mutiny charges had been placed against them.†p.21.1 open rebellion against authority Show general definition open rebellion against authority -- especially by seamen or soldiers against their officers
	1
squalla windy storm A squall blew in while we were sailing.more Show sample from book The squall wind was in the tops of the palms and I could imagine how they looked in the night sky, thrashing against each other high over our little cay.p.74.6 windy storm Show general definition for squall (as in: a squall blew in) sudden strong winds; or a storm -- usually at sea or in the snow
	3
HollandInformal reference to the Netherlands For a long time, windmills were used in Holland to drain water that would otherwise have flooded regions beneath sea level.more Show sample from book His little Navy was scattered all over after the Germans took Holland.p.13.12 more Informal reference to the Netherlands (confusion arises because important provinces in the Netherlands are North Holland and South Holland). Show general definition Informal reference to the Netherlands (confusion arises because important provinces in the Netherlands are North Holland and South Holland).
	2
the Netherlandsthe Netherlands → Netherlands:a European country (sometimes called Holland) and that literally means "lower countries" About half of the Netherlands is a meter or less above sea level with 17% falling below sea level.more Show sample from book The radio was on, and a voice said that fifty-six men had died on the lake tankers that were blown up and that the governor of the Netherlands' West Indies had appealed to Washington for help.†p.14.21 more Show general definition a European country (sometimes called Holland) which together with two autonomous regions in the Caribbean make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands Show editor's word notes People of The Netherlands are called Dutch and their language is called Dutch. People sometimes refer to the Netherlands as Holland, but North and South Holland represent only two of the twelve provinces. Netherlands literally means "lower countries". Much of the country is reclaimed land that is below sea level. The country is also known for canals, tulip fields, windmills, and bicycling. The capital is Amsterdam.