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)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Pro. |
benevolent
1 use
...and became himself a mighty king, benevolent and wise.
benevolent = kind
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
daunt
5 uses
He was not daunted by the distance,
daunted = discouraged or intimidated
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 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
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.10 |
enmity
1 use
For the moment there was no whispering or movement among the branches; but they all got an uncomfortable feeling that they were being watched with disapproval, deepening to dislike and even enmity.
enmity = hatred
Definition
Generally enmity means:hatred toward someone or between people — typically long-lasting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
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 | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
nominal
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
he's nominally in charge
The Thain was the master of the Shire-moot, and captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms, but as muster and moot were only held in times of emergency, which no longer occurred, the Thainship had ceased to be more than a nominal dignity.†
nominal = in name, but not in reality
Definition
Generally this sense of nominal means:in form or name, but not in reality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pro. |
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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
ominous
11 uses
...the ruins of towers: they had an ominous look.
ominous = threatening or suggestive of evil or bad things
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9 |
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 | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.6 |
treacherous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the road is steep and treacherous
Gandalf the Grey caught like a fly in a spider's treacherous web!
treacherous = dangerous
Definition
Generally this sense of treacherous means:dangerous — often in a non-obvious way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
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 |