advocate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
to advocate
She advocates stricter gun control.
advocates = publicly supports
Definition
Generally this sense of advocate means:to recommend or publicly support someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5-6 |
2 —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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5-6 |
augment
10 uses
Our school district hired a new counselor to augment our college counseling service.
augment = enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25-26 |
capricious
24 uses
Nothing seems more capricious than a tornado.
capricious = impulsive or unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33-34 |
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
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 111-112 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
The weather forced us to defer our departure another day.
defer = postpone or delay
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17-18 |
explicit
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
explicit instructions
She gave us explicit instructions.
explicit = precisely and clearly expressed
Definition
Generally this sense of explicit means:clear and with enough detail so there is no confusion
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 75-76 |
fallacious
2 uses
She reached a false conclusion that was based on fallacious reasoning.
fallacious = mistaken (based on incorrect information or belief)
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23-24 |
focus (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.
focus = concentrate
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 54 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17-18 |
2 —1 use as in:
The focus of our study is...
Since we're running out of time, let's narrow our focus to just what needs to be done tomorrow.
focus = area where attention is concentrated
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:where attention is concentrated or directed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 103-104 |
hypothesis
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a study to test her hypothesis
The study will test the hypothesis that a good marriage is more important than a higher income when measuring happiness.
hypothesis = a seemingly reasonable, but unproven, idea or explanation
Definition
Generally this sense of hypothesis means:seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 109-110 |
inflexible
15 uses
They accused her of being stubborn and inflexible.
inflexible = unbending (not willing to compromise or make concessions)
Definition
Generally inflexible means:not bendable or adaptable
in various senses, including:
- not willing to compromise or make concessions — as when a boss says "Do it my way or you're fired."
- not able to adjust well to different conditions — as of a schedule that cannot be changed
- not easily bent without physical damage or injury — as of brittle steel or person with stiff joints
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 47-48 |
Monsieur
171 uses
Monsieur and Madame Curie studied radium.
Monsieur = Mr. (in French)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to Mr. in English
or:
French equivalent to sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 171 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 67-68 |
obscure (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 15 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The stars are obscured by the clouds.
obscured = hidden or made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 33-34 |
2 —3 uses as in:
the view or directions are obscure
For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.
obscure = not clearly understood
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9-10 |
3 —2 uses as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.
obscure = not known to many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17-18 |
4 —7 uses as in:
was obscure, but now bright
The once shiny silver was now tarnished and obscure.
obscure = dark, dingy, or inconspicuous
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-8 |
passage
1 use
Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9-10 |
render (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
rendered service or a verdict
We're waiting for the jury to render a verdict.
render = give
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to give or supply something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 45-46 |
2 —1 use as in:
rendered her unconscious
Her verbal attack rendered me speechless.
rendered = made (caused to become)
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to make or cause to become
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 53-54 |