The Boy on the Wooden Box — Vocabulary
Leon Leyson
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	7	top 100
focusconcentrate I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.more Show sample from book I had been so focused on what I was learning that I hadn't heard my mother come in and begin cooking.†p.10.27 more focus → focused:concentrated Show general definition for focus (as in: Turn your focus to question #2.) to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
	1	top 2000
focus#2into view (as an area of attention) The bridge collapse brought aging infrastructure into focus as a political issue.more Show sample from book As I neared the Powstancow Bridge and the soldiers came into focus, I slowed my pace.†p.49.47 more a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly Show general definition for focus (as in: bring into focus; or out of focus) a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly; or an adjustment made to permit a clear view
	6	top 1000
immigrateimmigrate → immigrated:came to live (from another country) About 1 of each 8 people in the United States immigrated from somewhere else.more Show sample from book At last, in May 1949, after nearly three years in the displaced persons camp, we received word that our immigration request had been approved.†p.181.85 more immigrate → immigration:the act of coming to live in a new country; or indication that something is related to that act Show general definition come to live in a new country
	3	top 100
contradictdisagree with Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more Show sample from book It made no sense to me, and I even wondered how Nazis could believe such contradictions themselves.†p.82.62 more contradict → contradictions:things that disagree with themselves; or (more rarely) acts 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."
	6	top 2000
infirmarysmall facility where patients receive treatment She felt ill and went to the infirmary.more Show sample from book Earlier that evening my friend Yossel and I had carried an elderly woman on a stretcher to the ghetto infirmary, but we had made a dangerous miscalculation.†p.99.45 more a small facility where patients receive treatment Show general definition a small facility where patients receive treatment -- such as a room or two at a school as contrasted to a busy hospital or medical clinic
	2	top 10
demonstratedemonstrate → demonstrated:showed The salesperson demonstrated features of both phones so I could compare them.more Show sample from book When I think of all his many actions as a rescuer, big and small, it is this one act that first comes to mind; I think perhaps because it demonstrates such extraordinary compassion.†p.147.61 more demonstrate → demonstrates:shows Show general definition for demonstrate (as in: It demonstrates my point.) to show The exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example: "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." -- show how to do something "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." -- show how something works "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." -- showed to be true or proved
	5	top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more Show sample from book They even let me inside the guard station a few times and shared a piece of chocolate from their rations.†p.71.34 more ration → rations:a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel… Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
	3	top 500
devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book Since my new friends and I never had any money, we devised what we thought was an extraordinarily clever way to ride for free.†p.36.52 more devise → devised:came up with (invented or created) Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
	3	top 500
legacya gift left in a will She left her vacation home as a legacy for her family.more Show sample from book I wanted to give our children a legacy of freedom, not a legacy of fear.p.194.42 more something passed from one generation to the next 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."
	5	top 2000
refugeerefugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation We're asking for humanitarian aid to assist and resettle the refugees.more Show sample from book The Polish government was intent on proving that it was as antisemitic as the Nazis and so refused to grant the refugees permission to reenter their homeland.†p.41.64 more refugee → refugees:people who fled their homeland Show general definition someone who has fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation; or related to such people
	3	top 500
scarcityshortage There is a scarcity of work in the region.more Show sample from book After a little while I would walk home, giving my fare to my mother, since even before the war, in my family, money was scarce.†p.37.92 more scarcity → scarce:in short supply OR barely or hardly (by a small margin) Show general definition shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
	3	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 The rabbi would begin the service in a strong, vibrant voice that soon blended in with the voices of the congregation.†p.17.12 more Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
	4	top 1000
humiliatehumiliate → humiliated:extremely embarrassed (feeling decreased dignity) She felt humiliated by his public insults.more Show sample from book The ritual affirmed who we were despite the humiliating restrictions outside our door.†p.75.63 more humiliate → humiliating:extremely embarrassing (decreasing dignity) Show general definition extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride -- especially in front of others)
	2	top 200
comprehendcomprehend → comprehends:fully understands I don't think she comprehends how dangerous this has become.more Show sample from book That our misery, confinement, and pain were irrelevant to their lives was simply incomprehensible.†p.111.91 more comprehend → incomprehensible:not understandable Show context notes The prefix "in-" in incomprehensible means not and reverses the meaning of comprehensible. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure. Show general definition to understand something -- especially to understand it completely
	12
synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more Show sample from book I looked forward to going to synagogue services with my maternal grandparents, with whom I was especially close.†p.16.811 more a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
	6
black marketthe coming together of people who buy and sell things illegally India's black market in kidneys arose in response to a combination of the shortage of the organs and extreme poverty amongst people who can survive with one of their two kidneys.more Show sample from book He also made arrangements with his gentile friend Wojek to sell a few of his fine suits on the black market.†p.69.95 more Show general definition an illegal market that trades in illegal goods, stolen goods, or goods sold illegally to avoid tax payments, licensing requirements, or rationing
	3
affirmaffirm → affirmed:supported The upper court affirmed the lower court's ruling.more Show sample from book As I think back to that moment, it seems like we ripped them off in unison, an affirmation of our solidarity and victory.p.165.52 more affirm → affirmation:demonstration Show general definition for affirm (as in: affirmed her child's efforts) to demonstrate support or demonstrate the truth of something
	2	top 2000
squaliddirty and unpleasant She lives in a squalid overcrowded apartment in the poorest part of town.more Show sample from book Reports reached us that these Polish Jews were languishing on the border in a squalid no-man's-land of temporary camps.†p.41.71 more dirty and unpleasant;; OR (more rarely) immoral Show general definition dirty and unpleasant; or (more rarely) immoral
	2
evictioneviction → evicted:forced someone to leave their home The owner evicted the tenants because they didn't pay their rent.more Show sample from book They evicted Jews from their apartments and moved in, confiscating their belongings.†p.53.61 more eviction → evicted:forced someone to leave Show general definition the process of forcing someone to leave a place -- typically from a home due to non-payment
	2
interminableseemingly endless (and probably boring) Her speech was interminable.more Show sample from book Every time German soldiers banged on our door, we flashed the permits and held our collective breath for the brief but interminable inspections.†p.74.61 more seemingly endless; OR long and unpleasant Show general definition seemingly endless; or long and unpleasant (often boring or annoying)