The BFG — Vocabulary
Roald Dahl
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
3 top 2000
wretchedmiserable
The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more
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'That means,' said Sophie, 'that somewhere in the world, every single night, nine wretched people get carried away and eaten alive.'†p.36.52 more
miserable or very bad
Show general definition very bad
in various senses, including:
  • unfortunate or miserable -- as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor"
  • of poor quality -- as in "wretched roads"
  • morally bad -- as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
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adaptadapt → adapted:changed (to fit this situation)
Ideas contained in passages for this test, some of which are excerpted or adapted from published material, do not necessarily represent the opinions of the College Board.more
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A man does not rise to become the Queen's butler unless he is gifted with extraordinary ingenuity, adaptability, versatility, dexterity, cunning, sophistication, sagacity, discretion and a host of other talents that neither you nor I possess.†p.162.4
adapt → adaptability:the degree to which something can change to fit a different situation
Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
2 top 2000
anguishpain
I felt unbearable anguish when my 4-year-old child died from brain cancer.more
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His voice was filled with fury and anguish.†p.82.91 more
extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Show general definition extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
2 top 2000
repulsivedisgusting (very unpleasant)
The tribe elders find American culture as shown in Hollywood films to be immoral and repulsive.†more
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He was thinking that if only he could get the Bloodbottler to take one bite of the repulsive vegetable, the sheer foulness of its flavour would send him bellowing out of the cave.†p.59.31 more
very unpleasant or causing disgust
Show general definition for repulsive (as in: she found him repulsive) very unpleasant or causing disgust
2 top 2000
grotesquedistorted or ugly
She was wearing a grotesque mask that was quite disturbing.more
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Nine fearsome, ugly, half-naked, fifty-feet-long brutes lay sprawled over the ground in various grotesque attitudes of sleep, and the sound of their snoring was indeed like gunfire in a battle.†p.188.11 more
distorted and unnatural in shape or size
Show general definition distorted and unnatural in shape or size -- especially in a disturbing way

or:

ugly, gross, or very wrong
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positivecertain
I'm positive I've seen her before.more
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'Take a bite and I am positive you will be shouting out oh how scrumdiddlyumptious this wonderveg is!'p.59.71 more
Show general definition for positive (as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
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disdainlack of respect
She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more
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He directed four footmen to clear up the mess, then, with a disdainful little wave of the hand, he indicated to the giant that he should seat himself on top of the chest-of-drawers on top of the grand piano.†p.166.5
disdain → disdainful:full of disrespect
Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
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tactthe ability and tendency to say or handle things in such a way that others feel good about them
She has the tact of a politician or diplomat.more
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The Queen, with her usual admirable tact and good sense, came to the rescue.†p.179.8
the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
Show general definition the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
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enableenable → enables:makes possible
The test enables earlier identification of autism.more
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'There you is!' cried the BFG, whose wonderful ears enabled him to hear what the Sultan was saying to the Queen on the telephone.†p.175.3
enable → enabled:made possible
Show general definition to make possible
in various senses, including:
  • to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something -- as in "The study will enable an informed discussion."
  • to activate a computer system for use -- as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page."
  • to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern -- as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
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exasperatedgreatly annoyed
She was exasperated by his teasing.more
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'It is a trogglehumper!' cried the exasperated BFG.†p.84.8
Show general definition greatly annoyed
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cunningclever and deceitful
She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more
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A man does not rise to become the Queen's butler unless he is gifted with extraordinary ingenuity, adaptability, versatility, dexterity, cunning, sophistication, sagacity, discretion and a host of other talents that neither you nor I possess.†p.162.4
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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solemnvery serious
He took a solemn oath.more
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'Yes,' he said, nodding his great head solemnly up and down.†p.100.7
solemn → solemnly:with seriousness and dignity
Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
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forlornhopeless
She energized the previously forlorn team.more
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The Big Friendly Giant looked suddenly so forlorn that Sophie got quite upset.†p.50.4
sad, hopeless, pitiful and/or abandoned
Show general definition sad, hopeless, pitiful and/or abandoned
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composurecalm state of mind
After I regained my composure, I thanked her for telling me about the problem.more
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The sheer absurdity of it all was helping her to regain her composure.†p.155.2
Show general definition for composure (as in: regained her composure) calm state of mind
2
aghastshocked with feelings of surprise or dismay
She stepped back aghast at the behavior.more
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The footmen all stared at him, aghast.†p.164.71 more
shocked with feelings of surprise and dismay
Show general definition shocked with feelings of surprise and dismay (sadness, disappointment, or worry)
1
beseechbeseech → beseeches:begs
She beseeches her students to think about their future.more
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Sophie looked beseechingly towards the Queen for help.†p.153.1
beseech → beseechingly:in a manner that asks strongly or begs
Show general definition to ask strongly or beg for something
Show editor's word notes Beseech is common in classic literature. Though its usage has doubled in recent decades, it remains a rare word in modern writing.

Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):

Beseech is similar to beg or entreat. Beg implies the request for a personal favor, while entreat implies an attempt to overcome resistance.
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diabolicalevil and clever
As part of her diabolical plan, she spent the first year gaining their trust.more
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They looked repulsive, filthy, diabolical.†p.89.3
evil; very bad; OR  cruel and clever (like something of the devil)
Show general definition evil; very bad; or cruel and clever (like something of the devil)
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ravenousextremely hungry
After a long day of hiking, she was ravenous and couldn’t wait to eat dinner.more
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During the next twenty minutes, a whole relay of footmen were kept busy hurrying to and from the kitchen carrying third helpings and fourth helpings and fifth helpings of fried eggs and sausages for the ravenous and delighted BFG.†p.172.1
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breechrear (in this case indicating that the baby came out of the birth canal butt-first)
It was a difficult breech birth.†more
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The footmen all wore knee-breeches and every one of them displayed beautifully rounded calves and ankles.†p.163.2
breech → breeches:pants
Show general definition rear

Most commonly used today in the phrase breech birth in reference to a baby who comes out of the birth canal butt-first rather than head-first.

More-archaic senses seen in classic literature include:
  • breechcloth -- a form of loincloth consisting in a strip of material passed between the thighs and held up in front and behind by a belt or string
  • breeches -- pants
  • a cannon's breech -- the rear of a gun
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ingenuitythe ability to solve problems in smart creative ways
It will take more than ingenuity to clean this up. We're going to have to admit our mistake.more
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A man does not rise to become the Queen's butler unless he is gifted with extraordinary ingenuity, adaptability, versatility, dexterity, cunning, sophistication, sagacity, discretion and a host of other talents that neither you nor I possess.†p.162.4
ability to solve problems in smart creative ways