accommodate (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
the room can accommodate four
Equally breathtaking was the corridor's width, which easily could have accommodated a pair of side-by-side passenger trains.
accommodated = provided for
Definition
Generally this sense of accommodate means:provide (or have the ability to provide) for something desired or needed
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
moved to accommodate her
Like a lazy parent who found it easier to acquiesce to the whims of a spoiled child than to stand firm and teach values, the Church just kept softening at every turn, trying to reinvent itself to accommodate a culture gone astray.
accommodate = adjust for
Definition
Generally this sense of accommodate means:adjust something to provide for a need; or help
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 33-34 |
3 —1 use as in:
hotel accommodations
Despite his plush accommodations, he had always dreamed of owning a riverside apartment on L'lle Saint-Louis, where he could rub shoulders with the true cognoscenti, rather than here, where he simply met the filthy rich.
accommodations = lodging space (place to stay)
Definition
Generally this sense of accommodations means:space or lodgings — such as a hotel room or office space
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43-44 |
approach (2 meanings)
2 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 (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 104 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 | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 81-82 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
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 | 16 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
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — 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 | 62 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 | 13 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 to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 36 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 | 7 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)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-12 |
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 | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 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 | 6 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 | 75 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 | 4 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 | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21-22 |
immaterial
4 uses
Anyway, it's immaterial.
immaterial = not important, or not relevant
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 61-62 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 47-48 |
Knights Templar
70 uses
Langdon had lectured often enough on the Knights Templar to know that almost everyone on earth had heard of them, at least abstractedly.
Knights Templar = an order of medieval knights that existed for two centuries after the First Crusade and who helped to protect Jerusalem and European pilgrims to Jerusalem when it was under Christian control
Definition
Generally Knights Templar means:an order of medieval knights that existed for two centuries after the First Crusade who helped to protect Jerusalem and European pilgrims to Jerusalem
Word Statistics
| Book | 70 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37-38 |
venerate
4 uses
...master stonemasons, erecting Templar churches all over Europe, but Rosslyn was considered their most sublime labor of love and veneration.
veneration = respect
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally venerate means:regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25-26 |