buttress
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a flying buttress
There was a soldier standing with his girl in the shadow of one of the stone buttresses ahead of us
buttresses = an architectural feature that supports the wall of a building
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
cloister
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
cloister ourselves away
We're not cloistered.
cloistered = secluded from the world
Definition
Generally this sense of cloister means:seclude from the world (kept separate from the world)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
coagulate
2 uses
The bump on my forehead was swollen and I stopped the bleeding by lying still and letting it coagulate,
coagulate = change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state (in this case, form a scab)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
conspicuous
1 use
I did not want to look conspicuous.
conspicuous = easily noticed so as to attract attention
Definition
Generally conspicuous means:easily noticed — typically attracting attention such as by being large, flashy, or unusual
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
dialect
4 uses
The girl who looked at me said something in a dialect I could not understand a word of.
dialect = a regional variety of a language
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
dominate
1 use
It was a high snowy mountain and it dominated the valley but it was so far away that it did not make a shadow.
dominated = was far more conspicuous (noticeable) than
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 5 |
edify
1 use
It was very edifying, baby.
edifying = instructive
Definition
Generally edify means:to instruct — morally or intellectually
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
elated
1 use
He acted very elated now.
elated = excited and happy
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
feigned
1 use
...the injustices he had received ... of which I had never heard, I feigned acquaintance.
feigned = pretended to have
Definition
Generally feigned means:pretended — usually pretending to feel something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
grave
1 use
Because you are gravely wounded.
gravely = seriously
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 | Book 1 |
haughty
1 use
His attitude toward us became less haughty.
haughty = condescending
Definition
Generally haughty means:arrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
however
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
However, complications may...
There was, however, no insurance.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
impartial
1 use
It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially.
impartially = without favoritism or bias
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
ingenious
1 use
They are an ingenious people,
ingenious = inventive and skilled
Definition
Generally ingenious means:showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
Monsieur
3 uses
Were you not, monsieur?
Monsieur = sir (in French — a polite way to address a male)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to the English Mr.
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
Profound wounds of right knee and foot.
profound = intense
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 | Book 1 |
sullen
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sullen mood
The retreat was orderly, wet and sullen. In the night, going slowly along the crowded roads we...
sullen = unhappy (or possibly gloomy or sluggish)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of sullen, but this editor suspects Hemmingway was saying that the retreat was moving slowly. It's possible he was referring to another sense of sullen. He might have been referring to the mood of the soldiers or even the color of the sky. Good novelists sometimes help to create a mood with words that trigger multiple related senses in the reader's brain. All of these senses contribute to a feeling of gloom.)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of sullen, but this editor suspects Hemmingway was saying that the retreat was moving slowly. It's possible he was referring to another sense of sullen. He might have been referring to the mood of the soldiers or even the color of the sky. Good novelists sometimes help to create a mood with words that trigger multiple related senses in the reader's brain. All of these senses contribute to a feeling of gloom.)
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:being unhappy and withdrawn
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a tentative plan
We will go tentatively to Montreux.
tentatively = with an expectation that there may be changes
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
tetanus
2 uses
Get some more of that Antitetanus.†
antitetanus = an agent that works against a bacterial infection that is typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object
(Editor's note: The prefix "anti-" in antitetanus means against or opposite. This is the same pattern you see in words like antiviral, antiaircraft, and antisocial.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "anti-" in antitetanus means against or opposite. This is the same pattern you see in words like antiviral, antiaircraft, and antisocial.)
Definition
Generally tetanus means:a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object; prevented by the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and by subsequent booster shots every 10 years
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
treachery
1 use
It is because of treachery such as yours that we have lost the fruits of victory.
treachery = betrayal
Definition
Generally treachery means:the behavior of someone who pretends to be a friend and then tricks, cheats, or betrays
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |