agitate
2 uses
Our goal is to agitate public unrest, so there will be a cry for change.
agitate = stir up (create or increase emotional unrest)
Definition
Generally agitate means:to stir up — emotionally (such as anxiety) or physically (such as shaking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
cease
1 use
They signed a cease-fire agreement.
cease = to stop or discontinue (in this case, to stop firing weapons at each other)
Definition
Generally cease means:to stop or discontinue
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
descend
1 use
We saw the rocket descend.
descend = move or slope downward
or:
come from a higher or prior level in a hierarchy — as a person from an ancestor
or:
come or arrive — especially from above — such as night or darkness
or:
come from a higher or prior level in a hierarchy — as a person from an ancestor
or:
come or arrive — especially from above — such as night or darkness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 32 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
despair
1 use
Don't despair—help is on the way!
despair = give up hope
Definition
Generally despair means:hopelessness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 27 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
direct
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
The sprinkler head needs to be fixed so it directs water away from the house.
directs = aims
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
distinct
1 use
Martinez and his colleagues identified 21 distinct emotions made by the human face.
distinct = different
Definition
Generally distinct means:clear, easily noticed, and/or identifiable as different or separate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
entreat
1 use
She flattered and entreated him until he agreed to help.
entreated = asked or attempted to persuade
Definition
Generally entreat means:to ask or attempt to persuade — especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
infinite
1 use
There are infinite possibilities.
infinite = unlimited; without boundaries; or too numerous to count
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
Judaism
2 uses
Jerusalem is a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Judaism = the oldest of the three major monotheistic religions — whose believers are known as Jews
Definition
Generally Judaism means:the oldest of the three major monotheistic religions — having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
recite
2 uses
She recited a poem.
recited = said the lines of
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
utter
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
utter stupidity
She suffered utter devastation when her child died in the accident.
utter = complete
Definition
Generally this sense of utter means:complete or total (used as an intensifier—typically when stressing how bad something is)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |