capitalism
21 uses
There is far less to-and-fro movement between the different groups than happened under capitalism or even in the pre-industrial age.
capitalism = an economic system based on private ownership of property and businesses, and on voluntary exchange in a competitive environment
Definition
Generally capitalism means:an economic system based on private ownership of property and businesses, and on voluntary exchange in a competitive environment — with the belief that voluntary exchanges harness inborn self-interest in millions of decisions that benefit society
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
continuous
24 uses
Since about that time, war had been literally continuous, though strictly speaking it had not always been the same war.
continuous = continuing without interruption
Definition
Generally continuous means:continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
demonstrate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 11 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
It demonstrates my point.
The belief that nothing exists outside your own mind — surely there must be some way of demonstrating that it was false?
demonstrating = showing
Definition
Generally this sense of demonstrate means:to show
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
2 —8 uses as in:
demonstrate to protest
All over Oceania this morning there were irrepressible spontaneous demonstrations when workers marched out of factories and offices and paraded through the streets with banners voicing their gratitude to Big Brother for the new, happy life which his wise leadership has bestowed upon us.
demonstrations = public displays of support
Definition
Generally this sense of demonstrate means:a public display supporting a cause — usually joining with others in a political protest
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 19 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
As they walked back across the grass, she looked directly at him for the first time. It was only a momentary glance, full of contempt and dislike.
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus)
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —7 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
In so far as the war has a direct economic purpose, it is a war for labour power.†
direct = clear
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
...then a rumour flew round that spies were directing the rocket bombs by means of wireless waves, and an old couple who were suspected of being of foreign extraction had their house set on fire and perished of suffocation.
directing = guiding
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
4 —4 uses as in:
directed the movie
It was O'Brien who was directing everything. ... It was he who decided when Winston should scream with pain, when he should have a respite, when he should be fed, when he should sleep, when the drugs should be pumped into his arm.
directing = controlling
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.†
establish = create
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
2 —2 uses as in:
establish that there is a need
For how could you establish even the most obvious fact when there existed no record outside your own memory?†
establish = prove
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
forgery
6 uses
Even the written instructions which Winston received, and which he invariably got rid of as soon as he had dealt with them, never stated or implied that an act of forgery was to be committed: always the reference was to slips, errors, misprints, or misquotations which it was necessary to put right in the interests of accuracy.
forgery = falsifying papers
Definition
Generally forgery means:something that is represented as real even though it is a fake; or the making of such a fake item
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
heresy
20 uses
In the old days he had hidden a heretical mind beneath an appearance of conformity.
heretical = characterized by opinions most people consider immoral
Definition
Generally heresy means:opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 20 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
illustrate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
as illustrated by this example
One clear illustration of this is the fact that war hysteria increases in intensity as one rises in the social scale.†
illustration = example (to help clarify or demonstrate)
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 8 |
obsolete
4 uses
Then he went on: 'What I had really intended to say was that in your article I noticed you had used two words which have become obsolete.'
obsolete = no longer in general use because it was replaced by something better
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
orthodox
21 uses
Orthodoxy means not thinking — not needing to think.
orthodoxy = conforming to commonly accepted beliefs and behaviors
Definition
Generally orthodox means:thinking and behavior that is (or was) commonly accepted
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
prevail
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
prevailing attitude
The prevailing emotion was simply curiosity.
prevailing = most powerful or influential
Definition
Generally this sense of prevailing means:most common, powerful, or influential
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
proletariat
12 uses
Or perhaps you have returned to your old idea that the proletarians or the slaves will arise and overthrow us.
proletarians = workers
Definition
Generally proletariat means:a social class consisting of those who must work for wages to support themselves
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
rectify
8 uses
The messages he had received referred to articles or news items which for one reason or another it was thought necessary to alter, or, as the official phrase had it, to rectify.
rectify = correct
Definition
Generally this sense of rectify means:make right or correct
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
relevant
4 uses
But the really relevant date was seven or eight years earlier.
relevant = important to the issue in question
Definition
Generally relevant means:relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
wallow
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
wallow happily in the mud
Audience much amused by shots of a great huge fat man trying to swim away with a helicopter after him, first you saw him wallowing along in the water like a porpoise, then you saw him through the helicopters gunsights, then he was full of holes and the sea round him turned pink and he sank as suddenly as though the holes had let in the water, audience shouting with laughter when he sank.
wallowing = rolling about
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to relax — especially of an animal rolling about in mud or shallow water
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |