adroit
1 use
It appears incredible to me that any kind of trick, however subtly conceived and however adroitly done, could have been played upon us under these conditions.
adroitly = skillfully
Definition
Generally adroit means:skillful in action or thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
ameliorate
1 use
The work of ameliorating the conditions of life—the true civilizing process that makes life more and more secure—had gone steadily on to a climax.
ameliorating = to improve
Definition
Generally ameliorate means:to improve — especially a bad situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
anachronism
2 uses
Our ancestors had no great tolerance for anachronisms.
anachronisms = things out of place for their time
Definition
Generally anachronism means:something out of place for it's time - typically something that belongs in the past
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
apparent
9 uses
Mrs. Watchett came in and walked, apparently without seeing me, towards the garden door.
apparently = clearly; or seemingly (appearing clear—though not necessarily so)
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
desiccate
1 use
A few shrivelled and blackened vestiges of what had once been stuffed animals, desiccated mummies in jars that had once held spirit, a brown dust of departed plants:
desiccated = dried out
Definition
Generally desiccate means:to remove moisture from something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
eccentric
1 use
My pockets had always puzzled Weena, but at the last she had concluded that they were an eccentric kind of vase for floral decoration.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
furtive
1 use
I saw a crowd of them upon the slopes, looking furtively at me.
furtively = cautiously
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
incessant
1 use
the others were running, in an incessant stream, as it seemed, from behind me, and away through the wood in front.
incessant = continuous/annoying
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
inevitable
6 uses
Now the risk was inevitable, I no longer saw it in the same cheerful light.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
insidious
1 use
There was scrub and long grass all about us, and I did not feel safe from their insidious approach.
insidious = appearing harmless (or even desirable), but actually very harmful over time
Definition
Generally insidious means:not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
lucid
1 use
you never felt that you saw all round him; you always suspected some subtle reserve, some ingenuity in ambush, behind his lucid frankness.
lucid = of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
petulant
1 use
I told myself that I could never stop, and with a gust of petulance I resolved to stop forthwith.
petulance = unreasonable annoyance or upset
or:
tendency to be unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
tendency to be unreasonably annoyed or upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
precocious
1 use
I judged, then, that the children of that time were extremely precocious, physically at least, and I found afterwards abundant verification of my opinion.
precocious = developed early
Definition
Generally precocious means:early development — especially ability or maturity in a child
or more rarely:
disapproving description of a child who takes liberties usually afforded to people who are older
or more rarely:
disapproving description of a child who takes liberties usually afforded to people who are older
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
putrid
1 use
And I shall have to tell you later that even the processes of putrefaction and decay had been profoundly affected by these changes.
putrefaction = decomposition caused by bacteria or funguses
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally putrid means:rotting (an advanced state of decomposition) with a foul odor; or anything that is disgusting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
recondite
1 use
The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us.
recondite = incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
stolid
1 use
They all failed to understand my gestures; some were simply stolid, some thought it was a jest and laughed at me.
stolid = showing no interest or emotion
Definition
Generally stolid means:having or revealing little emotion — sometimes indicating qualities of not changing or being dependable
or (much more rarely):
of an object: not interesting — often large and unmoving
or (much more rarely):
of an object: not interesting — often large and unmoving
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
temperate
1 use
'I don't know if you have ever thought what a rare thing flame must be in the absence of man and in a temperate climate.
temperate = mild
Definition
Generally temperate means:lacking extremes — especially of weather, climate, or behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
transitory
2 uses
I thought in a transitory way of the oddness of wells still existing, and then resumed the thread of my speculations.
transitory = lasting a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
truncate
1 use
As I took hold of the handle of the door I heard an exclamation, oddly truncated at the end, and a click and a thud.
truncated = terminated abruptly
Definition
Generally truncate means:make shorter by terminating abruptly before the end
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
zenith
1 use
But even on this supposition the balanced civilization that was at last attained must have long since passed its zenith, and was now far fallen into decay.
zenith = highest (most advanced) state
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |