abstract
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
abstract thought
Peter Keating had never felt the need to formulate abstract convictions.
abstract = a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
or more rarely:
describing someone as distracted — thinking about something outside of the immediate conversation or circumstances
or more rarely:
describing someone as distracted — thinking about something outside of the immediate conversation or circumstances
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.8 |
aesthetic
15 uses
I am not in the habit of asking for the esthetic opinions of my draftsmen.
esthetic = opinions of what is beautiful
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 | 15 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.7 |
alternative
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
an alternative plan
In which case, the name of another architect, one Gordon L. Prescott, has been mentioned most favorably as an alternative.
alternative = someone available as another possibility
Definition
Generally this sense of alternative means:something available as another possibility
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
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altruism
32 uses
Suppose I had never wished to take any money at all, but had set out in pure altruism to serve the people.
altruism = unselfish concern for others
Definition
Generally altruism means:unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Word Statistics
| Book | 32 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.15 |
ascetic
3 uses
Then she did not want him to stop or glance at her, because she wanted to watch the ascetic purity of his person, the absence of all sensuality; to watch that—and to think of what she remembered.
ascetic = characteristic of someone who practices self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
assiduous
1 use
The man was toiling assiduously, bending conduits around a beam.
assiduously = diligently (with care and persistent effort)
Definition
Generally assiduous means:diligent (showing care and persistent effort)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
contract (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
legal contract
...he signed the contract...
contract = legal agreement
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:an agreement - typically written and enforceable by law
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.11 |
2 —3 uses as in:
the metal contracted
It had merely become distasteful; not enough to force a decision; not enough to make him clench his fists; just enough to contract his nostrils.
contract = make smaller (in this case tightening the nostril muscles)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of contract; though not uncommon generally and very common in engineering or physiology.)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of contract; though not uncommon generally and very common in engineering or physiology.)
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:when something gets shorter or smaller
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.8 |
denounce
12 uses
I picked the one architect you spent all your time denouncing when you were on the Banner.
denouncing = strongly criticizing
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 | 12 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.12 |
dogmatic
1 use
It may be worth mentioning, in passing, that dogmatic discipline is the only thing which makes true originality possible...
dogmatic = unquestioned
Definition
Generally dogmatic means:prone to stating opinions as absolute truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 10 uses
1 —9 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
The 'common good' of a collective—a race, a class, a state—was the claim and justification of every tyranny ever established over men.†
established = created
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
2 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
He stared at the flames, unblinking, to force himself into a complete obedience to an established truth.†
established = known
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.2 |
incredulous
16 uses
She stared at him incredulously.
incredulously = in disbelief
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
insolent
26 uses
You'd better not be insolent. I can have you fired at a moment's notice, you know.
insolent = rudely disrespectful
Word Statistics
| Book | 26 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.14 |
integrity
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a person of high integrity
he took it as an insult to his journalistic integrity
integrity = honesty and other moral principles
Definition
Generally this sense of integrity means:having strong moral principles — especially honesty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
philanthropy
5 uses
EARLY IN May, Peter Keating departed for Washington, to supervise the construction of a museum donated to the city by a great philanthropist easing his conscience.
philanthropist = someone who helps others — especially by donating money to worthy causes
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.8 |
reproach
22 uses
"I don't want you to make excuses for me." He said it simply, without reproach.
reproach = criticism
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
He hoped she would resign. He could not face the thought of having to fire her.
resign = quit (from her job)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.13 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
Then he stood straight, but with a kind of quiet resignation,
resignation = look of having accepted the need to endure (suffer through) something undesired
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.3 |
servile
2 uses
I find myself liking only those who are servile.
servile = submissive and eager to serve and please
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.18 |