The Black Widow — Vocabulary
Daniel Silva
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	48
ruerue → rue the day:regret You'll rue the day you betrayed me.more Show sample from book We had our problems with Saddam, but we warned the Americans they would rue the day they toppled him.†p.111.947 more rue → rue the day:feel sadness and regret (about the day something happened) Show general definition to feel sadness and regret
	13	top 2000
assetsthings of value The University is one of the city's greatest assets.more Show sample from book At a moment like this, she thought, her looks were an asset.p.9.713 more assets → asset:a positive trait Show general definition for assets (as in: it's one of her best assets) a positive trait or thing of value in various senses, including: a positive trait -- as in "Her confidence is an asset in the job search." something highly valued -- as in "The University is one of the city's greatest assets." soldiers or military equipment -- as in "They moved assets into the contested area." a spy -- as in "She was the United States' most valuable asset in China." Show editor's word notes Assets are often contrasted to their opposite, liabilities.
	1	top 2000
assets#2things of financial value The company has strong assets and a good credit history, so the bank will loan them money at a low interest rate.more Show sample from book Lavon also happened to be a skilled financial investigator who singlehandedly had managed to track down millions of dollars' worth of looted Holocaust assets.p.90.413 more Show general definition for assets (as in: the company's assets & liabilities) things of financial value; or a listing of the cash value of things owned Show editor's word notes Assets are often considered with their opposite, liabilities (debt and other financial obligations).
	11	top 1000
debrispieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around She swept up the debris.more Show sample from book There were no bodies and very little debris on this side of the building; everything had been blown inward.†p.429.810 more Show general definition pieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around
	9	top 500
contemplatethink deeply about After the meeting, she needed some time alone to contemplate her next move.more Show sample from book He closed the book, returned it to the shelf, and studied Gabriel as if contemplating a rare coin or a cage bird.†p.73.18 more contemplate → contemplating:consider or ponder Show general definition consider or ponder
	8	top 500
deceptiondeceiving or misleading The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more Show sample from book She lied with the full confidence that Saladin could see no telltale trace of deception in her eyes.†p.473.77 more the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads Show general definition the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
	8	top 500
approximateapproximate → approximately:about The state has approximately as many Republicans as Democrats.more Show sample from book Raqqa was approximately a hundred miles from the Iraqi border—the old border, she quickly reminded herself.†p.275.17 more approximate → approximately:about (but not exactly) Show general definition almost, but not exact; or similar
	10	top 2000
perpetratorsomeone who did something wrong or illegal The perpetrator has not been captured or identified.more Show sample from book The second woman, said the chief of the DGSI, was Safia Bourihane, one of the perpetrators of the attack on the Weinberg Center.†p.86.49 more perpetrator → perpetrators:someone who has does something wrong -- usually something illegal Show general definition someone who has does something wrong -- usually something illegal
	7	top 500
perishbe destroyed or cease to exist ...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln — Gettysburg Addressmore Show sample from book ISIS gave purpose to lost souls and promised an afterlife of eternal copulation to those who perished for the cause.†p.200.86 more perish → perished:died, was destroyed, or ceased to exist Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way or: to be destroyed or cease to exist Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought." It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
	8	top 1000
reproachreproach → reproached:criticized and expressed disappointment She reproached him for treating his sister so thoughtlessly.more Show sample from book Natalie didn't feel much like drinking coffee, but she didn't want to earn another reproach from Safia, either.†p.397.57 more a criticism; or to express criticism Show general definition a criticism; or to express criticism or disappointment -- especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame Show editor's word notes The expression "beyond reproach" is often used to indicate that one must not only be careful to do everything right, but must be careful not to do anything that might make people suspect they did something wrong. For example, politicians often need to behave in a manner that is beyond reproach. "Beyond reproach" can also suggest that something is perfect. More rarely, it can also be used to suggest that someone is too powerful or too well-connected to criticize.
	9	top 2000
accomplicesomeone who helped to carry out a plan Was she acting alone, or did she have an accomplice?more Show sample from book Later, after analyzing all available video images, they concluded that the accomplice was in fact a woman.†p.15.88 more person who assisted Show general definition a person who joins with another in carrying out a plan -- especially an unethical or illegal plan
	12	top 2000
vengeancerevenge Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more Show sample from book They had believed the stories to be true, a miscalculation that allowed the restorer to take vengeance against them.†p.42.412 more the act of taking revenge Show general definition for vengeance (as in: vengeance is mine) the act of taking revenge (Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
	1
with a vengeancewith intensity I thought I was getting over my cold and went to work, but it came back with a vengeance.more Show sample from book France's Muslim population exploded in size, far eclipsing the small, vulnerable Jewish community, and the oldest hatred returned with a vengeance.†p.137.912 more Show general definition for with a vengeance (as in: with a vengeance) with intensity
	10
infidelinfidel → infidels:negative term for people who do not believe in the "right" religion He described the Iraqi police as a tool in the hands of crusaders and infidels.more Show sample from book There was no border anymore; the lines drawn on a map by infidel diplomats in London and Paris had been erased.†p.275.29 more negative term for someone who does not believe in the "right" religion Show general definition a negative term describing someone as not believing in the "right" religion or god
	6
secularnon-religious Many countries of the Middle East and North Africa maintain a dual system of secular courts and religious courts, in which the religious courts mainly regulate marriage and inheritance.more Show sample from book He joined the secular resistance and, later, al-Qaeda in Iraq, where he met and befriended Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.†p.318.15 more not religious Show general definition for secular (as in: a secular organization) not religious
	5
coalitionmade up of different political groups working together They formed a coalition government.more Show sample from book The Syrian air force and their Russian accomplices bombed by day, the Americans and their coalition partners by night.p.270.24 more a political group made up of different groups working together Show general definition a political group made up of different groups working together
	5
information technologycomputer-related She has a high-paying information technology job.more Show sample from book At his last place of employment, a small IT consulting firm, he had been known as Q or Q-Ban, which he liked because of its vaguely Hispanic and hip-hop sensibilities.p.352.84 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 500
altercationfight She got in a physical altercation and was expelled.more Show sample from book In truth, it had not been an altercation but a well-planned ambush.†p.4.21 more a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight Show general definition a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight
	1	top 100
explicitprecisely and clearly expressed She gave us explicit instructions.more Show sample from book Her will was quite explicit when it came to the painting.p.51.81 more clear and specific Show general definition for explicit (as in: explicit instructions) clear and with enough detail so there is no confusion Show editor's word notes Shared information is often divided into two categories: explicit and implicit
	1
explicit#2expressing or displaying sexual activity or nudity in a manner that leaves little to the imagination The computer has a filter that blocks explicit photos and pornography.more Show sample from book And there was an anatomically explicit description of her first sexual experience, at sixteen, with a French boy named Henri, who had broken poor Leila's heart.p.170.31 more expressed in a detailed manner that many would consider offensive Show general definition for explicit (as in: explicit photos and pornography) expressing or displaying sexual activity or violence in a detailed manner