alacrity
1 use
She completed each assignment with alacrity.
alacrity = quickness
Definition
Generally alacrity means:quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
allude
5 uses
He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.
alluded = indirectly referenced
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
apathy
1 use
Seeing too much senior apathy, the high school began having juniors declare a major for their senior year.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
appalling
8 uses
The live in appalling conditions.
appalling = shockingly terrible or horrible
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
contempt
2 uses
1 —2 uses 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
I defer to her expertise.
defer = submit
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 2 |
desolate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
felt desolate
I heard a low desolate wail.
desolate = very sad
Definition
Generally this sense of desolate means:sad or miserable—and often lonely
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
a desolate place
The photos show the desolate surface of the moon.
desolate = empty, providing no shelter or sustenance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
digress
1 use
She always digresses when telling a story.
digresses = wanders from a direct course
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — typically verbally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
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 | Chapter 1 |
disparage
1 use
She has a reputation for disparaging the efforts of her co-workers.
disparaging = criticizing or making seem less important
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
eloquent
9 uses
Her eloquence is unquestioned even amongst those who disagree with her.
eloquence = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
exalt
5 uses
I'm looking for a small liberal-arts college that exalts the undergraduate experience.
exalts = prizes, honors, or glorifies
Definition
Generally exalt means:praise, glorify, or honor
or:
fill with extreme happiness
or:
fill with extreme happiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
languid
6 uses
No urging could increase his languid pace.
languid = slow (lacking energy or relaxed)
Definition
Generally languid means:lacking energy or relaxed or moving slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
luminous
5 uses
The sky was luminous with stars.
luminous = shining
Definition
Generally luminous means:glowing or shining
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
ominous
8 uses
I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.
ominous = threatening
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
philanthropy
2 uses
Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
Her apology was heartfelt—expressing profound sorrow and regret.
profound = intense (of great emotional depth)
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
somber
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
somber colors
She wore a somber black dress to the funeral.
somber = lacking brightness or color
Definition
Generally this sense of somber means:lacking brightness or color — perhaps gloomy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |