bronze
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
a bronze tan
He was attracted by her shining bronze hair.
bronze = reddish-brown or yellowish-brown
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color like that of one of the metals with the same name — often used to refer to a suntan or a dark glowing complexion
Word Statistics
Book | 8 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
contempt
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
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 | 8 uses |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
defer
2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
The weather forced us to defer our departure another day.
defer = delay
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.45 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
descend
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
thieves descended upon us
Despair descended upon us.
descended = came suddenly
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
She described the loud discordant music as a form of torture.
discordant = unpleasant sounding
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 3.17 |
indolent
4 uses
She never recovered from the indolence of her youth.
indolence = laziness
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.34 |
inhibit
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
inhibited the growth of...
The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.
inhibits = slows or prevents
Definition
Generally this sense of inhibit means:to limit the activity of someone or something
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 4.38 |
obscure (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 10 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The stars are obscured by the clouds.
obscured = hidden or made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
Book | 6 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 2.14 |
2 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.
obscure = not clearly understood
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 5.49 |
3 —3 uses as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.
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 | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 2.12 |
obstinate
19 uses
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
Book | 19 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
prominent
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a prominent politician
She is a prominent member of our community.
prominent = well-known and respected
Definition
Generally this sense of prominent means:well-known or important — especially of a person who is respected
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.37 |
scrupulous
11 uses
You can count on her. She is scrupulous in her work.
scrupulous = careful and thorough
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
Book | 11 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 4.37 |
siege
48 uses
The Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days.
siege = the surrounding and prolonged attack
Definition
Generally siege means:a military tactic in which a fortified place is surrounded and isolated while it is attacked over time
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
Word Statistics
Book | 48 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3.17 |
somber
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
somber colors
She wore a somber black dress to the funeral.
somber = lacking brightness or color
Definition
Generally this sense of somber means:lacking brightness or color — perhaps gloomy
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
speculative
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a speculative look or mind
She looked speculative as she turned her head back to the computer screen.
speculative = curious or in deep thought
Definition
Generally this sense of speculative means:showing, engaged in, or having a tendency of curiosity or deep thought
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 5.50 |
wallow (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
wallow happily in the mud
The pigs wallowed in the large mud puddle.
wallowed = relaxed and perhaps rolled about
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to relax — especially of an animal rolling about in mud or shallow water
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
2 —1 use as in:
a wagon wallowed through the mud
The tractor wallowed through the mud.
wallowed = moved with difficulty
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to move with difficulty; or perhaps just to move through water or in a rolling/wave-like manner
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.33 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.
yield = produce (lead to)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 3.26 |
2 —7 uses as in:
yield to pressure
The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.
yield = give in
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
Book | 7 uses |
Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4.38 |