animate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
animated by her strong belief
The right to pursue happiness is an animating principle of American government.
animating = inspiring people to action
Definition
Generally this sense of animate means:inspire, make more lively, or bring to life
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
anxiety
1 use
She suffers from more than the usual pre-test anxiety.
anxiety = nervousness
Definition
Generally anxiety means:nervousness or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
apparent
1 use
The effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the dry fields.
apparent = clear or obvious
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
appropriate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
it is appropriate
These clothes aren't appropriate for work.
appropriate = suitable (fitting)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
audible
1 use
She spoke in a barely audible whisper.
audible = capable of being heard
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
your candid opinion
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
comprehend
1 use
I don't think she comprehends how dangerous this has become.
comprehends = fully understands
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
cultivate
1 use
We encourage our representatives to cultivate a close relationship with their clients.
cultivate = develop or grow
Definition
Generally cultivate means:enhance growth or development
in various senses, including:
- to grow crops or prepare land for them
- enhance a relationship — especially for a purpose
- develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment
- to grow a culture in a petri dish
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend from royalty
She descended from an old Italian noble family.
descended = came from (had as an ancestor)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to have come down a path from the past; i.e., to originate or come from — such as in reference to ancestors or evolutionary origins
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
Don't give in to despair.
despair = a feeling of hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
indifferent
1 use
About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.
indifferent = without 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
inquiry
1 use
They created a commission of inquiry to look into the matter.
inquiry = investigation
Definition
Generally inquiry means:the act of asking a question or performing an investigation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
insistent
1 use
We questioned her repeatedly and she remained insistent that she knew nothing of the event.
insistent = firm and continuing
Definition
Generally insistent means:persistent or continuing or firm — especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
mortgage
4 uses
We are the proud owners of a new home and a $100,000 mortgage.
mortgage = property loan
Definition
Generally mortgage means:a real estate loan; or to offer real estate as collateral for a loan
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
mystic
1 use
She is a mystic who believes enlightenment will come from communing with nature.
mystic = someone who attempts to tune into realities beyond scientific understanding
Definition
Generally mystic means:relating to realities that are outside of scientific understanding and normal experience; or one who attempts to tune into such realities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
redemption
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
its main redeeming quality is...
Our dog is dirty, noisy, and ill-behaved, but her redeeming quality is that she is so loving.
redeeming = thing that makes up for bad things
Definition
Generally this sense of redemption means:to make up for something bad; or to save
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
senile
1 use
Her memory is getting worse and she's afraid of going senile.
senile = (into) mental weakness caused by old age
Definition
Generally senile means:mental weakness caused by old age; or describing a medical condition as caused by old age
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
strenuous
1 use
The doctor recommended strenuous exercise three times a week.
strenuous = difficult (requiring much effort)
Definition
Generally strenuous means:energetic; or physically or mentally difficult or requiring endurance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
vulgar
3 uses
Her vulgarity was a turnoff.
vulgarity = crudeness (showing of bad taste)
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
wretch
4 uses
Pity the poor wretch.
wretch = someone you feel sorry for
Definition
Generally wretch means:someone you feel sorry for
or:
a person of bad character
or:
a person of bad character
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |