abdicate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abdicated the throne
"But, Sire," interrupted Drinian, "are you abdicating?"
abdicating = formally giving up power (in this case, the king giving up the throne)
Definition
Generally this sense of abdicate means:to formally give up power — as when giving up a position of royalty such as to resign from being king
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
apparent
4 uses
Apparently he had by amazing luck found the only possible way down
apparently = it appears
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
avenge
3 uses
I would sail east myself for a year and a day to find my father's friends or to learn of their deaths and avenge them if I could.
avenge = take revenge
Definition
Generally avenge means:take revenge for a perceived wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
bequeath
1 use
Why, every man that comes with us shall bequeath the title of Dawn Treader to all his descendants, and when we land at Cair Paravel on the homeward voyage he shall have either gold or land enough to make him rich all his life.†
bequeath = give or pass down — often upon death in a will
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
beseech
2 uses
"I beseech your Majesty," said Drinian.
beseech = beg (ask strongly for something)
Definition
Generally beseech means:to ask strongly or beg for something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
consequence
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a direct consequence of
Consequently, when the Pevensie children had returned to Narnia last time for their second visit, it was (for the Narnians) as if King Arthur came back to Britain, as some people say he will.†
consequently = resultantly (as a result)
Definition
Generally this sense of consequence means:a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
conspicuous
1 use
They came out and went back on to the path where the trees might possibly make them less conspicuous.
conspicuous = easily seen
Definition
Generally conspicuous means:easily noticed — typically attracting attention such as by being large, flashy, or unusual
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
consul
3 uses
he began demanding to be put ashore and said that at the first port he would "lodge a disposition" against them all with the British Consul.
consul = diplomat appointed (in this case, the British)
Definition
Generally consul means:a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
dispute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She disputes his claim.
And then someone said — people disputed afterwards whether Lucy or Edmund said it first — "You're not — not Eustace by any chance?†
disputed = challenged, argued about, or fought over
Definition
Generally this sense of dispute means:challenge, argue about, or fight over
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
distill
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
distill the whisky
...could it be made with distilled water and...
distilled = purified
Definition
Generally this sense of distill means:to make a more pure or concentrated liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors (as is done when making whisky or some petroleum products)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
embark
4 uses
embarked on a dangerous voyage
embarked = set out
Definition
Generally embark means:to leave on a trip — especially to board a ship
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
however
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
However, complications may...
She could not, however, spend much time looking back; what was coming into view in the forward direction was too exciting.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
ingratiate
1 use
said Pug with an ingratiating smile.
ingratiating = intended to gain favor with somebody
Definition
Generally ingratiate means:gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
King Arthur
1 use
Consequently, when the Pevensie children had returned to Narnia last time for their second visit, it was (for the Narnians) as if King Arthur came back to Britain, as some people say he will.†
King Arthur = mythical king of the Britons (English) recognized as such when he was able to pull the sword Excalibur from the stone that had locked its blade; created the Knights of the Round Table to protect his people
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
lithe
1 use
a long lithe body
lithe = thin with flexibility and grace of movement
Definition
Generally lithe means:a graceful, flexible body — often implying thinness
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
luminous
1 use
Most of them slept on deck and talked far into the night or hung over the ship's side watching the luminous dance of the foam thrown up by their bows.
luminous = shining
Definition
Generally luminous means:glowing or shining
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
odious
1 use
Odious stuck-up prig.
odious = extremely unpleasant, disgusting, dislikable, or worthy of hate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
prudent
1 use
...paid him long compliments, all about the fountains of prosperity irrigating the gardens of prudence and virtue...
prudence = careful sense
Definition
Generally prudent means:sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
sulk
4 uses
He apologized sulkily and went off with Lucy to have his hand bathed and bandaged and then went to his bunk.†
sulkily = in an excessively unhappy and unsociable manner
Definition
Generally sulk means:to be overly unhappy and unsociable — often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
usurp
2 uses
Miraz the usurper
usurper = one who takes control without authority
Definition
Generally usurp means:seize or take control without authority
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |