abundant
9 uses
I hesitated, and then, as I looked round me, I saw that the dust was less abundant and its surface less even.
abundant = present in great quantity
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
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 |
bronze
19 uses
It was, as I think I have said, of bronze.
bronze = a reddish brown metal that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Definition
Generally bronze means:a reddish brown metal that is made of copper and (usually) tin
or:
the reddish-brown color of the metal (such as a bronze tan)
or:
something made of the alloy — such as a sculpture
or:
the reddish-brown color of the metal (such as a bronze tan)
or:
something made of the alloy — such as a sculpture
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
convey
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convey her thoughts
I had some considerable difficulty in conveying my meaning.
conveying = expressing
Definition
Generally this sense of convey means:communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
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 |
discord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
I, for my own part, cannot think that these latter days of weak experiment, fragmentary theory, and mutual discord are indeed man's culminating time!
discord = disagreement
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form "discordant"):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form "discordant"):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Epil. |
2 —1 use as in:
discordant music
I shivered violently, and shouted again—rather discordantly.
discordantly = unpleasantly (with a harsh sound)
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
futile
4 uses
The Eloi, like the Carolingian kings, had decayed to a mere beautiful futility.
futility = pointless effort
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
inclined
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
Suppressing a strong inclination to laugh, I ...
inclination = desire (attitude favoring)
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency; in the mood; or an attitude that favors something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
incredulous
3 uses
The new guests were frankly incredulous.
incredulous = not believing
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
indolent
2 uses
How was it related to the indolent serenity of the beautiful Upper-worlders?
indolent = lazy
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
obscure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
it obscured my view
At last, more than thirty million years hence, the huge red-hot dome of the sun had come to obscure nearly a tenth part of the darkling heavens.
obscure = block from view
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
2 —3 uses as in:
was obscure, but now bright
In another moment the pale stars alone were visible. All else was rayless obscurity. The sky was absolutely black.
obscurity = darkness
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
paradox
5 uses
the 'ingenious paradox and trick' we had witnessed that day week
paradox = a situation that is surprising or seems impossible because parts of it seem to contradict each other
Definition
Generally paradox means:a situation or statement that may be true but is surprising or seems impossible because parts of it seem to contradict each other
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
plausible
5 uses
The notion was so plausible that I at once accepted it, and went on to assume the "how" of this splitting of the human species.
plausible = apparently reasonable, but unproven
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
a profound sense of desertion and despair
profound = intense
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
resolve
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
Weena I had resolved to bring with me to our own time.
resolved = definitely decided
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
revere
1 use
They were both the new kind of journalist—very joyous, irreverent young men.
irreverent = showing a lack of respect
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
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 |
vestige
5 uses
But I saw no vestige of my white figures.
vestige = a trace of something — especially as an indication that it was previously there
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |