bronze (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
bronze won't corrode in salt water
And those others had so much that Gopher Prairie complacently lacked—the world of gaiety and adventure, of music and the integrity of bronze, of remembered mists from tropic isles and Paris nights and the walls of Bagdad, of industrial justice and a God who spake not in doggerel hymns.
bronze = a type of metal
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
2 —1 use as in:
a bronze tan
Thus on April first, among dappled hills and the bronze of scrub oaks, while Kennicott seesawed on his toes and chuckled, "Wonder what Hugh'll say when he sees us?"†
bronze = yellowish-brown
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color like that of one of the metals with the same name — often used to refer to a suntan or a dark glowing complexion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34 |
complacent
5 uses
They don't know, they don't understand how agonizing their complacent dullness is.
complacent = contented (satisfied and happy) — often to a fault
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
credulous
5 uses
She was credulous, perhaps; a born hero-worshipper; yet she did question and examine unceasingly.
credulous = gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
decorum
6 uses
In twenty minutes the party was again elevated to the decorum of a prayer-meeting.
decorum = proper manners and conduct
Definition
Generally decorum means:manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
deride
2 uses
She could not go on enduring the hidden derision.
derision = treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
diligent
5 uses
She was diligent at Red Cross work.
diligent = hard work and care
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
endure
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
endured the pain
She could not endure it.
endure = suffer through
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
essential
7 uses
But the movies, they are mostly clean, and their humor——Don't you think that the most essential quality for a person to have is a sense of humor?
essential = important or necessary
Definition
Generally essential means:necessary or important or relating to the basic nature of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish a positive tone
There's too much free speech and free gas and free beer and free love and all the rest of your damned mouthy freedom, and if I had my way I'd make you folks live up to the established rules of decency even if I had to take you——"†
established = firmly set in place
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 36 |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
This motto, however, they did not commend to farmer customers who had had crop failures.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
indignant
12 uses
She was indignant that Carol should not be utterly fulfilled in having borne Kennicott's child.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
inquire
15 uses
Carol inquired, "What experience did you have with college dramatics?"
inquired = asked
Definition
Generally inquire means:to ask about or look into something
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
prominent
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a prominent politician
III From the Gopher Prairie Weekly Dauntless: One of the most charming affairs of the season was held Tuesday evening at the handsome new residence of Sam and Mrs. Clark when many of our most prominent citizens gathered to greet the lovely new bride of our popular local physician, Dr. Will Kennicott.†
prominent = well-known or important
Definition
Generally this sense of prominent means:well-known or important — especially of a person who is respected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
provincial
1 use
His clothes were too heavy and provincial.
provincial = unsophisticated
Definition
Generally this sense of provincial means:unsophisticated (meant disapprovingly to refer to old-fashioned or narrow-minded attitudes and ideas)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
reticent
5 uses
Kennicott was not so reticent.
reticent = reluctant
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
revere
9 uses
reverently asked Kennicott.
reverently = with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
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 | 9 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
scrupulous
3 uses
Think how much better you can criticize conventional customs if you yourself live up to them, scrupulously.
scrupulously = carefully ethical and/or diligent
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
succession
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a succession of events
Oscarina went back home to help on the farm, and Carol had a succession of maids, with gaps between.
succession = series (one after another)
Definition
Generally this sense of succession means:series or sequence (one after another)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
zeal
2 uses
Carol did not recover her zeal till two days after, when she tried Mrs. George Edwin Mott, wife of the superintendent of schools.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |