There There — Vocabulary
Tommy Orange
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	9	top 1000
urbancity The planners want to revitalize the downtown and limit urban sprawl.more Show sample from book We are Urban Indians and Indigenous Indians, Rez Indians and Indians from Mexico and Central and South America.†p.136.58 more Show general definition relating to a city
	2	top 10
relevantimportant (related in a meaningful way) Shannon tells an interesting story, but it's not relevant to the decision we have to make.more Show sample from book And if it is stuck in tradition, in the past, how can it be relevant to other Indigenous people living now, how can it be modern?†p.77.41 more relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question Show general definition relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
	5	top 2000
massacrecrushing defeat Her team lost 12–0 in what can only be described as a complete massacre on the field.more Show sample from book Thanksgivings like these happened everywhere, whenever there were what we have to call "successful massacres."†p.5.44 more massacre → massacres:crushing defeat or brutal, overwhelming attack Show general definition crushing defeat or brutal, overwhelming attack — used figuratively in competition and literally for violent killings
	3	top 500
paradoxsomething that seems contradictory but is true It’s a paradox that the more we learn, the more we realize how little we know.more Show sample from book I think about the irresistible-force paradox.†p.65.12 more a situation or statement that seems to contradict itself but may still be true Show general definition a situation or statement that seems to contradict itself but may still be true
	4	top 1000
frauddeception to get something illegally She was arrested for committing credit card fraud after using someone else’s account to buy expensive electronics.more Show sample from book It's important that he dress like an Indian, dance like an Indian, even if it is an act, even if he feels like a fraud the whole time, because the only way to be Indian in this world is to look and act like an Indian.p.122.33 more someone who is not what they pretend to be Show general definition the act of deceiving someone for personal gain; or a person or thing that is not what it pretends or appears to be
	2	top 500
ambiguousunclear because it could be interpreted in different ways The detective found the suspect’s statement ambiguous, unsure whether it was a confession or a denial.more Show sample from book He is ambiguously nonwhite.†p.28.91 more ambiguous → ambiguously:unclear -- because there could be two or more interpretations Show general definition unclear -- because there could be two or more interpretations
	4
talismana small object or piece of jewelry thought to have magical power The ancient talisman was said to have magical powers that could protect its wearer from harm.more Show sample from book Also, when the moon is at this position, a talisman can be made to create discord and animosity between spouses.†p.65.93 more Show general definition a small object or piece of jewelry thought to have magical power -- especially to protect against evil
	2	top 500
cultivatedevelop or grow We encourage our representatives to cultivate a close relationship with their clients.more Show sample from book But had you really cultivated this lean, this drop-shouldered walk, this way of swaying slightly to the right in opposition?†p.214.41 more cultivate → cultivated:developed, grown, or prepared for growing crops Show general definition enhance growth or development in various senses, including: to grow crops or prepare land for them enhance a relationship -- especially for a purpose develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment to grow a culture in a petri dish
	2	top 1000
resilientable to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it Times have been tough, but she is resilient.more Show sample from book And don't make the mistake of calling us resilient.†p.137.61 more Show general definition able to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it -- such as a person retaining a positive attitude, or a material returning to its shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed
	2	top 1000
sequenceordered set The sequence of events leading to the accident was carefully reviewed by the investigators.more Show sample from book He's surrounded by the variegation of color and pattern specific to Indianness, gradients from one color to the next, geometrically sequenced sequined shapes on shiny and leathered fabrics, the quill, bead, ribbon, plume, feathers from magpies, hawks, crows, eagles.†p.232.61 more sequence → sequenced:a set of things arranged or happening in a specific order Show general definition a set of things arranged or happening in a specific order -- often chronological order
	3	top 2000
genea DNA sequence or unit of heredity that influences biological traits The gene determines hair color.more Show sample from book It was some old dark leftover thing that stayed with our family; Some people get diseases passed down in their genes.†p.181.82 more gene → genes:DNA sequences or units of heredity that influence biological traits
	1	top 100
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 Show sample from book Once we saw that it was superior, once it asserted itself as superior, we would need to adapt, to merge so as to not be swallowed, taken over.†p.72.5 change to fit a different situation; or make suitable Show general definition for adapt (as in: adapted to the new rules) changed to fit a different situation; or made suitable
	2	top 1000
stoicunemotional She suffered quietly, courageously, with a stoic acceptance of her illness.more Show sample from book Opal with her static, sober, stoic stare.†p.107.31 more seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions Show general definition seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions
	2	top 1000
recedediminish (decrease) Interest in the story is beginning to recede.more Show sample from book That guy in the black windbreaker, whose hair is fully grayed and receding, and whose stomach comes out a little more each year, whose feet and knees hurt when he stands or walks too long, he's okay, he's making it.†p.84.61 more recede → receding:moving away or diminishing (become less) Show general definition to move away or diminish (become less) The exact meaning of recede depends upon its context. For example: "We can't move back in until the floodwaters recede." -- diminish and move away "Her fear receded." -- diminished "The waves first advance and then recede." -- move away "The news story receded into the background as it was replaced by new stories." -- received diminished attention "a receding hairline" -- diminished hair (each year the line where hair stops growing is higher on the forehead) "She has a receding chin." -- sloping back (as contrasted to sticking out)
	5	top 1000
indigenousoriginally from there Los Angeles replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.†more Show sample from book We are Urban Indians and Indigenous Indians, Rez Indians and Indians from Mexico and Central and South America.†p.136.64 more of local origin Show general definition of local origin
	5
quantumtiny, indivisible packet of energy or matter An atom can only absorb or release energy in fixed quantum jumps, not in smooth amounts.more Show sample from book Blood quantum and tribal membership qualifications have since been turned over to individual tribes to decide.†p.137.24 more Show general definition smallest “packet” or chunk of energy or matter that something can have in modern physics Show editor's word notes In quantum physics, energy and matter don't flow smoothly like water but come in tiny, indivisible chunks called quanta. An object can only gain or lose energy in specific amounts—just enough to jump from one allowed energy level to another. During a "quantum jump," the object doesn't gradually move between levels; it simply vanishes from one level and appears at another, as if teleporting. Science has revealed that the universe behaves very differently at extreme scales than it does in our everyday lives. At incredibly small scales (atoms and smaller), quantum physics rules. At incredibly large scales (planets, stars, and galaxies) or extreme speeds, Einstein's theories of special and general relativity take over.
	2	top 100
narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience) The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more Show sample from book We have the litter-mourning, tear-ridden Indian in the commercial (also Iron Eyes Cody), and the sink-tossing, crazy Indian who was the narrator in the novel, the voice of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.†p.7.61 more storyteller Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance
	1	top 100
correlatecorrelate → correlation:a relationship between two things so that one can be predicted from the other My opponent is confusing correlation with causation. Just because kids who play violent video games are also more likely to behave violently, doesn't mean the video games cause the violence.more Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show sample from book I read that the brain stem is the basis of consciousness, and that the tongue correlates with the brain stem almost directly, and so eating is the most direct path to getting the feeling that you're alive.†p.68.2 correlate → correlates:has a relationship such that a change in one thing helps predict a change in another Show context notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math. Show general definition to find or have a connection or relationship between two things, such that a change in one helps predict a change in the other Show editor's word notes Just because you can guess 'A' from 'B' doesn’t mean 'A' changes 'B.' Something else, like 'C,' might affect both, and that’s why 'A' can be guessed from 'B.' For example, children with larger shoe sizes are likely to know more math. It's not that shoe size helps with math, it's that older children tend to have larger feet and know more math.
	2
depravityimmorality or evilness It is a terrible story of an innocent who trusted a man who treated her with ruthless depravity.more Show sample from book This unflinching stare into the void of addiction and depravity, this is the kind of thing only a camera can keep its eye wide open for.†p.239.91 more complete immorality or evilness Show general definition complete immorality or evilness
	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 I'd seen more than a few eviction notices.†p.47.31 more the process of forcing someone to leave a place Show general definition the process of forcing someone to leave a place -- typically from a home due to non-payment