It Happened to Nancy — Vocabulary
Beatrice Sparks
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	18	top 2000
positivecertain I'm positive I've seen her before.more Show sample from book I've been well enough to go back to Mom's for ages, but Dr. Marx won't release me until he's "absolutely, positively, for sure certain" that my good bugs are in charge of my bad bugs.p.199.418 more positive → positively:with certainty Show general definition for positive (as in: I'm absolutely positive!) certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
	1	top 100
positive#2positive → positively:in a good or beneficial manner Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.†more Show sample from book But I've got to think about positive things, like what we're going to do tomorrow.†p.256.518 more good Show general definition for positive (as in: had a positive effect) good or beneficial
	13	top 1000
immunenot in danger (from something) People are immune if they've had the virus previously or been vaccinated.more Show sample from book It works like this: When the HIV virus enters your body, it invades a cell that is part of your immune system.†p.130.512 more not in danger of suffering from something OR relating to disease resistance Show general definition not in danger of being affected by something -- especially a disease or: relating to disease resistance
	7	top 2000
abortionintentionally ending pregnancy Abortion is a tough issue. Some consider it a question of a woman's right to control her body, but others consider it a question of defending the helpless from murder.more Show sample from book She says she decides one thing one day and then changes her mind the next....It's a horrible decision either way, and she's only got weeks to decide if she's going to have an abortion.†p.138.56 more intentionally ending a pregnancy Show general definition for abortion (as in: have an abortion) intentional ending of pregnancy with medical assistance by removing the fetus or embryo from the body before it is able to survive Show editor's word notes A spontaneous abortion (more commonly called a miscarriage) is an abortion that happens without medical assistance or intent
	3	top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more Show sample from book I love him and admire him and respect him and revere him, and want to enjoy his forever company forever, and I WILL BE WORTHY OF HIM!p.78.72 more respect or admire Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	5	top 2000
hysteriastate of excessive, uncontrolled emotion We need to get past the hysteria and decide what to do.more Show sample from book He laughed about my almost having been born in the car before he and Mom could get to the hospital, and about how he was the hysterical, almostout-of-control person that Mom had to soothe and comfort.†p.113.94 more hysteria → hysterical:exceedingly funny (resulting in uncontrollable laughter); or exhibiting excessive, uncontrollable emotion Show general definition a state of excessive, uncontrollable emotion Show editor's word notes In addition to being the adjective form of hysteria, the form hysterical can also indicate that something is exceedingly funny (leading to uncontrollable laughter)
	5	top 2000
asthmaa common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalization in children.more Show sample from book I leaned against a post, trying to become invisible, because I had started to have an asthma attack.†p.3.94 more Show general definition a common lung disorder characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and sometimes coughing
	2	top 100
conformconform → conformist:someone who thinks and acts like others in a group Most teenagers are surprisingly conformist within their subgroup.more Show sample from book Sometimes I'm conforming, then not conforming; and up, then down; me, then YOU!†p.150.7 conform → conforming:complying, fitting in, or being similar to what is normal Show general definition to comply, fit in, or be similar to what is normal
	4	top 1000
repentto feel regret for having done wrong and to firmly decide to be a better person in the future Prisoners who repent are more likely to be released on parole.more Show sample from book Then he brought out a vial of bleach and said putting repentance into our lives was much like the bleach.†p.63.83 more repent → repentance:to feel or express regret for having done wrong
	4	top 1000
moleculechemical substance They want to genetically engineer bacteria or yeast to produce the molecule required to replace gasoline.more Show sample from book Every molecule in my body stood up at attention with their hands across their hearts—that is, they would have if they had hands and hearts.†p.168.13 more the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself Show general definition the smallest amount of a chemical substance that can exist by itself -- usually consisting of 2 or more atoms
	2	top 500
confideconfide → confided:placed trust (in someone) by talking about private things She confided in me. I won't repeat what was said.more Show sample from book Collin confided in me that he had a sister, Betsy Mae, who had asthma also; that's how he'd known what to do.†p.5.21 more Show general definition to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
	4	top 2000
detachdetach → detached:emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions) She spoke in a cold, detached manner as though she didn't care about him anymore.more Show sample from book It was like she was someone else detached from the whole thing and so was I. It seems Delta suspected what had happened when I jostled out of the row and up the aisle.†p.175.83 more detach → detached:separated OR emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions) Show general definition to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
	2	top 500
empathythe understanding and sharing of others' feelings She lacks empathy and is very selfish.more Show sample from book Kids can be so mean, so heartless, so unempathetic.†p.117.91 more empathy → unempathetic:without understanding or entering into another's feelings Show context notes The prefix "un-" in unempathetic means not and reverses the meaning of empathetic. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky. Show general definition the ability, tendency, or act of understanding and sharing another's emotional state
	2	top 500
acquireobtain (get) Children acquire language at an amazing rate.more Show sample from book Okay, "Acquired" means it's a disease that you can be infected with—that you get!†p.130.11 more acquire → acquired:obtained (came into possession of) Show general definition obtain (come into the possession of something)
	3
pediatricrelated to medical care for children She hopes to become a pediatric nurse and work with young children in a hospital setting.more Show sample from book I think maybe becoming a doctor would take too long, because I really want to be a mother, but wouldn't being a pediatrician and then a mother be the greatest?†p.61.52 more pediatric → pediatrician:a doctor who specializes in the treatment of infants and children Show general definition of the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of infants and children
	2
gullibleeasily tricked because of being too trusting She looks for gullible tourists who are easily separated from their money.more Show sample from book I hope and pray dear little thirteen-year-old Margie won't be as dumb and gullible as I was ...or is it already too late?†p.52.91 more
	2
anemiaa deficiency of red blood cells -- resulting in fatigue She takes iron supplements to prevent anemia.more Show sample from book After a while Mom got me calmed down a little, and Dr. Mutant was able to tell us that researchers had developed a new way of delivering the eye medicine so it won't cause anemia.†p.146.21 more a deficiency of red blood cells or where red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin -- resulting in fatigue Show general definition a deficiency of red blood cells or where red blood cells are deficient in hemoglobin -- resulting in fatigue or (less commonly): suffering from a lack of energy
	2
conceitexcessive pride Her conceit will be her downfall.more Show sample from book Oh, what a dumb, dumb idiot I've been and unappreciative and irresponsible and conceited!†p.34.71 more conceit → conceited:excessively proud of oneself Show general definition for conceit (as in: confident, but not conceited) excessive pride in oneself, arrogance, or vanity
	2
hepatitisdisease that causes inflammation of the liver She is tired and looks a little yellow, so I want a doctor to test her for hepatitis.more Show sample from book I guess that's important because they don't know which victims have the HIV virus or hepatitis, and there are lots of bloody situations.†p.221.21 more Show general definition inflammation of the liver that can make it hard for the body to process wastes and other chemicals Show editor's word notes There are several types of hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A, B, and C. Type A spreads mainly through contaminated food or water. Types B & C spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Some infections go away, but others can become long-term and damage the liver.
	1	top 500
latentpotentially existing but not presently active She is unschooled, but I think she has latent talent as an engineer.more Show sample from book Ordinarily the latency period from infection to symptoms for AIDS is considered to be from five to ten years.†p.i.4 latent → latency:the amount of time before something that exists is evident or active Show general definition potentially existing but not presently evident or active