A Hologram for the King — Vocabulary
Dave Eggers
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	6	top 100
irrelevantnot relevant The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.more Show sample from book By the time you published them they were irrelevant.†p.22.85 more not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider) Show general definition not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
	7	top 1000
grandeurimpressive magnificence The hotel is well past the days of its grandeur.†more Show sample from book Grandeur, grandeur — that was the word he liked.†p.195.66 more Show general definition impressive magnificence -- usually on a grand (large) scale
	3	top 100
contextcontext → out of context:in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted) She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.more Show context notes When someone is quoted "out of context" it means that selected words were quoted that misrepresent the meaning of all their words. For example, if you said "I admire their effort, but they are dead wrong if they think this will work," and someone implied that you supported their plan by quoting you as only saying, "I admire their effort," they would be quoting you out of context. Show sample from book The whole complex, fortressed from the road and sea, was free of content or context, devoid of even a pattern or two of Arabic origin.†p.21.52 more the setting or situation in which something occurs Show general definition the setting or situation in which something occurs
	4	top 1000
feignedpretended to She feigned sleep.more Show sample from book Alan was startled, but feigned calm.†p.77.23 more pretended (made a pretense of) Show general definition pretended -- usually pretending to feel something
	2	top 100
passagea short part of a longer written work Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.more Show sample from book Still, he sent Alan pages, with passages highlighted.p.6.61 more passage → passages:short parts of longer written works Show general definition for passage (as in: In lines 1-9 of the passage...) a short part of a longer written work Show editor's word notes This meaning of passage is commonly seen on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.
	3	top 500
renderrender → rendered:played (portrayed or gave her interpretation of) The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully.more Show sample from book The architectural renderings he'd seen were magnificent.p.39.92 more render → renderings:paintings or models created in a particular way Show general definition for render (as in: rendered interpretation) to portray or create something in a particular way; or to interpret, translate, or extract from The exact meaning of this sense of render depends upon its context. For example: "Each artist will render a different interpretation when painting a portrait." -- create in a particular way "A Supreme Court judge may render his own interpretation of the Constitution." -- interpret in a particular way "The computer you are using, rendered this page from software instructions." -- created through interpretation "A graph is rendered from the underlying data." -- made "Fat can be rendered (extracted) by cooking meat slowly." -- extracted from
	5	top 2000
conjuresummon into action or bring into existence She fears his black magic will conjure up evil spirits.more Show sample from book They were gesturing, making big scooping motions, as if conjuring him from the underworld by urging him up, up, up.†p.137.14 more conjure → conjuring:summoning into action or bringing into existence Show general definition summon into action or bring into existence -- often as if by magic
	3	top 1000
pristineunspoiled The lake was pristine, its surface reflecting the clear blue sky.more Show sample from book Who knew Saudi Arabia had a vast and pristine coast?†p.17.12 more unspoiled or immaculately clean Show general definition unspoiled or immaculately clean
	4	top 2000
benignmild or favorable (kind) She predicts benign economic conditions through next year.more Show sample from book Alan glanced at him as he set the tray on the bed, but the waiter's eyes seemed benign.†p.201.23 more kindly, mild, or harmless… Show general definition kindly, mild, or harmless (In medicine, a tumor that is not life-threatening, is called benign.)
	4	top 2000
ludicrousabsurd in an amusing way Though she was serious, her suggestion was so ludicrous, I couldn't suppress a laugh.more Show sample from book The kind of ludicrous option available before children.†p.31.33 more
	2	top 200
innovateinnovate → innovative:introducing things that are new and different Apple is considered one of the most innovative companies.more Show sample from book You couldn't get Ron to shut up about the place, all of its innovations.†p.84.91 more innovate → innovations:the introduction of things that are new and different; or things that are new and different Show general definition bring something new to an environment
	2	top 200
prudentsensible and careful She was promoted to manager because she is so prudent.more Show sample from book It seemed a more prudent course of action than riding with this man.†p.25.81 more
	3	top 1000
clarityclearness (the quality of being clearly expressed) The speaker presented her argument with such clarity that even those unfamiliar with the topic could easily understand her main points.more Show sample from book Alan left the tent, running to the Black Box to see if he could get any clarity about the timing of the visit.†p.216.22 more seen, expressed, or understood clearly… Show general definition seen, expressed, or understood clearly; or a degree of transparency such as the quality of clear water
	13
information technologycomputer-related She has a high-paying information technology job.more Show sample from book It was Karim al-Ahmad, who informed him, regretfully, that the contract to provide IT to the new city had gone to another firm...p.330.212 more information technology → IT:Information Technology (computer and telecommunications) Show general definition for information technology (as in: IT or Information Technology) the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information
	2	top 100
factorthing (that influenced a result) Cost was an important factor in our decision.more Show sample from book And so they shared their frustrations of being at the mercy of factors out of their control, too many to count.†p.230.12 more factor → factors:things that affect a result or outcome Show general definition for factor (as in: It was the deciding factor.) something that affects a result or outcome Show editor's word notes You also may encounter x-factor or x factor--meaning "the most important thing that influences a result or outcome."
	1
factor#2include consideration of Did you factor maintenance costs into your budget?more Show sample from book Quickly he was in a room in Boston, meeting with Eric Ingvall, who was asking what went wrong, why he hadn't anticipated this, factored in that.†p.306.92 more factor → factored:considered (for affect on a result or outcome)
	2	top 500
mediatehelp others to settle a disagreement She suggested asking Saudi Arabia to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.more Show sample from book Now that he was Ruby's defender, he had become the mediator between all children and their mystifying parents — was that it?p.236.31 more mediate → mediator:someone who helps others to settle a disagreement
	3	top 2000
immaculatecompletely neat and clean They were all in immaculate white uniforms.more Show sample from book Alan threaded his heavy arms through a clean shirt, feeling he was despoiling its immaculate cotton.p.114.92 more Show general definition for immaculate (as in: the housekeeper left it immaculate) completely neat and clean
	2	top 1000
integralessential That was before China became an integral part of the world economy.more Show sample from book Not such a difficult job, to sell something like that, something solid that would be integral to a thousand childhood memories.†p.50.91 more an essential part or characteristic Show general definition for integral (as in: integral part) an essential part or characteristic
	2	top 2000
equivocalunclear in meaning Her equivocal answer left everyone wondering what she really meant.more Show sample from book He was tired, and he was drunk, he now knew unequivocally that he was drunk, and one should not call one's daughter in such a state, especially when trying to instill her with confidence about his ability to provide for her.†p.111.31 more equivocal → unequivocally:without ambiguity (in a completely clear manner) Show context notes The prefix "un-" in unequivocally means not and reverses the meaning of equivocally. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky. Show general definition unclear in meaning -- especially where opposing interpretations are reasonable (sometimes intentionally)