appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Congress will appropriate funds
Appropriations for Sardaukar training went down steadily in the final thirty years before the Arrakis Revolt.
appropriations = budget
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:to set aside for a particular use
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | A4 - |
augment
2 uses
The Fremen guard that augmented the surviving Fedaykin took up stations around the room.
augmented = enlarged or increased
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
bronze
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
a bronze tan
The hall door opened and his mother peered in, hair like shaded bronze held with a black ribbon at the crown, her oval face emotionless and green eyes staring solemnly.
bronze = reddish-brown or yellowish-brown
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color like that of one of the metals with the same name — often used to refer to a suntan or a dark glowing complexion
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
censure
2 uses
But error on the side of caution cannot be censured.
censured = criticized
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
And the Fremen defer to him.
defer = submit or yield
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
delta
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
river delta
They'd flown over the southern jungles, above the weed-wild shouting leaves and rice paddies of the deltas.
deltas = geological areas where a river divides before entering a larger body of water
Definition
Generally this sense of delta means:a typically triangular area with sand or soil where a river divides before entering a larger body of water
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
descend (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
The fat hand descended onto the globe, stopped the spinning.
descended = moved down
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
We're going to need at least five battalions of those people before the Sardaukar descend on us.†
descend = come suddenly
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
...laughed with just the right tone of appreciation, but the sound carried a note of discord as it collided with...
discord = unpleasant sounding together
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
I will ease the harshness of the place with all the powers at my disposal.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
emulate
2 uses
Paul studied Idaho, marking the feline movements, the swiftness of reflex that made him such a difficult weapons teacher to emulate.
emulate = imitate (copy)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
ephemeral
1 use
Now, they came in with deeper plantings — ephemerals...
ephemerals = existing only for a short time (in this case ephemerals refers specifically to flowers that bloom only a very short time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | A1 - |
furtive
4 uses
a way of hiding from the youth, a furtiveness of person and motives that no eye could penetrate.
furtiveness = a disposition to be stealthy (taking pains to avoid being observed)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
obscure (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
it obscured my view
Where the two groups had met at the dune crest, a dust cloud partly obscured violent motion.
obscured = hid or made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
The Bene Gesserit role is more obscure.
obscure = not well known to many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | A2 - |
3 —1 use as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
He tells us that a single obscure decision of prophecy, perhaps the choice of one word over another, could change the entire aspect of the future.
obscure = seemingly unimportant
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
olfactory
1 use
SNOOPER, POISON: radiation analyzer within the olfactory spectrum and keyed to detect poisonous substances.
olfactory = related to the sense of smell
Definition
Generally olfactory means:relating to the sense of smell
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Term |
stagnate
3 uses
they'd chosen always the clear, safe course that leads ever downward into stagnation.
stagnation = not developing or improving
(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 stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
succession
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
presidential line of succession
The Reverend Mother dare not become involved in the succession.
succession = replacement (of someone taking a job or position after another person leaves it)
Definition
Generally this sense of succession means:replacement — especially someone to taking a job or position after another leaves it
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
ubiquitous
1 use
She sensed an immediate difference in the air about his face ... but it was only the spice, the ubiquitous spice whose odor permeated everything in Fremen life.
ubiquitous = being present everywhere all the time
Definition
Generally ubiquitous means:being present everywhere or all the time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 3 |