alacrity
1 use
Displaying impressive alacrity, a host was already standing there to greet them.
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 41-42 |
approach (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
approached the city
Collet knew the opportunity for a stealth approach had long since passed.†
approach = getting near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 88 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
The Hawker is on final approach.†
approach = route (way to get somewhere)
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 81-82 |
3 —1 use as in:
approached her with the proposal
Teabing had approached the BBC with a proposal for a historical documentary in which he would expose the explosive history of the Holy Grail to a mainstream television audience.
approached = engaged in conversation
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 51-52 |
ascetic
2 uses
Saint-Sulpice was stark and cold, conveying an almost barren quality reminiscent of the ascetic cathedrals of Spain.
ascetic = severely plain (without decoration)
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
direct (6 meanings)
6 meanings, 65 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
depart directly
Sophie moved directly to the sarcophagus, but Langdon hung back a few feet, keeping an eye on the abbey around them.†
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —42 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
His eye was trained not just on the massive inverted pyramid, but on what lay directly beneath it.†
directly = straight (in a straight line)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
—including such senses as:
—including such senses as:
- straight (without varying from a straight line)
- exact (without other factors)
- close (with other factors minimized)
- personal (without other people in between)
- unobstructed (without anything in between)
- of a look: straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 42 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 45-46 |
3 —6 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
Sophie's grandfather's final verse made direct reference to the Master Masons who adorned Rosslyn with their carved artistic offerings.†
direct = clear
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43-44 |
4 —2 uses as in:
directed her question to
How may I direct your call?†
direct = guide
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object — such as
- to aim a gun or comment at someone
- to point in a particular direction
- to focus attention on a particular object
- to guide or give directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- to send someone to a particular place
- to steer a car, boat, etc.
- to send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23-24 |
5 —1 use as in:
directed the jury to...
With the soundproof divider raised, Teabing was able to phone Silas in the front seat, use the fake French accent of the Teacher, and direct Silas to go straight to Opus Dei.†
direct = instruct
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 99-100 |
6 —7 uses as in:
directed the movie
Fache had looked distressed ever since talking to the director of Cryptology on the phone.†
director = supervisor (person in charge)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-12 |
disparate
2 uses
As someone who had spent his life exploring the hidden interconnectivity of disparate emblems and ideologies,
disparate = very different
Definition
Generally disparate means:very different — often referring to a collection of very different elements such as a group of very different people
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 10 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
He would not dare abolish a personal prelature established by a previous Pope!†
established = created
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 37-38 |
2 —2 uses as in:
establish that there is a need
Nonetheless, establishing Christ's divinity was critical to the further unification of the Roman empire and to the new Vatican power base.†
establishing = demonstrating
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 55-56 |
focus (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 18 uses
1 —14 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
His red eyes were focused dead ahead, tears streaming down his pale, blood-spattered face.†
focused = looking
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 54 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 57-58 |
2 —2 uses as in:
The focus of our study is...
Although the pilot denied knowing what was in the box, he admitted it had been the focus of Langdon's full attention during the flight to London.†
focus = center
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:where attention is concentrated or directed
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 57-58 |
3 —2 uses as in:
bring into focus; or out of focus
Slowly, the greenish shapes came into focus.†
focus = view (a state where something can be seen clearly)
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:a state where something has come into view or can be seen clearly
(Typically this is said of the appearance of an image or picture, but it can also be said of something that get's attention, or of an understanding that become clear.)
(Typically this is said of the appearance of an image or picture, but it can also be said of something that get's attention, or of an understanding that become clear.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21-22 |
highlight (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
the paragraph highlights...
The scrolls highlight glaring historical discrepancies and fabrications, clearly confirming that the modern Bible was compiled and edited by men who possessed a political agenda—to promote the divinity of the man Jesus Christ and use His influence to solidify their own power base.†
highlight = emphasize (call attention to)
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:emphasize (call attention to something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 55-56 |
2 —1 use as in:
highlights and shadows
Around his temples, the gray highlights were advancing, making their way deeper into his thicket of coarse black hair.†
highlights = lighter areas
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:noun: something that is lighter and draws attention — such as an area of a painting
verb: making something lighter — such as an area of a painting
verb: making something lighter — such as an area of a painting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
keystone
171 uses
According to lore, the brotherhood had created a keystone—an engraved tablet that revealed the final resting place of the brotherhood's greatest secret...
keystone = something of importance upon which other things depend
Definition
Generally keystone means:something of importance upon which other things depend
or:
architecture or masonry: the central building block at the top of an arch or vault (providing pressure to lock the other blocks into place)
or:
architecture or masonry: the central building block at the top of an arch or vault (providing pressure to lock the other blocks into place)
Word Statistics
| Book | 171 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 47-48 |