adroit
1 use
The littlest kid, the one who had been last out of the door, was the first to arrive at the correct wall, and he caught himself adroitly.
adroitly = skillfully
Definition
Generally adroit means:skillful in action or thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
adulation
1 use
Ender had won something better than the adulation of the passengers.
adulation = admiration and praise
Definition
Generally adulation means:much admiration and praise
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
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 |
asteroid
6 uses
I thought Command School was in the asteroids somewhere.
asteroids = millions of large rocks that move around the sun mostly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
Definition
Generally asteroid means:one of the millions of rocks that move around the sun, are smaller than a planet, and larger than a meter in diameter
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
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 | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
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
—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 | 8 uses |
| Library | 53 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 | 12 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 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 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 | 21 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 | 54 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 | 3 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 | 2 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:
See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
- 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
See a comprehensive dictionary for other less common meanings.
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 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 is often subject to its context. For example:
The exact meaning of this sense of grave is often subject to 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 (with a heavy heart)
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — sincere and dignified without humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 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 | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
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 |
simulate
48 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 | 48 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
solar system
5 uses
"That means that ships could talk to each other even when they're across the solar system," said Ender.
solar system = the area that includes the sun and everything that revolves around it
Definition
Generally solar system means:the area that includes the sun (or any star) and everything that revolves around it
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
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 trace of something — especially as an indication that it was previously there
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |