annihilate
6 uses
You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word.
annihilated = completely destroyed
Definition
Generally annihilate means:to completely destroy or defeat
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
capitalism
21 uses
The centuries of capitalism were held to have produced nothing of any value.
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 = uninterrupted (without pause)
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
The exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." — show how to do something
- "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." — show how something works
- "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." — showed to be true or proved
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 (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 19 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
This again was never put into plain words, but in an indirect way it was rubbed into every Party member from childhood onwards.
indirect = not straightforward (not clearly stated)
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 |
2 —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 to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter 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 |
3 —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 | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
empirical
3 uses
The empirical method of thought, on which all the scientific achievements of the past were founded, is opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc.
empirical = based on experience or observation
Definition
Generally empirical means:based on experience or observation rather than theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
He thought also of hurrying to the Community Centre and staying there till the place closed, so as to establish a partial alibi for the evening.
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 100 |
| 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 = making a falsified (fake) copy of a document
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
The Russians persecuted heresy more cruelly than the Inquisition had done.
heresy = beliefs considered to be 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
In our society, those who have the best knowledge of what is happening are also those who are furthest from seeing the world as it is. ... 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 |
moreover
11 uses
Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it, moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard.
moreover = in addition to what has just been said
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
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 = replaced with something better
Definition
Generally obsolete means: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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
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
(editor's note: This is from the scene in the book when a scrap of newspaper missed destruction and fell into Winston's hands year's later. It was the only time he ever had "concrete evidence" that the Party changed recorded history. The "relevant date" was the date in history that was changed.)
(editor's note: This is from the scene in the book when a scrap of newspaper missed destruction and fell into Winston's hands year's later. It was the only time he ever had "concrete evidence" that the Party changed recorded history. The "relevant date" was the date in history that was changed.)
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 |