alternative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an alternative plan
But many copies contain the true account (as an alternative), derived no doubt from notes by Frodo or Samwise, both of whom learned the truth, though they seem to have been unwilling to delete anything actually written by the old hobbit himself.
alternative = something available as another possibility
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Pro. |
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assuage
1 use
...their regret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged.
assuaged = soothed (relieved)
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
For they attributed to the king of old all their essential laws; and usually they kept the laws of free will, because they were The Rules (as they said), both ancient and just.
attributed = credited (pointed to as the cause of something)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something) — such as:
- to say that something happened because of someone or something else
- to indicate the source of an idea or quotation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Pro. |
daunt
4 uses
He was not daunted by the distance,
daunted = discouraged or intimidated
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
(editor's note: The root word is most commonly seen as the adjective daunting which describes something as "discouraging or intimidating". Note that the "-less" suffix means without, so dauntless is to daunt as hopeless is to hope and careless is to care.)
(editor's note: The root word is most commonly seen as the adjective daunting which describes something as "discouraging or intimidating". Note that the "-less" suffix means without, so dauntless is to daunt as hopeless is to hope and careless is to care.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
dubious
1 use
...he still eyed Strider dubiously. 'How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?' he demanded.
dubiously = with suspicion
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful — such as:
- uncertain that something can be relied upon
- uncertain about the quality or wisdom of something
- a relatively gentle way of saying that the quality of something described as good is in such doubt that it is considered bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.10 |
forsake
9 uses
For the Elves of the High Kindred had not yet forsaken Middle-earth,
forsaken = abandoned
Definition
Generally forsake means:to abandon or give up on — such as someone who needs you, or an idea, or a place
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pro. |
innumerable
3 uses
They drew long and elaborate family-trees with innumerable branches.
innumerable = too numerous to be counted
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pro. |
malicious
8 uses
And hobbits as miserable slaves would please him far more than hobbits happy and free. There is such a thing as malice and revenge.
malice = wanting to see others suffer
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
obscure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
it obscured my view
Even Frodo felt better in the morning light, but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure his sight, and he passed his hands over his eyes.
obscure = block (so as to make everything less visible)
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
2 —1 use as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
...as far as I know there is no Power in the world that knows all about hobbits. Among the Wise I am the only one that goes in for hobbit-lore: an obscure branch of knowledge, but full of surprises.
obscure = not known to many people
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
obstinate
5 uses
"I'll do as I choose and go as I please," said Bilbo obstinately.
obstinately = stubbornly
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
passage
2 uses
Then Bilbo would read passages from his book (which still seemed very incomplete). or scraps of his verses, or would take notes of Frodo's adventures.†
passages = short parts of longer written works
Definition
Generally this sense of passage means:a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Frwd. |
perturb
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she was perturbed
...but most of the company backed away, even more perturbed than before.
perturbed = disturbed or made uneasy
Definition
Generally this sense of perturb means:to disturb in mind or make uneasy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9 |
poignant
1 use
...they were fresh and poignant, as if he had at that moment first perceived them and made for them names new and wonderful.
poignant = profoundly touched the emotions
Definition
Generally poignant means:profoundly touching the emotions — especially sadness or pity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.6 |
portend
1 use
Few heeded the sign, and not even Bilbo yet had any notion of what it portended.
portended = indicated the future by signs — especially something bad
Definition
Generally portend means:indicate by signs that something is going to happen — especially something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pro. |
portent
1 use
Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire were forgotten for more important matters:
portents = signs of things about to happen (in this case, frightening signs)
Definition
Generally portent means:a sign of something about to happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
Then slowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profound blue,
profound = of greatest intensity
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.6 |
sinuous
1 use
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled; it was pale-green and luminous and wet.
sinuous = curving in and out
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.4 |
treacherous
7 uses
Gandalf the Grey caught like a fly in a spider's treacherous web!
treacherous = dangerous
Definition
Generally treacherous means:dangerous
or:
likely to betray; or guilty of betrayal
or:
likely to betray; or guilty of betrayal
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
wizened
1 use
...grey and bent, like a wizened tree before the onset of a storm.
wizened = thin and wrinkled
Definition
Generally wizened means:thin and wrinkled — typically from age or illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |