advocate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an advocate supporting
She is a passionate advocate for children's welfare.
advocate = a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause
Definition
Generally this sense of advocate means:a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
ballad
11 uses
her latest album is a collection of love ballads.
ballads = songs that tells a story
Definition
Generally ballad means:a song (or poem) that tells a story
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.4 |
beseech
18 uses
She teaches and beseeches her students to think about their future.
beseeches = begs
Definition
Generally beseech means:to ask strongly or beg for something
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
commend
5 uses
I commend you for a good job.
commend = praise
Definition
Generally commend means:praise or recommend
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
contrary (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a contrary idea
The facts point to a contrary conclusion.
contrary = different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
2 —1 use as in:
contrary to
Contrary to popular belief, the largest pyramid is in Mexico—not Egypt.
contrary to = in opposition to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
3 —2 uses as in:
to the contrary
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
to the contrary = with an opposite or different effect
Definition
Generally this sense of to the contrary means:with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
countenance
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a pleasant countenance
She has a pleasant countenance.
countenance = facial expression; or face
Definition
Generally this sense of countenance means:facial expression; or face; or composure or manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
disdain
1 use
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Scene 4.4 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
Her pies are divine.
divine = wonderful
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
doleful
2 uses
It was another year of a doleful Detroit economy.
doleful = very sad; or causing sadness or misfortune
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.4 |
entreat
4 uses
She flattered and entreated him until he agreed to help.
entreated = asked
Definition
Generally entreat means:to ask — especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
integrity
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a person of high integrity
They agreed to have her judge the contest because everyone admires her integrity.
integrity = moral principles
Definition
Generally this sense of integrity means:having strong moral principles — especially honesty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
lament
4 uses
She lamented the loss.
lamented = expressed grief about
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 4.2 |
penitent
4 uses
When her anger passed, she was penitent.
penitent = sorry for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
She reconciled her checking account statement.
reconciled = brought into agreement (in this case, the statement from the bank with the record she kept in her check register)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
sovereign
5 uses
They may be a sovereign state, but their neighbor's threats forced their decision.
sovereign = not controlled by outside forces
Definition
Generally sovereign means:of a person: a nation's ruler or head of state
of a political body: not controlled by outside forces
of a political body: not controlled by outside forces
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
trifle
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
a trifling matter
We all agree with the goal, but how to achieve it is not a trifling matter.
trifling = small (of little importance)
Definition
Generally this sense of trifle means:something of small importance; or a small quantity
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.3 |