abstract
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
abstract thought
So I speak to him and say to him: "Comrade, I did not want to kill you." If you jumped in here again, I would not do it, if you would be sensible too. But you were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response.
abstraction = a concept not associated with any specific instance
(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 this sense of abstract means:of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
abyss
3 uses
I am frightened: I dare think this way no more. This way lies the abyss. It is not now the time but I will not lose these thoughts, I will keep them, shut them away until the war is ended.
abyss = frightening bottomless pit (figurative)
Definition
Generally abyss means:a hole or dropoff so deep the bottom cannot be seen — often used figuratively to imply a frightening bottomless pit
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
apparition
3 uses
They are soundless apparitions that speak to me, with looks and gestures silently, without any word—
apparitions = ghostlike figures
Definition
Generally this sense of apparition means:a ghostlike figure or its appearance
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
armistice
3 uses
Wild, tormenting rumours of an armistice and peace are in the air, they lay hold on our hearts and make the return to the front harder than ever.
armistice = agreement to stop fighting a war
Definition
Generally armistice means:an agreement to temporarily stop fighting a war — typically to discuss terms of peace
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
banal
1 use
If one wants to appraise it, it is at once heroic and banal—but who wants to do that?
banal = uninteresting due to lack of anything unusual
Definition
Generally banal means:uninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual
(editor's note: This word is correctly pronounced differently by various educated speakers of American English.)
(editor's note: This word is correctly pronounced differently by various educated speakers of American English.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
convention
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
conventional behavior
The devil take all conventions, they were made for other times;
conventions = behaviors regarded as normal
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
disconcerting
3 uses
"But where are the others?"
"They won't be fed by you to-day. They're either in the dressing-station or pushing up daisies."
The cook was quite disconcerted as the facts dawned on him.
"They won't be fed by you to-day. They're either in the dressing-station or pushing up daisies."
The cook was quite disconcerted as the facts dawned on him.
disconcerted = disturbed
Definition
Generally disconcerting means:disrupt composure — such as to confuse or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
forage
2 uses
Yesterday we were under fire, to-day we act the fool and go foraging through the countryside, to-morrow we go up to the trenches again.
foraging = searching for and gathering food
Definition
Generally forage means:to search for and gather — often food and provisions
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
intrigue
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
involved in intrigue
They used to have intrigues among themselves, as always happens, and it would often come to blows and knives.
intrigues = secret schemes or plots
Definition
Generally this sense of intrigue means:a secret scheme or plot
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
melancholy
5 uses
But perhaps all this that I think is mere melancholy and dismay, which will fly away as the dust, when I stand once again beneath the poplars and listen to the rustling of their leaves.
melancholy = sadness
Definition
Generally melancholy means:a sad feeling or manner — sometimes thoughtfully sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
monotonous
5 uses
...monotonously falls the rain.
monotonously = without variation
Definition
Generally monotonous means:lacking in variety — typically boring
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
onslaught
2 uses
The onslaught has exhausted us.
onslaught = powerful attack
Definition
Generally onslaught means:a powerful attack
or:
a sudden and enormous amount of something that must be handled — such as trouble, people or communications
or:
a sudden and enormous amount of something that must be handled — such as trouble, people or communications
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
predominant
1 use
It is strange that all the memories that come have these two qualities. They are always completely calm, that is predominant in them; and even if they are not really calm, they become so.
predominant = most noticeable
Definition
Generally predominant means:most frequent, common, or important; or having more power and influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
scorn
2 uses
They give us a thin soup which we spoon down greedily and scornfully, because we are accustomed to better times but are hungry all the same.
scornfully = with disrespect as though it's not good enough
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
simulate
2 uses
We show them how to take cover from aircraft, how to simulate a dead man when one is overrun in an attack, how to time hand-grenades so that they explode half a second before hitting the ground...
simulate = imitate
Definition
Generally simulate means:make an imitation or representation of
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
superficial
3 uses
We are forlorn like children, and experienced like old men, we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.
superficial = shallow
(editor's note: In this context, forlorn means alone or pitiful.)
(editor's note: In this context, forlorn means alone or pitiful.)
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
supple
2 uses
My limbs move supplely, I feel my joints strong, I breathe the air deeply. The night lives, I live.
supplely = with ease and grace
Definition
Generally supple means:moving and bending easily — sometimes used figuratively to indicate mental flexibility when adapting to different conditions
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
sustain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sustained by her faith
From the earth, from the air, sustaining forces pour into us—mostly from the earth. To no man does the earth mean so much as to the soldier. When he presses himself down upon her long and powerfully, when he buries his face and his limbs deep in her from the fear of death by shell-fire, then she is his only friend, his brother, his mother;
sustaining = supporting
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:provide support or necessities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
tact
1 use
Miller is rather crude and tactless, otherwise he would hold his tongue, for anybody can see that Kemmerich will never come out of this place again.
tactless = without consideration of others' feelings
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in tactless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in tactless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
Definition
Generally tact means:the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
tetanus
2 uses
Two fellows die of tetanus.
tetanus = a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound
Definition
Generally tetanus means:a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object; prevented by the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and by subsequent booster shots every 10 years
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |