abhor
24 uses
Shall I not then hate them who abhor me?
abhor = hate
Definition
Generally abhor means:to hate or detest something
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
acquit (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
she was acquitted
She is to be tried today, and I hope, I sincerely hope, that she will be acquitted.
acquitted = officially found "not guilty"
Definition
Generally this sense of acquit means:officially find "not guilty" of criminal charges
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
2 —1 use as in:
she acquitted herself well
Twice I actually hired myself as an under-mate in a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself to admiration.
acquitted = handled
Definition
Generally this sense of acquit means:to handle oneself in a specified way — which is typically in a positive way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
ameliorate
1 use
I felt the greatest eagerness to hear the promised narrative, partly from curiosity and partly from a strong desire to ameliorate his fate if it were in my power.
ameliorate = improve
Definition
Generally ameliorate means:to improve — especially a bad situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
benevolent
22 uses
This was then the reward of my benevolence!
benevolence = kindness or generosity
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 21 uses
1 —1 use as in:
depart directly
As I was in a state of extreme debility, I resolved to sail directly towards the town, as a place where I could most easily procure nourishment.
directly = straight (without delay or interruption)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
2 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
But it refreshed me and filled me with such agreeable sensations that I resolved to prolong my stay on the water, and fixing the rudder in a direct position, stretched myself at the bottom of the boat.†
direct = straight (along a straight line)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
—including such senses as:
—including such senses as:
- straight (without varying from a straight line)
- exact (without other factors)
- close (with other factors minimized)
- personal (without other people in between)
- unobstructed (without anything in between)
- of a look: straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
3 —17 uses as in:
directed her question to
I was surprised that among so many men of genius who had directed their inquiries towards the same science, that I alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret.
directed = targeted
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object — such as
- to aim a gun or comment at someone
- to point in a particular direction
- to focus attention on a particular object
- to guide or give directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- to send someone to a particular place
- to steer a car, boat, etc.
- to send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
4 —2 uses as in:
directed the jury to...
Not that, like a magic scene, it all opened upon me at once: the information I had obtained was of a nature rather to direct my endeavours so soon as I should point them towards the object of my search than to exhibit that object already accomplished.†
direct = instruct
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
dogmatic
1 use
His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry.
dogmatism = stating opinions as absolute truth
Definition
Generally dogmatic means:prone to stating opinions as absolute truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
entreat
18 uses
My dear son, I entreat you never to make such an assertion again.
entreat = ask
Definition
Generally entreat means:to ask or attempt to persuade — especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
epithet
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
racial epithet
The child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet.
epithets = insulting or abusive words or phrases
Definition
Generally this sense of epithet means:an insulting or abusive word or phrase
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
illustrate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
as illustrated by this example
As the circumstances of his marriage illustrate his character, I cannot refrain from relating them.†
illustrate = help make clear
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
implement
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a small implement
I have copies of these letters, for I found means, during my residence in the hovel, to procure the implements of writing; and the letters were often in the hands of Felix or Agatha.
implements = small tools or other useful objects
Definition
Generally this sense of implement means:a small tool or other useful object
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
penury
2 uses
It contained but two rooms, and these exhibited all the squalidness of the most miserable penury.
penury = a state of extreme poverty or destitution
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
sagacious
2 uses
Besides, I found that my understanding improved so much with every day's experience that I was unwilling to commence this undertaking until a few more months should have added to my sagacity.
sagacity = wisdom
Definition
Generally sagacious means:wise — especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
transitory
4 uses
These feelings are transitory;
transitory = lasting a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
vacillate
1 use
The poor woman was very vacillating in her repentance.
vacillating = changing one's mind back and forth between conflicting ideas
Definition
Generally vacillate means:to change one's mind back and forth between conflicting ideas
or:
to sway back and forth
or:
to sway back and forth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
wretch
25 uses
But it is true that I am a wretch.
wretch = bad person
Definition
Generally wretch means:someone you feel sorry for
or:
a person of bad character
or:
a person of bad character
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
yield
8 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
It was a most beautiful season; never did the fields bestow a more plentiful harvest or the vines yield a more luxuriant vintage, but my eyes were insensible to the charms of nature.
yield = produce
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |