allude
20 uses
He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.
alluded = indirectly referenced
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 20 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
betrothed
18 uses
She was betrothed on the day of her birth.
betrothed = promised to marry
Definition
Generally betrothed means:promised to marry; or the person who has promised to marry
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
candid
6 uses
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
convention
10 uses
1 —10 uses as in:
conventional behavior
It was once conventional wisdom that the earth was flat.
conventional = normal or typical
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
countenance (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a pleasant countenance
She has a pleasant countenance.
countenance = facial expression; or face
Definition
Generally this sense of countenance means:facial expression; or face; or composure
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
2 —2 uses as in:
giving countenance
We will not countenance torture.
countenance = to tolerate or approve
Definition
Generally this sense of countenance means:to tolerate, approve, or show favor or support
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
The weather forced us to defer our departure another day.
defer = postpone or delay
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
deride
4 uses
Critics derided her as unprofessional.
derided = laughed at or made fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
diatribe
1 use
another one-sided, political diatribe not worth listening to
diatribe = a strongly felt and usually lengthy criticism of something or someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
duplicity
1 use
I trust her. Duplicity isn't in her nature or her tool kit.
duplicity = deception — such as lying
Definition
Generally duplicity means:deception (lying to or misleading others) — usually over an extended period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
She didn't see the irony in acting like the mother she detested.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things seem incongruous together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
2 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
She was being ironic when she said she couldn't wait to see you again.
ironic = saying or writing one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
obscure (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 13 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
the view or directions are obscure
For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.
obscure = not clearly understood
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —5 uses as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.
obscure = not known to many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
3 —2 uses as in:
was obscure, but now bright
The once shiny silver was now tarnished and obscure.
obscure = dark, dingy, or inconspicuous
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
opera
43 uses
She is a popular opera singer.
opera = a classical music play in which most of the dialogue is sung
Definition
Generally opera means:a musical play with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung — (typically associated with classical music and often in a language foreign to the audience)
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
Word Statistics
| Book | 43 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
philanthropy
3 uses
Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
repudiate
1 use
The parents repudiated their son.
repudiated = strongly rejected
Definition
Generally repudiate means:strong rejection — especially when the idea or thing being rejected was once embraced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
resignation
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = having accepted something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
venerate
1 use
Most contemporary Hindus do not actually worship the cow; though many venerate her.
venerate = regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 uses |
| Library | 1 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |