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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 36 |
anarchy
2 uses
Long live Anarchy and Liberty...
anarchy = freedom from any governmental authority
Definition
Generally anarchy means:the complete absence of political authority; or more generally, complete absence of order
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
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 | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
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 — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
contrite
2 uses
...and started an act of contrition racing in it, "Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee who art worthy of all my love—"
contrition = a prayer or other action done to amend for a sin
Definition
Generally contrite means:feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
convoluted
1 use
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 = complex curves
Definition
Generally convoluted means:highly complex or intricate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
desist
1 use
Desist from thy lecture.
desist = stop doing something
Definition
Generally desist means:to not do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 43 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
distend
1 use
the dusty, heavily distended, black-tarred wineskin that hung neck down from the wall
distended = extended (swollen outward)
Definition
Generally distend means:to extend — especially the swelling outward of a part of the body; e.g., the stomach
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
duplicity
1 use
We detest with horror the duplicity and villainy of...
duplicity = deception — such as lying
Definition
Generally duplicity means:deception (lying to or misleading others) — usually over an extended period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
formidable
4 uses
"But we have formidable aviation," the corporal said.
formidable = intimidating or impressive
Definition
Generally formidable means:intimidating or impressive — arousing fear or admiration due to impressiveness or challenge
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
heresy
2 uses
It was a heresy of crackpots and wild men and it was really just an infantilism.
heresy = opinions and actions counter to what is considered proper
Definition
Generally heresy means:opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
impede
1 use
Once tonight we have been impeded by the ignorance of the anarchists.
impeded = slowed or stopped
Definition
Generally impede means:create difficulty so as to slow or prevent (something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42 |
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 | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |
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 | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 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 governmental decisions
Word Statistics
| Book | 61 uses |
| Library | 8 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 | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
treacherous
5 uses
Oh, the dirty, vile, treacherous sod.
treacherous = guilty of betrayal
Definition
Generally treacherous means:dangerous
or:
likely to betray; or guilty of betrayal
or:
likely to betray; or guilty of betrayal
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |