acquiesce
3 uses
In the end she had won, and her father had acquiesced against his better judgment.
acquiesced = reluctantly complied (agreed)
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19-20 |
acrimony
1 use
"Ufficio di Papa," the commander declared, giving Vittoria an acrimonious scowl.
acrimonious = angry
Definition
Generally acrimony means:anger—often accompanied by bitterness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 39-40 |
apathy
7 uses
No wonder the camerlegno despised apathy.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 93-94 |
austere
3 uses
The austere commander of the Swiss Guard was a man for whom few public law enforcement officials had any affection.
austere = stern
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 97-98 |
basilica
55 uses
Vittoria Vetra stood trembling at the foot of the basilica's sweeping stairs.
basilica = an important Roman Catholic church given certain privileges (typically architecturally similar to earlier Roman public buildings of the same name)
Definition
Generally basilica means:in Roman architecture, a public building for assemblies
or:
a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges (typically architecturally similar to earlier Roman basilica)
or:
a Roman Catholic church or cathedral accorded certain privileges (typically architecturally similar to earlier Roman basilica)
Word Statistics
| Book | 55 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31-32 |
bronze
8 uses
1 —1 use as in:
her bronze is on display
A particularly large plaque dominated the entry. Langdon slowed to read the engraved bronze as they passed.
bronze = the plaque made of the metal by that name
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:something made of the brownish metal with the same name — such as a sculpture (statue) or a third place medal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
unquizzed meaning —7 uses
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
He had confronted the problem head-on . . . truthful, candid, shining like an example to all.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 113-114 |
decorum
3 uses
There is still a chance to preserve protocol and decorum.
decorum = manners and conduct considered to be proper
Definition
Generally decorum means:manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 85-86 |
denounce
3 uses
They denounce God as a hallucination-a delusional crutch for those too weak to accept that life is meaningless.
denounce = strongly criticized or accused publicly
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
depravity
3 uses
part of the depravity of the plot
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19-20 |
eccentric
2 uses
...all these eccentric ideas have a scientific veneer, but they are unashamedly irrational.
eccentric = unconventional
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 81-82 |
lucid
3 uses
As lucid as he seemed, the priest was talking nonsense.
lucid = capable of thinking clearly
Definition
Generally lucid means:of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 133-134 |
pious
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
It had been used by various Popes to escape to safety during sieges of the Vatican .... as well as by a few less pious Popes to secretly visit mistresses or oversee the torture of their enemies.
pious = religious or moral
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-12 |
positive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm absolutely positive!
All I can tell you is that even if the Illuminati were still active today, which I am virtually positive they are not, they would never be involved in Leonardo Vetra's death.†
positive = certain
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-12 |
2 —1 use as in:
a positive attitude
She tried to stay positive.†
positive = optimistic
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 79-80 |
recumbent
1 use
Directly over the recumbent saint, against a backdrop of gilded flame, hovered Bernini's angel.
recumbent = lying down
Definition
Generally recumbent means:lying down; or horizontal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 99-100 |
redundant
1 use
a redundant security system
redundant = with a backup component in case the primary one fails
Definition
Generally redundant means:more than is needed — often something that is unnecessarily repeated
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23-24 |
refute
1 use
refute their claim
refute = to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 81-82 |
sultry
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sultry voice
During dessert of boysenberry cream with savoiardi and steaming Romcaffe, Vittoria pressed her bare legs against his beneath the table and fixed him with a sultry stare.
sultry = expressing or arousing sensual desire
Definition
Generally this sense of sultry means:expressing or arousing sensual desire — especially in reference to a woman's appearance or voice
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 137 |
taint
3 uses
Of course the honor was tainted somewhat by the presence of the Swiss Guards hovering outside his door.
tainted = spoiled (so it is not as desirable)
Definition
Generally taint means:to spoil something so it is not desirable — as when bacteria contaminates a food; or as when a rumor makes people distrust a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37-38 |