Book Scavenger — Vocabulary
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
13 top 100
focusfocus → focused:preoccupied (interested to the exclusion of other things)
But Emily was too focused on her discovery to pay attention to anything else.p.199.813 more
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I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.more
concentrate
Show general definition for focus (as in: Turn your focus to question #2.) to direct attention or effort toward a single thing; or the ability to do so without getting distracted
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focus#2see clearly
Emily blinked at James a few times, like she couldn't quite get her eyes to focus.p.68.913 more
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The bridge collapse brought aging infrastructure into focus as a political issue.more
into view (as an area of attention)
Show general definition for focus (as in: bring into focus; or out of focus) a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly; or an adjustment made to permit a clear view
3 top 100
negativebad
He altered some of Poe's letters and writings and compiled them into a posthumous biography in an attempt to paint Poe in a very negative light.p.331.83 more
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Higher interest rates negatively affected home sales.more
negative → negatively:in a bad or harmful manner
Show general definition for negative (as in: had a negative effect) bad or harmful
6 top 100
themerecurring idea
Or here's another idea: Maybe there's an animal theme with the scavenger hunt—gold bug, black cat, Maltese falcon.p.208.85 more
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The party had a 1950's theme.more
an idea that is unifying or recurrent
Show general definition for theme (as in: theme of the novel) a basic idea that underlies what is being said or done -- especially in a literary or artistic work
2 top 100
alternativepossibility
Of course, there is another alternative.p.38.62 more
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Let's think of at least three alternatives before we decide what to do.more
alternative → alternatives:possibilities
Show general definition for alternative (as in: an alternative plan) a different choice or possibility, or describing something that offers a different choice or possibility
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alternative#2non-traditional or non-standard
Griswold began publishing an alternative weekly paper called the Bayside Weekly, which eventually developed into one of the most prominent publishing companies in San Francisco.p.77.42 more
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I'm taking the pills the doctor prescribed, but I'm also looking into alternative medicine such as acupuncture.more
non-standard
4 top 100
accompanyaccompany → accompanied:complemented (joined with something else to make it better)
This poem was accompanied by an illustration of a black bird almost exactly like the one used in place of the seagull in the Bayside Press symbol.p.100.53 more
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The trend is easily seen in the accompanying graph.more
accompany → accompanying:provided together
Show general definition for accompany (as in: the accompanying chart) to be present with at the same time and/or location -- sometimes provided to make something more complete or better
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prominentimportant and well-known
Griswold began publishing an alternative weekly paper called the Bayside Weekly, which eventually developed into one of the most prominent publishing companies in San Francisco.p.77.51 more
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She is a prominent member of our community.more
well-known and respected
Show general definition for prominent (as in: a prominent politician) well-known or important -- especially of a person who is respected
1 top 1000
prominent#2prominent → prominently:conspicuously (in a way that is easily noticed)
The Gold-Bug sat prominently on top of her notebook.p.249.81 more
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By law, the notice must be placed in a prominent location.more
conspicuous (easily noticed)
Show general definition for prominent (as in: a prominent place on the shelf) very easily noticed
3 top 1000
incredulousincredulous → incredulously:with difficulty accepting something so unexpected
  "Do you always sleep here?" Emily asked.
  "Fairly often. Ever since you brought that book in my shop, actually."
  "The Gold-Bug?" Emily asked incredulously. "Did you know about the game? You knew it ended here?"p.323.32 more
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I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.more
difficult to believe
Show general definition unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
2 top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious way
The animosity between Poe and Griswold might have begun in earnest when Poe wrote a review of this anthology in which he criticized the selection of poets (even though Poe's own poems appeared in it).p.345.51 more
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I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more
earnest → in earnest:in a serious manner
Show general definition characterized by sincere belief

or:

intensely or excessively serious or determined
2 top 500
confideconfide → confiding:placing trust (in someone) by talking about private things
"How could I have been so dumb?" she moaned. "Confiding in Mr. Quisling, of all people."p.292.21 more
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She confided in me. I won't repeat what was said.more
confide → confided:placed trust (in someone) by talking about private things
Show general definition to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
4 top 2000
coincidencea situation where things that seem related happened purely by chance
The first letter of each word spelled out fifteen. That couldn't be a coincidence.p.25.13 more
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It was a pure coincidence that both got sick the same weekend.more
a situation where things happened at the same time by chance even though it was unlikely
Show general definition a situation where two things happened at the same time or in the same way by chance even though it was unlikely
2 top 100
positivegood or beneficial
You shot him over a book? How could you do that? He did nothing but positive things!p.318.94 more
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Lower interest rates positively affected home sales.†more
positive → positively:in a good or beneficial manner
126 top 2000
ciphersecret code used to hide the meaning of message
James knew from keyboarding class that the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" used every letter in the alphabet, so they made that their cipher key.p.70.9125 more
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A substitution cipher is a method of encryption where each letter in the plaintext is replaced by another letter so those without the substitution table cannot read the message.more
system to encode and decode messages so those who don't know the system can't understand the messages
Show general definition for cipher (as in: a secret cipher) to write a message in a secret code; or such a message; or a substitution table or other system used to encode and decode such a message
2 top 100
narratorperson telling a story
Some classify "The Gold-Bug" as one of Poe's detective stories because the narrator and protagonist work like detectives to unravel the mystery of the gold-bug and decipher the encrypted message.p.347.81 more
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The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more
an actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience)
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
4
deducededuce → deduced:determined by reasoning
When she deduced San Francisco was their next move, Emily should have flung the gold coins in celebration.p.12.13 more
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From the muddy footprints and the open window, she deduced that someone had snuck into the house.more
deduce → deduced:concluded by reasoning
Show general definition conclude by reasoning -- especially reasoning from the general to the particular
4
genrestyle or kind of literature
Poe is credited with originating the detective-mystery genre with his character Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin, who appeared in three short stories:p.347.63 more
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It was an unusual mix of art that represented both landscape and abstract genres.more
genre → genres:styles
Show general definition a category or style - especially in the arts
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protagonistmain character in a work of fiction
Some classify "The Gold-Bug" as one of Poe's detective stories because the narrator and protagonist work like detectives to unravel the mystery of the gold-bug and decipher the encrypted message.p.347.81 more
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Harry Potter was the protagonist and  Voldemort was the antagonist.more
Show general definition the main character in a work of fiction

or more rarely:

an important supporter or main figure of someone or something
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initiateinitiate → initiated:started (did it for the first time)
Masquerade initiated a literary genre called "armchair treasure hunts."p.348.7
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That weekend, she was initiated into the art of fly fishing.more
initiate → initiated:introduced (did it for the first time)
Show general definition for initiate (as in: initiate into the art of drumming) introduce to an activity or area of knowledge