apathy
2 uses
...but now the apathy was gone.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
contrast (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
At school, she once nearly got them in trouble, when her history teacher assigned the class to write a paper contrasting the views of Demosthenes and Locke as expressed in two of their early columns.
contrasting = pointing to differences between
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
2 —1 use as in:
there is a contrast
A few days later Locke got picked up for a column in a New England newsnet, specifically to provide a contrasting view for their popular column from Demosthenes.
contrasting = differing
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:a difference — especially a notable difference; or the side-x-side arrangement of things that draws attention to an unmissable difference
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
corroborate
1 use
As if to corroborate Bean's statement, the enemy began to call out to them.
corroborate = to support an opinion — typically with additional evidence or testimony
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 15 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
They must talk to each other directly, Ender, mind to mind.
directly = without anything in between
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 | 8 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
2 —2 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
The prosecution was too clever to charge him directly, but there were attempts to make him look sick, perverted, criminally insane.
directly = in a straightforward manner (clearly without any ambiguity)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
She heard the anger in his voice and assumed it was directed at her.
directed = focused
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
4 —4 uses as in:
directed the movie
After all, the queen doesn't have to be with them to direct a battle.
direct = supervise (be in charge of)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
focus (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 11 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
Almost from the moment they began to drop, they were focusing their Little Doctors on one thing only.
focusing = concentrating
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
2 —2 uses as in:
The focus of our study is...
His accent made him exotic and interesting; his broken arm made him a martyr; his sadism made him a natural focus for all those who loved pain in others.
focus = place where attention is directed
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 5 |
3 —1 use as in:
The camera focuses automatically
Ender had trouble focusing on Colonel Graff. The man looked far away and very small, as if Ender could pick him up with tweezers and drop him in a pocket.
focusing = adjusting vision (to see something clearly)
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:to adjust a lens to make an image clear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
4 —5 uses
technical usage
But it has a tight enough beam. Well-focused. You can aim it and make a three-inch circle of light on a wall a hundred meters off.
focused = concentrated at a single point
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:technical usage typically involves some sense of center or concentration such as:
- physics — a point where things come together such as the point where light rays meet
- geometry — a fixed reference point (as of a parabola)
- geology — the point of origin of an earthquake
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
grave
1 use
...and they saluted him gravely, like gladiators greeting Caesar before they died for his entertainment.
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
imply
2 uses
He had seen what Ender was doing, but he had not understood the orientation that it implied.
implied = showed indirectly
Definition
Generally imply means:to suggest or say indirectly — possibly as a logical consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
lenient
2 uses
Let the boys learn that leniency comes from their toon leaders, and harshness from their commander.
leniency = lack of strictness
Definition
Generally lenient means:less strict or more tolerant than might be expected
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
revise
1 use
After that little maneuver, the rules are being revised to require that all of the enemy's soldiers must be frozen or disabled before the gate can be reversed.
revised = changed
Definition
Generally revise means:to change (and hopefully improve) — most frequently to improve a written document, but it can be any intentional change such as a change in an estimated amount, a plan, or a series of procedures
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
scrupulous
1 use
The boy sitting next to Ender was scrupulously careful not to touch him.
scrupulously = diligently (extremely careful)
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
simulate
51 uses
We have programmed the computer to simulate the kinds of situations we might expect in encounters with the enemy.
simulate = imitate
Definition
Generally simulate means:make an imitation or representation of
Word Statistics
| Book | 51 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
tumult
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
couldn't hear over the tumult
A tumult of conversation rose behind him.
tumult = loud and disorderly
Definition
Generally this sense of tumult means:loud noise — usually created by an unrestrained crowd or some kind of confusion
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
vestige
2 uses
...most bugger soldiers are females, but with atrophied or vestigial sexual organs.
vestigial = an unused trace indicative of something once used
(editor's note: In this context, atrophied means "shrunken and deteriorated".)
(editor's note: In this context, atrophied means "shrunken and deteriorated".)
Definition
Generally vestige means:a remaining trace (little bit of something) that was previously abundant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |