capacious
1 use
She carries a capacious bag.
capacious = very large
Definition
Generally capacious means:large in capacity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
consternation
1 use
Much to the consternation of Congress, raising the tax decreased tax collections as manufacturers moved to other countries.
consternation = dismay (unhappiness and worry)
Definition
Generally consternation means:dismay (unhappiness, worry, and often confusion) — typically over something unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
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 | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
equanimity
1 use
She accepted the problem with equanimity and grace.
equanimity = steadiness of mind under stress
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
essential
1 use
The essential feature of the pen is that it writes so consistently.
essential = absolutely necessary; or of greatest importance
Definition
Generally essential means:necessary or important or relating to the basic nature of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
forte
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is her forte
cooking is his forte†
forte = strength (strong ability)
Definition
Generally this sense of forte means:strengths (strong abilities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
grave
5 uses
Her smile disappeared as she suddenly realized the gravity of her situation.
gravity = seriousness or importance (weightiness)
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
however (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 12 uses
1 —11 uses as in:
However, complications may...
Most college application deadlines are in January and February. However, early admission deadlines are around November and some scholarships require even earlier deadlines.
however = despite that (a transition word use to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
However much she tried...
However hard he tried, he couldn't do it.
however = no matter how
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
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 | 15 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 | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
misanthrope
1 use
Homer Simpson's boss is a greedy misanthrope.
misanthrope = person who dislikes other people
Definition
Generally misanthrope means:someone who dislikes people — and often distrusts them
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
positive
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I'm absolutely positive!
I'm positive I've seen her before.
positive = certain
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
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 |
supercilious
1 use
I have come to hate her supercilious smile.
supercilious = arrogant
Definition
Generally supercilious means:arrogant (acting as if better, more important, and superior in ideas than others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
vacillate
1 use
She was determined and did not vacillate in the least.
vacillate = to change one's mind back and forth between conflicting ideas
Definition
Generally vacillate means:to change one's mind back and forth between conflicting ideas
or:
to sway back and forth
or:
to sway back and forth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |