acquaint
1 use
I was personally acquainted with at least two girls he gave the time to.
acquainted = familiar with; or a friend of
Definition
Generally acquaint means:to cause to know; or to cause to be familiar with
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
aggravate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she aggravates me
...he could really be aggravating sometimes.
aggravating = annoying (irritating)
Definition
Generally this sense of aggravate means:annoy or irritate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
alternative
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
an alternative plan
[referring to the exam paper] Bring it here, please. It was a very dirty trick, but I went over and brought it over to him—I didn't have any alternative or anything.
alternative = other possibility
Definition
Generally this sense of alternative means:something available as another possibility
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
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annex
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
annex of the main building
She's waiting in the annex.
annex = an addition that extends a main building
Definition
Generally this sense of annex means:an addition that extends a main building
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
bourgeois
5 uses
...my suitcases, for instance. He kept saying they were too new and bourgeois.
bourgeois = represented middle class values
Definition
Generally bourgeois means:typical of the middle class or their values and habits - typically used disapprovingly
or (in Marxist theory):
typical of the property-owning class
or (in Marxist theory):
typical of the property-owning class
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
conscientious
1 use
Some of the faculty are pretty conscientious.
conscientious = characterized by extreme care and great effort
Definition
Generally conscientious means:careful to do what is right—especially to perform duties in a thorough manner (as when guided by conscience)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
digress
8 uses
The trouble with me is, I like it when somebody digresses. It's more interesting and all.
digresses = wanders off topic while talking
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — especially verbally
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
harrowing
1 use
Apparently before he phoned me he'd just had a long, rather harrowing letter from your latest headmaster, to the effect that you were making absolutely no effort at all.
harrowing = unsettling
Definition
Generally this sense of harrowing means:frightening or unsettling
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
immaterial
1 use
"It's immaterial to me," she said.
immaterial = unimportant
Definition
Generally this sense of immaterial means:not important, or not relevant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
infirmary
2 uses
Old Mr. Antolini felt his pulse and all, and then he took off his coat and put it over James Castle and carried him all the way over to the infirmary.
infirmary = a small facility where patients receive treatment
Definition
Generally infirmary means:a small facility where patients receive treatment — such as a room or two at a school as contrasted to a busy hospital or medical clinic
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
innumerable
1 use
Modern science would still like to know what the secret ingredients were that the Egyptians used when they wrapped up dead people so that their faces would not rot for innumerable centuries.
innumerable = too numerous to be counted
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
matinée
4 uses
I'd made that date to go to a matinee with old Sally Hayes, and I needed to keep some dough for the tickets and stuff.
matinee = daytime performance
Definition
Generally matinée means:a daytime performance (of something like a movie or play)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
monotonous
2 uses
He started talking in this very monotonous voice,
monotonous = boring
Definition
Generally monotonous means:lacking in variety — typically boring
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
nonchalant
2 uses
I just got very cool and nonchalant.
nonchalant = calm and unconcerned
Definition
Generally nonchalant means:calm in manner — appearing unconcerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
repulsive
1 use
I won't even tell you what they did to him—it's too repulsive—but he still wouldn't take it back, old James Castle.
repulsive = disgusting
Definition
Generally this sense of repulsive means:very unpleasant or causing disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
sacrilege
1 use
Sally said I was a sacrilegious atheist.
sacrilegious = disrespectful of something others consider sacred
Definition
Generally sacrilege means:disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
scrupulous
1 use
If you knew Stradlater, you'd have been worried, too. ... He was unscrupulous.
unscrupulous = unethical
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulous means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulous. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulous means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulous. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
sheer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sheer fun
So when I told old Spencer I had to go to the gym and get my equipment and stuff, that was a sheer lie.
sheer = pure or complete
Definition
Generally this sense of sheer means:complete or pure — without restriction, qualification, or other elements (used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
sober
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Talk to me when your sober.
I can't sit in a corny place like this cold sober.
sober = not under the influence of alcohol
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
spontaneous
1 use
It's this course where each boy in class has to get up in class and make a speech. You know. spontaneous and all.
spontaneous = without planning
Definition
Generally spontaneous means:happening or arising without plan (naturally)
or:
behaving in an instinctive, uninhibited manner (unplanned)
or:
happening without apparent external cause
or:
behaving in an instinctive, uninhibited manner (unplanned)
or:
happening without apparent external cause
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |