accommodate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
hotel accommodations
The arrival of his breakfast roused him, and he said to the drawer, as he moved his chair to it: "I wish accommodation prepared for a young lady who may come here at any time to-day."
accommodation = lodging
Definition
Generally this sense of accommodations means:space or lodgings — such as a hotel room or office space
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
apprehend
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
apprehend the situation
You apprehend me very clearly, Mr. Barsad.†
apprehend = understand
Definition
Generally this sense of apprehend means:to understand or perceive (see or become aware of)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
Since the state of your mind that you describe, is, at all events, attributable to some influence of mine—this is what I mean, if I can make it plain—can I use no influence to serve you?
attributable = traceable (caused by)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.13 |
complacent
4 uses
Sydney Carton looked at his punch and looked at his complacent friend;
complacent = contented (unworried and happy)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.16 |
contempt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
looked down upon him with the loftiest contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.22 |
deference
5 uses
with less internal deference than he made an outward show of
deference = polite respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
denounce
20 uses
I denounce them to Heaven and to earth.
denounce = to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 20 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.8 |
dubious
4 uses
Mr. Cruncher was soothed, but shook his head in a dubious and moral way.
dubious = doubtful or suspicious
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.12 |
engender
5 uses
Physical diseases, engendered in the vices and neglects of men, will seize on victims of all degrees;
engendered = caused
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
It had been established voluntarily some time ago, among the more thorough patriots; but, was now law for everybody.†
established = set in place (accepted and expected)
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
2 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
Here again: Mr. Lorry's inquiries into Miss Pross's personal history had established the fact that her brother Solomon was a heartless scoundrel who had stripped her of everything she possessed, as a stake to speculate with, and had abandoned her in her poverty for evermore, with no touch of compunction.†
established = shown
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.6 |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
We will say, to put a case and for the sake of illustration, that he had been used, in his bad time, to work at a little forge.†
illustration = to clarify or demonstrate
(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.)
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.19 |
latent
5 uses
The latent uneasiness in Darnay's mind was roused to vigourous life by this letter.
latent = potentially existing but not presently active
Definition
Generally latent means:potentially existing but not presently evident or active
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.24 |
Monsieur
126 uses
Good day, monsieur.
Monsieur = Mr. (in French)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to the English Mr.
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 126 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.15 |
passage
2 uses
That, Virtue, as had been observed by the poets (in many passages which he well knew the jury would have, word for word, at the tips of their tongues; whereat the jury's countenances displayed a guilty consciousness that they knew nothing about the passages), was in a manner contagious; more especially the bright virtue known as patriotism, or love of country.†
passages = short parts of longer written works
Definition
Generally this sense of passage means:a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
remonstrate
6 uses
sufficiently disturbing the darkness to elicit loud remonstrance from an owl
remonstrance = protest
Definition
Generally remonstrate means:argue, complain, or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
As the clock struck two, she was there, and at four she turned resignedly away.
resignedly = with acceptance that things are not as she hoped
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.5 |
ubiquitous
2 uses
...as if he had never heard of ubiquitous Jacques in his time.
ubiquitous = being present everywhere
Definition
Generally ubiquitous means:being present everywhere or all the time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.14 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —1 use as in:
will yield valuable data
Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.
yield = produce
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.15 |
2 —5 uses as in:
yield to pressure
An hour or two hence, and the low companions and low habits that I scorn but yield to, will render me less worth such tears as those, than any wretch who creeps along the streets.
yield = give in
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |