acrimony
1 use
The meeting ended in acrimony.
acrimony = bitterness or anger
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.229.89 |
ambidextrous
1 use
Most people are right-handed, but about 10% are left-handed and about 1% are ambidextrous.
ambidextrous = have the ability to use either hand with equal ease
Definition
Generally ambidextrous means:the ability to use either hand with equal ease
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.238.8 |
apprehension
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
apprehension about finals
She looked around the examination room with apprehension.
apprehension = worry about what is to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24, p.307.41 |
arbitration
1 use
They submitted their disagreement to binding arbitration.
arbitration = the hearing and determination of a dispute by an impartial referee
Definition
Generally arbitration means:the process of solving an argument with the help of an impartial referee
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.49.72 |
assuage
1 use
The panel will have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans to help assuage concern that it could be used for political ends.
assuage = to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.3.14 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
It is an attribute of...
The spreadsheet has a column to describe the breed of dog and then ten additional columns to indicate attributes of the breeds. For example the second column has the average full-grown weight.
attributes = characteristics
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:a characteristic (of something or someone)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.118.97 |
auspicious
1 use
With good weather and no traffic, we had an auspicious start on our journey.
auspicious = favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.43.4 |
circumstantial evidence
3 uses
She argued that the accusations against her client were based on the worst kind of circumstantial evidence.
circumstantial evidence = evidence from which a fact can be inferred, but not directly proven
Definition
Generally circumstantial evidence means:evidence from which a fact is reasonably inferred, but not directly proven
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20, p.272.80 |
context
1 use
She said she was quoted out of context and that anyone who read her full speech would know it.
context = in a misleading manner (because the quote left out additional words that changed the meaning of what was quoted)
Definition
Generally context means:the setting or situation in which something occurs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20, p.274.11 |
dictum
3 uses
She is fond of quoting Ken Kesey's dictum: "You can count the seeds in the apple, but you can't count the apples in the seed."
dictum = saying
Definition
Generally dictum means:a short saying intended to make a point
in various senses including:
in various senses including:
- a popular saying — such as "Nothing is certain but death and taxes."
- a formal declaration from a respected source — such as the Constitution's statement that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech"
- a non-binding remark in a judge's opinion (short for obiter dictum
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.4.47 |
elude
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your point eludes me
What you are seeing in him eludes me.
eludes = escapes understanding (is not understood by)
Definition
Generally this sense of elude means:to escape understanding (not understood)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30, p.365.93 |
induce
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
induce her to
The baby wasn't getting enough nutrients and oxygen, so we induced labor.
induced = caused (in this case, childbirth to start)
Definition
Generally this sense of induce means:to persuade somebody to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13, p.174.25 |
irrelevant
3 uses
The sentence should be deleted because it introduces information that is irrelevant to the passage.
irrelevant = not relevant
Definition
Generally irrelevant means:not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.236.47 |
morbid
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
a morbid curiosity
She has a morbid interest in death.
morbid = unhealthy (related to death)
Definition
Generally this sense of morbid means:suggesting unhealthy thoughts—such as of death and decay; or an unhealthy interest in such thoughts
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.10.88 |
persecution
7 uses
Everyone knows about the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis.
persecution = very bad and unfair treatment
Definition
Generally persecution means:very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26, p.327.89 |
premise (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
the premise of the argument
Her logic is fine except that it assumes a false premise.
premise = something assumed to be true and upon which other things are based
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11, p.136.8 |
2 —2 uses as in:
located on the premises
She was injured on the premises of the defendant.
premises = on the land or in a building
Definition
Generally this sense of premises means:land and buildings together — especially of a business or organization
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.228.64 |
sustain
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
sustained by her faith
We sustained ourselves on bread and water.
sustained = supported
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:provide support or necessities
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.4.82 |
wallow (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
wallow happily in the mud
The pigs wallowed in the large mud puddle.
wallowed = relaxed and perhaps rolled 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 2, p.25.47 |
2 —1 use as in:
wallow in self-pity
Don't wallow in your sorrows.
wallow = indulge
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to indulge in an emotion or situation
(This is often said of something negative such as self-pity when no attempt is made to move beyond it. But it is also sometimes said without connotation just to indicate that someone has a lot of something such as money or luxury.)
(This is often said of something negative such as self-pity when no attempt is made to move beyond it. But it is also sometimes said without connotation just to indicate that someone has a lot of something such as money or luxury.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22, p.285.16 |