alacrity
1 use
I proceeded in my electrical experiments with great alacrity;
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
augment
5 uses
The libraries were augmented by donations
augmented = enlarged or increased
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
Book | 5 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
benevolent
4 uses
yet men primarily considered that their own and their country's interest was united, and did not act from a principle of benevolence.
benevolence = generosity
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
capacious
1 use
...he erected the capacious and very elegant meeting-house that stands in Arch-street.
capacious = large in capacity
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
censure
5 uses
his censures proceeded from good-will
censures = criticisms
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
Book | 5 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
digress
1 use
By my rambling digressions I perceive myself to be grown old. I us'd to write more methodically.
digressions = wanderings off the main topic
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — typically verbally
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
...it would create such discord as might break up the company.
discord = disagreement and conflict
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 |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
dogmatic
4 uses
For, if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke contradiction and prevent a candid attention.
dogmatical = prone to stating opinions as absolute truth
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
establish
9 uses
1 —9 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
A previous question was first taken, whether a union should be established, which pass'd in the affirmative unanimously.†
established = created
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
Book | 9 uses |
Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
fallacious
1 use
...all appearances to the contrary, such as ... being to his certain knowledge fallacious;
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 | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
indolent
1 use
The settlement of that province had lately been begun, but, instead of being made with hardy, industrious husbandmen, accustomed to labor, the only people fit for such an enterprise, it was with families of broken shop-keepers and other insolvent debtors, many of indolent and idle habits ... who, being set down in the woods, unqualified for clearing land, and unable to endure the hardships of a new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving many helpless children unprovided for.
indolent = lazy
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
obstinate
3 uses
obstinately persisted in manacling their deputies with...
obstinately = stubbornly unyielding to other's wishes
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
parsimonious
1 use
... telling me, that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by the time I was one-and-twenty to set me up;
parsimony = reluctance to spend money
Definition
Generally parsimonious means:extreme reluctance to spend money or use resources
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
pious
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
He was very pious, a great attender of sermons of the best preachers
pious = religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
refute
3 uses
my friend M. le Roy, of the Royal Academy of Sciences, took up my cause and refuted him;
refuted = argued that something is false
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
remonstrate
1 use
...they had plundered and stripped the inhabitants, totally ruining some poor families, besides insulting, abusing, and confining the people if they remonstrated.
remonstrated = argued in protest or opposition
Definition
Generally remonstrate means:argue, complain, or criticize
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
sagacious
2 uses
he was sensible and sagacious
sagacious = wise
Definition
Generally sagacious means:wise — especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
servile
1 use
I did not, however, aim at gaining his favour by paying any servile respect to him, but, after some time, took this other method.
servile = excessively submissive
Definition
Generally servile means:submissive — typically excessively so (so submissive or eager to serve and please that one seems to have no self-respect)
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
sufficient
17 uses
A wager ensu'd between the two captains, to be decided when there should be sufficient wind.
sufficient = adequate without being more than is needed
Definition
Generally sufficient means:adequate (enough — often without being more than is needed)
Word Statistics
Book | 17 uses |
Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
zeal
3 uses
This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued Protestants through the reign of Queen Mary, when they were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |