Old Yeller — Vocabulary
Fred Gipson
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	2	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book That made me recollect how Birdsong Creek had got its name.†p.6.11 more 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.
	2	top 500
waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong) Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more Show sample from book There in the wavering light, I couldn't get a true bead on the wolf.†p.124.41 more waver → wavering:moving back and forth; or being unsure or weak Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver) or: to change, be unsure, or weak
	2	top 1000
commotiondisturbance I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more Show sample from book And what with Mama running after Little Arliss, hollering for him to shut up and quit throwing those rocks, it was altogether the biggest and loudest commotion that had taken place around our cabin for a good long while.†p.67.41 more noisy disturbance Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
	3	top 2000
sulkto overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.more Show sample from book Like cottontail rabbits and chaparral birds and a baby possum that sulked and lay like dead for the first several hours until he finally decided that Arliss wasn't going to hurt him.†p.36.32 more sulk → sulked:was overly unhappy and unsociable Show general definition to be overly unhappy and unsociable -- often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
	2	top 2000
manelong coarse hair growing around the head It was a healthy male lion with a golden mane.more Show sample from book Jumper was a dun mule with a narrow black stripe running along his backbone between his mane and tail.†p.8.91 more long coarse hair on an animal Show general definition long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
	2	top 2000
hobbledwalked with difficulty After injuring her ankle, she hobbled between classes.more Show sample from book I'd hobbled out to sit in a chair beside Old Yeller, where I could scratch him under his chewed-off ear.†p.108.91 more 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)
	1	top 1000
clamorloud noise and/or persistent demands She ignored the clamor of the crowd.more Show sample from book Then he lifted his voice in a wild brassy blare that set echoes clamoring in the draws and canyons for miles around.†p.25.7 clamor → clamoring:demanding loudly and/or persistently Show general definition loud noise and/or persistent demands -- especially from human voice
	1	top 1000
writhewrithe → writhed:moved in a twisting or contorted motion The patient writhed in pain.more Show sample from book The head dropped to the ground three or four feet away from the writhing body.†p.5.5 writhe → writhing:moving in a twisting or contorted motion Show general definition to move in a twisting or contorted motion -- often of a person when struggling or in pain
	1	top 1000
coaxgently persuade Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more Show sample from book I knelt beside him and coaxed him out from under the rocks.†p.85.8 coax → coaxed:tried to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gently persuaded Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
	1	top 2000
balkbalk → balked:stopped suddenly or refused to continue The horse balked at the jump, skidding to a stop just before the hurdle.more Show sample from book A deep cut-bank draw ran through the pear flats between me and the huge mesquite tree I was heading for, and it was down in the bottom of this draw that the hogs balked.†p.82.4 balk → balked:to hesitate, refuse, or stop suddenly Show general definition to hesitate, refuse, or stop suddenly
	1	top 2000
plunderplunder → plundered:stole goods The conquerors plundered the town and surrounding countryside.more Show sample from book She said she named it the first day she and Papa got there, with Mama driving the ox cart loaded with our house plunder, and with Papa driving the cows and horses.†p.6.3 to steal Show general definition to steal -- often after conquering the location with the goods or: the goods stolen
	1	top 2000
refugesafe place The park serves as a refuge for wildlife.more Show sample from book He'd taken refuge there from the hogs.†p.85.6 something giving protection or comfort -- especially a safe place Show general definition something giving protection or comfort -- especially a safe place
	1	top 2000
hideousextremely ugly, offensive, and/or frightening The beast had hideous fangs.more Show sample from book But that didn't keep them from gathering for miles around and making the nights hideous with their howlings and snarlings.†p.115.6
	1	top 2000
embeddedfirmly stuck into or enclosed within The archaeologists found an ancient coin embedded in the clay.more Show sample from book I searched his feet and pulled out a long mesquite thorn that had become embedded between his toes.†p.44.3 firmly within; or placed firmly within Show general definition firmly within; or placed within in various senses, including: firmly stuck into -- as a thorn into a finger enclosed within -- as a fossil within a rock implanted as a part -- sometimes specifically of a reporter integrated in hardware -- as of a computer chip firmly set within -- as of a character trait
	1	top 2000
flusterfluster → flustered:into a state of nervous confusion When talking to groups she tends to get flustered and lose his train of thought.more Show sample from book She looked a little flustered, like she didn't know what to do with me, but all she said was, "How'll we bring him back?"†p.90.7 fluster → flustered:nervous or confused Show general definition a state, or to cause a state, of nervous confusion or agitation
	1	top 1000
sumptuousmagnificent The guests were treated to a sumptuous feast, with an array of delicious dishes and desserts.more Show sample from book So in spite of the fact that Little Arliss had caused me to make a bad shot, we had us a real sumptuous supper that night.†p.47.5 magnificent (impressively wonderful) -- often indicating something expensive Show general definition magnificent (impressively wonderful) -- often indicating something expensive
	2
whetincreased The appetizer whet our appetite for what was to come.†more Show sample from book It was good eating; but I'd had my appetite whetted for fried middling meat to go with it.†p.14.81 more whet → whetted:to increase a sense or desire; OR to sharpen a knife or other cutting edge Show general definition to increase a sense or desire or: to sharpen a knife or other cutting edge
	1
trifle withtreat thoughtlessly or without respect She is not a woman to trifle with or ignore.more Show sample from book I'd taught Little Arliss and Jumper that I wasn't to be trifled with.†p.10.9 trifle with → trifled with:treated thoughtlessly or without respect Show general definition for trifle with (as in: trifle with her affections) to treat somebody or something thoughtlessly or without respect
	1
hamstrungmake less effective Efforts are hamstrung by outdated regulations.more Show sample from book They were big and savage enough to hamstring a horse or drag down a full-grown cow.†p.123.7 hamstrung → hamstring:make less effective or powerless Show general definition for hamstrung (as in: hamstrung by excessive rules) make less effective or powerless Show editor's word notes Hamstrung originally referred to cutting of tendons or hind legs of cattle or other animals, so that they could not escape.
	5	top 1000
solemnvery serious He took a solemn oath.more Show sample from book It made me feel big and solemn and important in a way I'd never felt before.†p.4.64 more very serious--possibly dignified Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner