appalling
3 uses
An appalling loneliness came over him.
appalling = horrible
Definition
Generally appalling means:shockingly terrible or horrible
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
audible
2 uses
I wish the Magician would make them inaudible instead of invisible.
inaudible = impossible to hear
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in inaudible means not and reverses the meaning of audible. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in inaudible means not and reverses the meaning of audible. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of audible means:capable of being heard
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
bulwark
10 uses
Lucy, leaning over the bulwark,
bulwark = the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
Definition
Generally bulwark means:something that offers protection — especially a defensive wall or embankment, or a sea wall
or (especially in classic literature): the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
or (especially in classic literature): the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
contrary (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
contrary to
And the service they ask of her is in no way contrary to her Majesty's honour, but a noble and heroical act.
contrary to = in opposition to
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
on the contrary
On the contrary he liked him very much and was therefore frightened about him, and being frightened put him in a bad temper — just as your mother is much angrier with you for running out into the road in front of a car than a stranger would be.
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
coronation
3 uses
on, my coronation day... I swore an oath that, if once I established peace in Narnia, I would sail east
coronation = ceremony of installing a new monarch (in this case a king)
Definition
Generally coronation means:a ceremony of installing a new monarch (new king or queen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
despair
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
she felt despair
The pleasure... of being liked... was what kept Eustace from despair.
despair = distress (at not knowing how to improve a bad situation)
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
enmity
1 use
And what have we done to earn your enmity?
enmity = hatred
Definition
Generally enmity means:hatred toward someone or between people — typically long-lasting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
grave
1 use
it paced gravely along the swaying deck
gravely = seriously and solemnly
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
infallible
1 use
an infallible spell to make...
infallible = never failing
Definition
Generally infallible means:never wrong; or never failing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
languish
1 use
Caspian was sorry for the others languishing in the hold of Pug's slave-ship,
languishing = suffering for a long time
Definition
Generally languish means:to suffer in a bad situation for a long time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
mane
5 uses
And he was solid and real and warm and he let her kiss him and bury herself in his shining mane.
mane = lion's hair
Definition
Generally mane means:long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
minute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
keep the minutes
"Nothing about it in the correspondence," said the governor. Nothing in the minutes. We have not been notified of any such thing.†
minutes = formal notes
Definition
Generally this sense of minutes means:a written record of what happened at a meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
mitigate
1 use
...since the first day he came on board he had been an unmitigated nuisance...
unmitigated = complete
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unmitigated means not and reverses the meaning of mitigated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unmitigated means not and reverses the meaning of mitigated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
precipice
3 uses
...steep and narrow, with precipices on either side.
precipices = steep cliffs
Definition
Generally precipice means:a very steep cliff
or:
any dangerous situation
or:
any dangerous situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
ration
5 uses
The real trouble is water. ... On short rations, half a pint a day each, we've got enough for twelve days.
rations = a fixed portion of something given as a share (in this case water)
Definition
Generally ration means:verb: to restrict the amount of something each person can have — such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage, or when more is wanted than is available
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
regent
4 uses
I had an excellent person to leave as regent while I'm away
regent = temporary ruler
Definition
Generally regent means:a member of a governing board — especially at a state university
or:
someone who rules a country temporarily while the king or queen is too young, too sick, or away
or:
someone who rules a country temporarily while the king or queen is too young, too sick, or away
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
reign
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She reigned over England
She was only a little bit of a thing compared with one of our ships, or even with the ... which Narnia had owned when Lucy and Edmund had reigned there
reigned = ruled (held royal office and were in charge)
Definition
Generally this sense of reign means:rule (like that of a king or queen); or the time during which one ruled
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
serpent
12 uses
...the whole ship was under an arch of serpent.
serpent = snake (in this case a giant one)
Definition
Generally serpent means:a snake
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
treacherous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a scheming, treacherous assistant
Eustace didn't want to accept, but Lucy said, "I'm sure they're not treacherous."
treacherous = untrustworthy
Definition
Generally this sense of treacherous means:guilty of betrayal or deception or likely to betray or deceive
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |