anguish
1 use
He looked across the fire at Lennie's anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames.
anguished = extremely distressed
From page 11.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.11.9 |
apprehensive
1 use
She was suddenly apprehensive.
apprehensive = worried
From page 32.1 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.32.1 |
brusque
2 uses
"Awright," he said brusquely. "Gi'me that mouse! ... I ain't takin' it away jus' for meanness. That mouse ain't fresh, Lennie; and besides, you've broke it pettin' it."
brusquely = abruptly
Definition
Generally brusque means:abrupt (sudden and quick — without taking the time to be friendly)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.8.7 |
complacent
2 uses
Lennie, who had been following the conversation back and forth with his eyes, smiled complacently at the compliment.
complacently = with satisfaction
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.34.7 |
confide
1 use
"Well, I ain't told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughten to. I don' like Curley. He ain't a nice fella." And because she had confided in him, she moved closer to Lennie and sat beside him.
confided = place trust (in someone) and talk about private things
From page 89.1 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally confide means:to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5, p.89.1 |
contort
2 uses
His face was contorted.
contorted = twisted into an unnatural shape
Definition
Generally contort means:twist or bend to an unnatural shape — something such as the human body, a facial expression, or the truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.30.6 |
deliberate
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
a deliberate thinker
He used a deliberate, thoughtful slowness.
deliberate = careful and slow
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:done with great care — often slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.22.6 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
He looked down at the ground in despair.
despair = hopelessness
From page 5.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.5.5 |
earnest
1 use
"No I ain't," Lennie explained earnestly.
earnestly = sincerely
From page 90.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5, p.90.2 |
elaborate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
an elaborate wink
He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when they are mimicking one another. "Jus' wanted to feel that girl's dress- jus' wanted to pet it like it was a mouse— Well, how the hell did she know you jus' wanted to feel her dress? She jerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse."
elaborate = exaggerated
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:to exaggerate an action
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.8.8 |
grave
1 use
There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love.
gravity = seriousness and importance (weightiness)
From page 33.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.33.8 |
indicate
2 uses
"We kinda look after each other." He indicated Lennie with his thumb.
indicated = pointed to
Definition
Generally indicate means:to show (point out, demonstrate, express, or suggest)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 40 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.18.4 |
indignant
1 use
She was breathless with indignation.
indignation = anger at something that is unjust
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
From page 78.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.78.8 |
morose
3 uses
He fell morosely silent.
morosely = unhappily
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.4.2 |
precede
1 use
Carlson stepped back to let Slim precede him, and then the two of them went out the door.
precede = go before
From page 36.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally precede means:to go or do before
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.36.6 |
scorn
3 uses
She turned on him in scorn.
scorn = strong disrespect
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.102.1 |
skeptical
2 uses
"I ain't so sure," said George skeptically.
skeptically = with doubt
Definition
Generally skeptical means:doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.19.4 |
subside
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
her anger subsided
He subsided, grumbling to himself, threatening the future cats which might dare to disturb the future rabbits.
subsided = became less intense
Definition
Generally this sense of subside means:become less intense, less severe, or less active — perhaps going away entirely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.58.9 |
sullen
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a sullen mood
She paused and her face lost its sullenness and grew interested.
sullenness = appearance of a bad mood
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:being unhappy and withdrawn
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.78.3 |
tone
4 uses
His tone was friendly.
tone = attitude
Definition
Generally this sense of tone means:the general feeling, mood, or attitude of something — especially of something said or written
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.30.3 |