chronicle
2 uses
She chronicles daily events of interest in Twitter.
chronicles = records or reports
Definition
Generally chronicle means:a record of events; or the act of creating such a record or telling others of the events
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
consequence
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a direct consequence of
Your decision will have three major consequences.
consequences = results
Definition
Generally this sense of consequence means:a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 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 — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
cultivate
1 use
We encourage our representatives to cultivate a close relationship with their clients.
cultivate = develop or grow
Definition
Generally cultivate means:enhance growth or development
in various senses, including:
- to grow crops or prepare land for them
- enhance a relationship — especially for a purpose
- develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment
- to grow a culture in a petri dish
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
detestable
1 use
I think Umbridge is the most detestable character in the Harry Potter books.
detestable = deserving intense dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
dictate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dictate a letter
She dictated a letter to her secretary.
dictated = said out loud for the purpose of recording
(in this case, the implication is that the secretary is writing down what is said and will type it up later as a letter to send)
(in this case, the implication is that the secretary is writing down what is said and will type it up later as a letter to send)
Definition
Generally this sense of dictate means:say out loud for the purpose of recording
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
effrontery
1 use
She had the effrontery to laugh at the mayor's request.
effrontery = rudeness
Definition
Generally effrontery means:rude and disrespectful behavior — often made by someone who does not realize they are being rude — as when someone is presumptuous or impolitely bold
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
heresy
1 use
It is a hardline form of Sunni Islam that condemns all other strains as heresy.
heresy = something immoral
Definition
Generally heresy means:opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
indifferent
2 uses
About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.
indifferent = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
indignant
8 uses
She was indignant, but agreed to be searched when they accused her of shoplifting.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
invariably
2 uses
I tell myself to go to sleep early, but I invariably end up watching television late into the night.
invariably = almost always
Definition
Generally invariably means:never changing; or always the same
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
irrevocable
1 use
We agreed not to take any irrevocable action until after the meeting.
irrevocable = incapable of being undone
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
ostentatious
1 use
Although wealthy, the family is not ostentatious.
ostentatious = showy (trying to attract notice and impress others in a manner seen as in bad taste)
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
precept
1 use
She accepts the Golden Rule as a precept.
precept = rule for behavior
Definition
Generally precept means:a rule for behavior — especially a shared moral doctrine
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
presumption
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she is presumptuous
She is pushy and presumptuous. I can't stand to be around her.
presumptuous = exercising privileges to which one is not entitled
Definition
Generally this sense of presumptuous means:exercising privileges to which one is not entitled — such as being too familiar or too bossy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
pretense
1 use
The country maintains a pretense of a free press.
pretense = false appearance
Definition
Generally pretense means:a false appearance or action to help one pretend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
recumbent
1 use
She likes a recumbent bicycle.
recumbent = lying down (a bicycle ridden in a reclined position)
Definition
Generally recumbent means:lying down; or horizontal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
sententious
2 uses
Too often, she answers a tough question with a sententious banality.
sententious = trying (but failing) to be verbally impressive
Definition
Generally sententious means:annoying attempt to sound smart or important
or more rarely (and typically in classic literature):
expressing wisdom or knowledge concisely
or more rarely (and typically in classic literature):
expressing wisdom or knowledge concisely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
subsequent
1 use
Her guess was proven right by subsequent developments.
subsequent = following
Definition
Generally subsequent means:following something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |