aesthetic
3 uses
...he felt was the sheer pleasure of the sight, the purest esthetic pleasure he had ever experienced.
esthetic = sensation of beauty
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
arbitrary
17 uses
Now I saw that one man was to be bound by it, but the other was not, one was to obey a rule, the other was to assert an arbitrary wish-his need-and the law was to stand on the side of the wish.
arbitrary = unfair (based on chance or impulse rather than fair reasoning)
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.7 |
austere
25 uses
His face was hard; it had an expression of severity, an inner severity directed at himself; it looked austere and lonely.
austere = without comfort or luxury
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
belligerent
12 uses
...in the belligerently righteous style of a third-rate tabloid; her economics consisted of the assertion that "we've got to help the poor."
belligerently = with a manner of one eager to fight
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
benevolent
7 uses
Entering Rearden's office, Dr. Floyd Ferris wore the expression of a man so certain of the success of his quest that he could afford a benevolent smile.
benevolent = kind and generous
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.8 |
blatant
4 uses
For instance, if you have been avoiding me so blatantly for months, wouldn't I want to know the reason?
blatantly = obviously
Definition
Generally blatant means:obvious — often without any attempt to hide bad behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
credulous
5 uses
this task of pretending, distorting, deceiving, with the credulous stare of...
credulous = gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.8 |
denounce
21 uses
Mr. Rearden, the law which you are denouncing is based on the highest principle-the principle of the public good.
denouncing = strongly criticizing or accusing publicly
or more rarely: informing against someone
or more rarely: informing against someone
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |
deride
11 uses
She was startled to see him looking at her with a touch of derision, as if he were mocking her estimate...
derision = contempt and ridicule (lack of respect and making fun of)
(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 | 11 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
dispose
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
"My dear, I'm at your disposal, I'd do anything to help you," he answered, the rules of their language requiring that any open statement be answered by a blatant lie.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
dogmatic
1 use
We're not stubborn, theoretical dogmatists-we're flexible.
dogmatists = people who state their opinions as absolute truth
Definition
Generally dogmatic means:prone to stating opinions as absolute truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.8 |
expedient
6 uses
-that we must act on the expediency of the moment-you don't want to risk your job, do you?
expediency = an action that is speedy or practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
fastidious
4 uses
She stood there, fastidiously groomed, wearing a...
fastidiously = giving careful attention to detail
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
ostentatious
11 uses
But tonight she wore an ostentatious display:
ostentatious = intended to attract notice and impress others
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
perspective (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
Look at it from her perspective
Then, as if a single, sudden blow to his brain blasted a moment's shift of perspective, he felt an immense astonishment at what he was doing here and why.†
perspective = way of seeing and thinking about things
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
2 —1 use as in:
a perspective of the entire block
Rearden stood at the window of his office, his hand pressed to the pane; in the perspective of distance, his hand covered half a mile of structures, as if he were trying to hold them.†
perspective = view (appearance from where looking)
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a view — often stressing that the view is different from a view from another location
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
refute
4 uses
They neither refuted nor agreed; they merely looked as if her arguments were beside the point.
refuted = argued against
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
reprehensible
1 use
They're all scrambling to get statements into the newspapers to the effect that they have no connection whatever with the John Galt Line and how reprehensible an undertaking they think it is.
reprehensible = bad and unacceptable
Definition
Generally reprehensible means:bad — deserving severe criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
scrupulous
7 uses
Eddie's eyes were blue, wide and questioning; he had blond hair and a square face, unremarkable except for that look of scrupulous attentiveness and...
scrupulous = diligent and ethical
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
succession
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
a succession of events
It was a succession of minutes, but it hit them as a single whole.
succession = series (one after another)
Definition
Generally this sense of succession means:series or sequence (one after another)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.8 |