accustomed
12 uses
She grew accustomed to him.
accustomed = psychologically used to (comfortable in the situation)
Definition
Generally accustomed means:to be or to become psychologically or physically used to something
(used to is an expression that means someone has adapted to and has an expectation of something so it does not seem unusual)
(used to is an expression that means someone has adapted to and has an expectation of something so it does not seem unusual)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
alacrity
2 uses
Victor Lebrun ... accepted with alacrity.
alacrity = eagerness
Definition
Generally alacrity means:quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
allay
1 use
She was bien souffrante, and she was filled with vague dread, which only her husband's presence could allay.†
allay = reduce the intensity of or calm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
altercation
1 use
Before she saw them Edna could hear them in altercation, the woman—plainly an anomaly—claiming the right to be allowed to perform her duties, one of which was to answer the bell.†
altercation = a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
antecedent
1 use
Nothing peculiar about her family antecedents, is there?†
antecedents = something that happened previous to something else; or anything that precedes something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
approach
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
approached the city
As the day approached when he was to leave her for a comparatively long stay, she grew melting and affectionate, remembering his many acts of consideration and his repeated expressions of an ardent attachment.†
approached = got near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 88 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
comprehend
13 uses
I only half comprehend her.
comprehend = completely understand
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
effrontery
1 use
He stood close to her, and the effrontery in his eyes repelled the old, vanishing self in her, yet drew all her awakening sensuousness.
effrontery = impolite boldness
Definition
Generally effrontery means:rude and disrespectful behavior — often made by someone who does not realize they are being rude — as when someone is presumptuous or impolitely bold
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
expedient
1 use
She was visited by no more outbursts, moving her to such futile expedients.
expedients = actions that are 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
filial
2 uses
Her husband noticed, and thought it was the expression of a deep filial attachment which he had never suspected.†
filial = relating to the relationship of children to their parents
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
indifferent
12 uses
you have made me so unhappy with your indifference.
indifference = lack of interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
inevitable
1 use
like worms struggling blindly toward inevitable annihilation.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
insidious
1 use
They were designed for winter wear, when treacherous drafts came down chimneys and insidious currents of deadly cold found their way through key-holes.
insidious = treacherous
Definition
Generally insidious means:not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
latent
1 use
He had detected the latent sensuality, which unfolded under his delicate sense of her nature's requirements like a torpid, torrid, sensitive blossom.
latent = potentially existing but not presently evident or active
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
minuteness
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
minute size; or minute description
The same mail which brought to Edna his letter of disapproval carried instructions—the most minute instructions—to a well-known architect concerning the remodeling of his home, changes which he had long contemplated, and which he desired carried forward during his temporary absence.†
minute = small, detailed, or careful
Definition
Generally this sense of minuteness means:very small
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
remonstrate
2 uses
he immediately wrote her a letter of unqualified disapproval and remonstrance.
remonstrance = argument in protest or opposition
Definition
Generally remonstrate means:argue in protest or opposition
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
supercilious
1 use
She was not a supercilious or an over-dainty woman.
supercilious = arrogant
Definition
Generally supercilious means:arrogant (acting as if better, more important, and superior in ideas than others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
tacit
3 uses
They seemed never before to have weighed much against the abundance of her husband's kindness and a uniform devotion which had come to be tacit and self-understood.†
tacit = implied or understood, but not expressed directly
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
torpid
1 use
He had detected the latent sensuality, which unfolded under his delicate sense of her nature's requirements like a torpid, torrid, sensitive blossom.
torpid = slow
Definition
Generally torpid means:of people: slow or inactive — usually resulting from a lack of energy and interest
or:
of animals: a condition of biological rest or suspended animation — (could be in the evening, during the cold, or as in a hibernated or dormant state all winter)
or:
of animals: a condition of biological rest or suspended animation — (could be in the evening, during the cold, or as in a hibernated or dormant state all winter)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
vivacious
2 uses
There were Mr. and Mrs. Merriman, a pretty, vivacious little woman in the thirties; her husband, a jovial fellow, something of a shallow-pate, who laughed a good deal at other people's witticisms, and had thereby made himself extremely popular.
vivacious = with engaging liveliness
Definition
Generally vivacious means:having an engaging liveliness — when said of a person, typically said of a female
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |