accord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 19 uses
1 —17 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
She will get a fair trial in accordance with the law.
accordance = keeping with; or agreement with
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 46 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-07 |
2 —2 uses as in:
done of her own accord
She was not forced. She did it of her own accord.
own accord = mind
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind — voluntarily (without anyone asking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-07 |
annex
76 uses
1 —76 uses as in:
annex of the main building
The YMCA added an annex where younger children can play.
annex = an addition that extends a main building
Definition
Generally this sense of annex means:an addition that extends a main building
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
Word Statistics
| Book | 76 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-07 |
black market
7 uses
India's black market in kidneys arose in response to a combination of the shortage of the organs and extreme poverty amongst people who can survive with one of their two kidneys.
black market = the coming together of people who buy and sell things illegally
Definition
Generally black market means:an illegal market that trades in illegal goods, stolen goods, or goods sold illegally to avoid tax payments, licensing requirements, or rationing
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-11 |
confide
17 uses
She confided in her parents.
confided = told with the understanding that what was told would be kept secret
Definition
Generally confide means:tell with the understanding that what is told will be kept secret
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-07 |
contrary (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 14 uses
1 —1 use as in:
contrary to
Contrary to popular belief, the largest pyramid is in Mexico—not Egypt.
contrary to = in opposition to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-04 |
2 —12 uses as in:
on the contrary
She was not smiling. On the contrary, she frowned.
on the contrary = In opposition to what was just said
Definition
Generally this sense of on the contrary means:in opposition to what was just said
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-06 |
3 —1 use as in:
to the contrary
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
to the contrary = with an opposite or different effect
Definition
Generally this sense of to the contrary means:with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-02 |
direct (5 meanings)
5 meanings, 8 uses
1 —1 use as in:
depart directly
I walked directly to work.
directly = without interruption in the straightest or quickest possible manner
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-03 |
2 —4 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
This flower does best in direct sunlight.
direct = without intervention from anything (in this case, not sun that is partially blocked or reflected)
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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-09 |
3 —1 use as in:
was direct in my instructions
I left them with direct instructions.
direct = straightforward
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-09 |
4 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
The sprinkler head needs to be fixed so it directs water away from the house.
directs = aims
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-07 |
5 —1 use as in:
directed the movie
She directed the move.
directed = supervised (was in charge) — including specialized senses such as to have been in charge of the production of or performance of a movie, play, or orchestra
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-06 |
Dutch
51 uses
The Dutch are famous for their tulips.
Dutch = the people of the Netherlands (including Holland)
Definition
Generally Dutch means:the people of the Netherlands (including Holland); or relating to them (including the name of their language)
Word Statistics
| Book | 51 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-03 |
genealogy
5 uses
The world wide web is making genealogy easier than ever.
genealogy = the study of family ancestry
Definition
Generally genealogy means:family ancestry or its study
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-01 |
Holland
31 uses
For a long time, windmills were used in Holland to drain water that would otherwise have flooded regions beneath sea level.
Holland = Informal reference to The Netherlands (confusion arises because important provinces in The Netherlands are North Holland and South Holland).
Word Statistics
| Book | 31 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-06 |
illustrate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.
illustrate = make clear
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-09 |
2 —2 uses as in:
an illustrated children's book
I write and illustrate children's books.
illustrate = draw pictures to accompany
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-11 |
passage
6 uses
Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-02 |
ration
16 uses
Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.
rationed = restricted in the amount available to people
Definition
Generally ration means:to restrict the amount of something people can have — such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage
or:
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:
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 | 16 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 43-05 |