affectation
1 use
She is comfortable in her own skin and meets strangers without affectation.
affectation = behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
amiable
1 use
She seemed an ideal candidate—attractive, amiable, intelligent and energetic.
amiable = friendly and likable
Definition
Generally amiable means:friendly, agreeable, and likable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
astute
1 use
Astute investors spread their risk instead of investing all their money in just one thing.
astute = smart and perceptive
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
cease
13 uses
They signed a cease-fire agreement.
cease = to stop or discontinue (in this case, to stop firing weapons at each other)
Definition
Generally cease means:to stop or discontinue
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
colleague
10 uses
The surgeon consulted his colleagues.
colleagues = fellow workers
Definition
Generally colleague means:fellow worker — especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
dissent
1 use
The Alien and Sedition Acts were attempts to silence early political dissent in America.
dissent = disagreement
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
establish
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
Which word choice best maintains the tone established in the first paragraph?
established = created
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
florid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
florid color
Symptoms include loss of concentration and a florid face.
florid = a reddish complexion
Definition
Generally this sense of florid means:a reddish color — (especially about someone's complexion or in various medical contexts)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
impervious
1 use
She has made up her mind and is impervious to criticism.
impervious = unaffected
Definition
Generally impervious means:not admitting passage through; or not capable of being affected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
inevitable
1 use
It is as inevitable as death and taxes.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
She was being ironic when she said she couldn't wait to see you again.
ironic = saying one thing, while meaning the opposite
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
morose
2 uses
She drank alone in the corner, looking morose.
morose = unhappy
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
punctilious
1 use
punctilious in his attention to rules of etiquette
punctilious = paying careful attention to details
Definition
Generally punctilious means:paying careful attention to details — especially social conventions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
querulous
2 uses
He said it in a slightly querulous tone.
querulous = habitually complaining — especially in a high-pitched whiny voice
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
resolute
2 uses
She stood resolute as some complained that she was asking too much of the team.
resolute = firm
Definition
Generally resolute means:firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
superfluous
2 uses
Eliminate superfluous words.
superfluous = more than is needed, desired, or required
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
timorous
1 use
She was timorous as a mouse.
timorous = timid
Definition
Generally timorous means:timid (fearful) or shy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
torment
7 uses
She enjoys tormenting others.
tormenting = causing great mental or physical suffering
Definition
Generally torment means:to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
virtuoso
2 uses
She is a violin virtuoso.
virtuoso = someone who is spectacularly skilled in a particular field
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
vivacious
2 uses
She's a charming and vivacious hostess.
vivacious = has an engaging liveliness
Definition
Generally vivacious means:having an engaging liveliness — when said of a person, typically said of a female
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |