advocate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an advocate supporting
He was wet through with sweat and he knew the bomb advocate was perfectly capable of tossing a grenade at any moment.
advocate = a person who publicly supports
Definition
Generally this sense of advocate means:a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 36 |
arrogant
4 uses
I walked away from him with a certain amount of arrogance and much style and...
arrogance = an excessive sense of superiority
Definition
Generally arrogant means:having an excessive sense of superiority
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
benevolent
1 use
...the humanizing possibility of benevolent intervention.
benevolent = kind and generous
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 42 |
blasphemy
3 uses
And this foul mouth stands there bringing more ill fortune with his blasphemies.
blasphemies = disrespect of that which is sacred
Definition
Generally blasphemy means:something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
consummate
1 use
Now we come for something of consummate importance and...
consummate = having a quality to an extreme degree (in this case, of "extreme importance".)
Definition
Generally this sense of consummate means:perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
contempt
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
His rage began to thin as he exaggerated more and more and spread his scorn and contempt so widely and unjustly that he could no longer believe in it himself.
contempt = lack of respect and dislike
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
convoluted
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convoluted folds of the brain
he held her tighter and ran the tip of his tongue along her cheek and onto the lobe of her ear and along the lovely convolutions to the sweet, firm rim at the top,
convolutions = curves and folds
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of convoluted means:having complex coils, folds, twists, or irregularities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
...is no other one but one now, one, going now, rising now, sailing now, leaving now, wheeling now, soaring now, away now, all the way now, all of all the way now; one and one is one, is one, is one, is one, is still one, is still one, is one descendingly, is one softly, is one longingly, is one kindly, is one happily, is one in goodness, is one to cherish, is one now on earth with elbows against the cut and slept-on branches of the pine tree with the smell of the pine boughs and the...†
descendingly = in a manner that moves downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
dexterity
1 use
"But very dexterous at producing explosions," the gypsy said.
dexterous = adroit
Definition
Generally dexterity means:adroitness (skill) — with the hands or mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
diffident
1 use
Blanquet spoke of this afterwards with much diffidence...
diffidence = lack of self-confidence
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
hemorrhage
3 uses
It was as good a thing for his spirit as a saline injection is for a man who has suffered a great hemorrhage.
hemorrhage = loss of blood
Definition
Generally hemorrhage means:severe bleeding — typically inside the body
or:
figurative use to describe any rapid loss
or:
figurative use to describe any rapid loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
insolent
5 uses
But he had more brains and more inner dignity and outer insolence and humor than any man that he had ever known.
insolence = rude disrespect
Definition
Generally insolent means:rudely disrespectful
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |
partisan
7 uses
That was before the first "partizan" groups had been formed;
partizan = strongly supporting an idea (in this case, the overthrow of the fascist government)
Definition
Generally partisan means:someone or an adjective describing someone who strongly supports a person, group, or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
peasant
45 uses
Is the land there owned by the peasants?
peasants = poor farmers
Definition
Generally peasant means:used historically or possibly in relation to a very poor country: a person of low income, education, and social standing — especially one who raises crops or livestock
Word Statistics
| Book | 45 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
reproach
2 uses
You do not reproach me?
reproach = criticize
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
republic
61 uses
I have heard that you are an excellent guerilla leader, that you are loyal to the republic...
republic = a system of government in which a majority of citizens elect representatives to make laws
Word Statistics
| Book | 61 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
We do not want any citizens full of heroic resignation in these hills.
resignation = acceptance of something undesired as the lesser of evils (in this case, death)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
sentry
74 uses
The sentry was standing, his back toward them, at the far end of the bridge.
sentry = guard
Definition
Generally sentry means:someone who stands guard
Word Statistics
| Book | 74 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
stolid
2 uses
Fernando said stolidly.
stolidly = having or revealing little emotion
Definition
Generally stolid means:having or revealing little emotion — sometimes indicating qualities of not changing or being dependable
or (much more rarely):
of an object: not interesting — often large and unmoving
or (much more rarely):
of an object: not interesting — often large and unmoving
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
treacherous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a scheming, treacherous assistant
Oh, the dirty, vile, treacherous sod.
treacherous = guilty of betrayal
Definition
Generally this sense of treacherous means:guilty of betrayal or deception or likely to betray or deceive
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |