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 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
I stared at him contemptuously
contemptuously = disrespectfully
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
converge
1 use
There were many trucks too and some carts going through on other streets and converging on the main road.
converging = coming together
Definition
Generally converge means:to come together; or to be adjacent or similar
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
denounce
1 use
Don't denounce me. You know we like each other.
denounce = strongly criticize
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
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, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 5 |
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 | 6 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 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 | 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 |
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 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
ingenious
1 use
They are an ingenious people,
ingenious = inventive and skilled
Definition
Generally ingenious means:showing inventiveness and skill
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: "Mr." in English
or:
French equivalent to: "sir" in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to: "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 |
prescribe
1 use
Only if the doctor prescribes it.
prescribes = gives medical instructions ordering
Definition
Generally prescribe means:of a medical doctor: to give medical instructions — such as writing that a patient should have antibiotics
or:
to recommend — especially with expertise
or:
to require by rule
or:
to recommend — especially with expertise
or:
to require by rule
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 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 | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
sacrilege
1 use
Don't be sacrilegious.
sacrilegious = disrespectful of something others consider important
Definition
Generally sacrilege means:disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
scrutiny
1 use
The officers were scrutinizing every one in the column,
scrutinizing = carefully looking at
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
sullen
1 use
The retreat was orderly, wet and sullen. In the night, going slowly along the crowded roads we...
sullen = sluggish (or possibly gloomy)
(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 sullen means:showing a gloomy or bad mood — often by not interacting with others in a friendly way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
treachery
1 use
It is because of treachery such as yours that we have lost the fruits of victory.
treachery = deliberate 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 | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |