atom
10 uses
They had teethed away the last atoms of its substance.
atoms = multiple of the smallest part of any material that cannot be broken up by chemical means
Definition
Generally atom means:the smallest part of any material that cannot be broken up by chemical means; comprised of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
credulous
1 use
He was open-minded, but not credulous.
credulous = too willing to believe
Definition
Generally credulous means:gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
They might have had some natural cause, or they might be due to deliberate censorship by the Overlords.
deliberate = intentional
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to do something intentionally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
disdain
1 use
He felt, like all the Colonists, a slight disdain for the rest of mankind.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
ebullient
1 use
By turns he could be affectionate or morose, reserved or ebullient.
ebullient = happy and energetic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
eccentric
3 uses
And what earlier ages would have called vice was now no more than eccentricity—or, at the worst, bad manners.
eccentricity = strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
elaborate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an elaborate design
A simple face-mask and oxygen set would take care of that: there was no need for anything elaborate.
elaborate = complex
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:having details and complexity — sometimes fancy or ornate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
ingenious
6 uses
Human beings are remarkably ingenious,
ingenious = inventive and skillful
Definition
Generally ingenious means:showing inventiveness and skill
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
obscure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
it obscured my view
They were naked and filthy, with matted hair obscuring their eyes.
obscuring = making less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
2 —1 use as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
...scientists anxious to carry out obscure tests with complicated instruments.
obscure = not understood by many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
phenomenon
7 uses
All down the ages there have been countless reports of strange phenomena—poltergeists, telepathy, precognition—which you had named but never explained.
phenomena = interesting observable things
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
The mild alcoholic fog prevented any profound analysis of what had happened,
profound = deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
...such natural catastrophes as earthquakes or floods, which might have a profound effect on large numbers of people...
profound = very intense
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
relevant
1 use
The relevant statistics are attached, and it will be seen that there are still no signs of any unusual development.
relevant = relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
repudiate
1 use
...repudiated optimism and pessimism alike.
repudiated = rejected
Definition
Generally repudiate means:strong rejection — especially when the idea or thing being rejected was once embraced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
resignation
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
accepted it with resignation
...with a contented resignation that comes normally to a man only at the end of a long and busy life,
resignation = acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
subtle (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle poison
But behind that display of sleeping force were other and much subtler weapons.
subtler = working in an indirect or hidden way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
The Supervisor did not use those actual words, of course, and the thoughts he really expressed were far more subtle.
subtle = difficult to understand — often due to slight distinctions
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
ubiquitous
3 uses
...the ubiquitous little air-cars had washed away the last barriers between the different tribes of mankind.
ubiquitous = present everywhere
Definition
Generally ubiquitous means:being present everywhere or all the time
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
virtual
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
virtual organization
Ignorance, disease, poverty and fear had virtually ceased to exist.
virtually = to almost be so, but not so strictly speaking
Definition
Generally this sense of virtual means:to almost be something; or to effectively be something without entirely being it in a traditional sense
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |