acquisition
3 uses
The acquisition of wisdom will come through his training.
acquisition = getting (obtaining)
Definition
Generally acquisition means:obtaining possession of something; or the thing possessed
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7, p.54.40 |
annex
13 uses
1 —13 uses as in:
annex of the main building
Jonas nodded, waved to her, and headed around the building toward the Annex, a small wing attached to the back.
annex = an addition that extends a main building
Definition
Generally this sense of annex means:an addition that extends a main building
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
or:
to attach something — especially to something larger or more important
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.68.45 |
aptitude
3 uses
She mentioned that there was one who had singular skills at caretaking, another who loved newchildren, one with unusual scientific aptitude, and a fourth for whom physical labor was an obvious pleasure.
aptitude = natural ability
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.15.40 |
assimilate
1 use
Finally it subsided as the memories were assimilated.
assimilated = taken in
Definition
Generally assimilate means:take in, transform, or fit in
in various senses including
in various senses including
- a person with differences fitting into a prevailing culture
- information transformed within the mind into understanding
- nutrients transformed within the body for its use
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13, p.104.51 |
assuage
1 use
It was not enough to assuage the pain that Jonas was beginning, now, to know.
assuage = soothe
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14, p.110.90 |
augment
1 use
...the careful division of scraps of food, augmented by what he could find in the fields.
augmented = increased
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21, p.168.32 |
congregate
1 use
He and his groupmates congregated by the tables in front of the Auditorium and took their packaged food.
congregated = came together
Definition
Generally congregate means:come together as a group
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.47.27 |
crescendo
1 use
They applauded at the final Assignment; but the applause was piecemeal, no longer a crescendo of united enthusiasm.
crescendo = maximum intensity
Definition
Generally crescendo means:a gradual increase in intensity; or the time of maximum intensity — especially in the loudness of music
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.59.13 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dispose of the waste
He had, of course, disposed of the apple and made his apology to the Recreation Director the next morning, before school.
disposed = thrown away
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:to throw away
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.23.58 |
disposition
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a kind disposition
Jonas's mother, for example, had higher intelligence than his father; but his father had a calmer disposition.
disposition = normal mood
Definition
Generally this sense of disposition means:someone's normal mood, personality, or inclination
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.7.44 |
distend
1 use
"Why?" Jonas asked him after he had received a torturous memory in which he had been neglected and unfed; the hunger had caused excruciating spasms in his empty, distended stomach.
distended = extended or swollen
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 14, p.111.4 |
empower
2 uses
Now, empowered to ask questions of utmost rudeness — and promised answers — he could, conceivably (though it was almost unimaginable), ask someone, some adult, his father perhaps: "Do you lie?"
empowered = given authority or power
Definition
Generally empower means:give or delegate authority or power to
or:
give knowledge or confidence to someone that permits doing something
or:
give knowledge or confidence to someone that permits doing something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.71.70 |
impede
1 use
But the hill was treacherously steep; he was impeded by the snow and his own lack of strength.
impeded = slowed
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 23, p.177.72 |
indolent
1 use
What we observe as playfulness and patience — the requirements to become Nurturer — could, with maturity, be revealed as simply foolishness and indolence.
indolence = laziness
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.61.78 |
integral
1 use
It was an integral part of the learning of precise speech.
integral = necessary
Definition
Generally this sense of integral means:an essential part or characteristic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.70.73 |
lapse
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a lapse in judgement
He couldn't seem to stop, though for each lapse the discipline wand came again, escalating to a series of painful lashes that left marks on Asher's legs.
lapse = bad behavior due to a lack of effort or diligence
Definition
Generally this sense of lapse means:a change in behavior or state—usually undesired
The exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context. For example:
The exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context. For example:
- usually undesired — as in "lapsed into alcoholism"
- often short-term and due to a lack of effort or diligence — as in "a lapse in judgment"
- often back to a previous undesired behavior or state — as in "lapsed into her old bad habits"
- sometimes a break in continuity which is not necessarily negative — as in "There was a lapse in the conversation," or "She stopped talking as she lapsed into her own internal world."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7, p.55.86 |
obsolete
2 uses
Snow made growing food difficult, limited the agricultural periods. ... It wasn't a practical thing, so it became obsolete when we went to Sameness.
obsolete = no longer in use
Definition
Generally obsolete means:no longer in general use because it was replaced by something better
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11, p.84.6 |
rigorous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a rigorous math class
Only one of us here today has ever undergone the rigorous training required of a Receiver.
rigorous = difficult and demanding
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.62.65 |
supplementary
1 use
But he isn't growing as fast as he should, and he doesn't sleep soundly. We have him in the extra care section for supplementary nurturing, but the committee's beginning to talk about releasing him.
supplementary = additional (extra)
(editor's note: In this context, nurturing means giving care such as trying to assure that he eats enough.)
(editor's note: In this context, nurturing means giving care such as trying to assure that he eats enough.)
Definition
Generally supplementary means:additional — possibly improving, completing, or make up for a deficiency of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.7.52 |
transgress
4 uses
His transgressions were small ones, always: shoes on the wrong feet, schoolwork misplaced, failure to study adequately for a quiz.
transgressions = breaking of rules
Definition
Generally transgress means:to violate a rule, promise, or social norm
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.45.88 |