apathy
3 uses
read the Scriptures but was apathetic.
apathetic = without interest or enthusiasm
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
capricious
8 uses
he could not sacrifice his own happiness to his father's caprice
caprice = impulsive wishes
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
censure
9 uses
he was censuring his father for the first time in his life
censuring = criticizing
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
conciliatory
2 uses
said Berg, glancing round at Natasha, and as if anxious to conciliate her, replying to her intent look with a smile.
conciliate = attempt to end bad feelings or build trust
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
but it was impossible to defer the journey to Moscow any longer.
defer = postpone (delay until a later time)
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
depravity
7 uses
He was hard alike on the lazy, the depraved, and the weak, and tried to get them expelled from the commune.
depraved = immoral
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
deride
7 uses
Napoleon was silent, still looking derisively at him and evidently not listening to him.
derisively = with treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
diligent
4 uses
he diligently followed all that went on
diligently = carefully
Definition
Generally diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
discord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
It would be too painful to me to think that I might be a cause of sorrow or discord in the family that has been so good to me...
discord = conflict
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
2 —1 use as in:
discordant music
diverse discordant sounds of disorder
discordant = sounds that don't sound right together
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
dissent
2 uses
He gave no orders, but only assented to or dissented from what others suggested.
dissented = expressed disagreement
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
expedient
3 uses
it is easy to see that there are other ways of diffusing civilization more expedient than by the destruction of wealth and of human lives.
expedient = speedy or practical; or an action that is speedy or practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
fallacious
1 use
But the mind of man not only refuses to believe this explanation, but plainly says that this method of explanation is fallacious, because in it a weaker phenomenon is taken as the cause of a stronger.
fallacious = mistaken
Definition
Generally fallacious means:not correct
- typically describing something as mistaken due to incorrect information or belief
- sometimes describing something as an intentional lie
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
indolent
7 uses
the view of life you mention, and which you think is the result of your own mental efforts, is the one held by the majority of people, and is the invariable fruit of pride, indolence, and ignorance.
indolence = laziness
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
minuteness
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
minute size; or minute description
The dispositions drawn up by Weyrother for the battle of Austerlitz were a model of perfection for that kind of composition, but still they were criticized—criticized for their very perfection, for their excessive minuteness.†
minuteness = attention to detail
Definition
Generally this sense of minuteness means:very small
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
mischievous
4 uses
It was obviously strange to her to think that this stern handsome man should be Andrusha—the slender mischievous boy who had been her playfellow in childhood.
mischievous = naughtily or annoyingly playful
or:
tending to create mischief (minor harm — especially from bad behavior)
or:
tending to create mischief (minor harm — especially from bad behavior)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
novel
2 uses
Pierre was greatly surprised by his wife's view, to him a perfectly novel one, that every moment of his life belonged to her and to the family.
novel = new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
refute
7 uses
To refute him someone would have to prove to him that there is no devil, or another peasant would have to explain to him that it is not the devil but a German, who moves the locomotive.
refute = prove something is false
Definition
Generally refute means:to prove or argue that something is false
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
trepidation
3 uses
Princess Mary went to the door of the study with special trepidation.
trepidation = fear or anxiety
Definition
Generally trepidation means:fear or anxiety about what will happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
venerate
3 uses
what feeling except veneration could such a man as my father evoke?
veneration = respect and reverence
Definition
Generally venerate means:regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |