acquisition
3 uses
The acquisition of wisdom will come through his training.
acquisition = possession (getting)
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.54.4 |
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.68.5 |
aptitude
3 uses
Well, it was clear to me — and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too — what my aptitude was.
aptitude = natural ability
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.15.4 |
attribute
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
It is an attribute of...
"The fourth essential attribute," the Chief Elder said, "is wisdom."
attribute = characteristic
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:a characteristic (of something or someone)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.61.7 |
chastise
10 uses
It was a minor rule, rather like rudeness, punishable only by gentle chastisement.
chastisement = criticism
Definition
Generally chastise means:to scold or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.20.9 |
correspond
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
corresponding time period
All of the factors — disposition, energy level, intelligence, and interests — had to correspond and to interact perfectly.
correspond = fit together
From page 48.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of correspond means:connect or fit together by being equivalent, proportionate, or matched
(Two things are equivalent if they have the same or very similar value, purpose, or result.)
(Two things are equivalent if they have the same or very similar value, purpose, or result.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.48.8 |
designate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 5 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
designated driver
"For example," she said, smiling, "we did not consider for an instant designating Asher an Instructor of Threes." ... The Instructors of Threes were in charge of the acquisition of correct language.
designating = assigning
Definition
Generally this sense of designate means:assign someone or something for a particular purpose
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7, p.54.3 |
2 —2 uses as in:
designated by a star on the map
The little girl nodded and looked down at herself, at the jacket with its row of large buttons that designated her as a Seven.
designated = indicated
Definition
Generally this sense of designate means:indicate or signify (show something in a particular way)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.40.8 |
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 typical way of behaving
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.7.4 |
distraught
3 uses
I guess I just got distraught, watching them.
distraught = severely worried or dismayed
Definition
Generally distraught means:extremely distressed—typically with worry or grief
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.4.1 |
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 | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.71.7 |
excruciating
4 uses
Almost instantly the excruciating pain in his hand had diminished to the throb which was, now, all he could recall of the experience.
excruciating = extremely painful
Definition
Generally excruciating means:extremely painful—physically as from a toothache or emotionally as from embarrassment
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.70.1 |
fleeting
6 uses
It must be a unanimous choice of the Committee. They can have no doubts, however fleeting. If, during the process, an Elder reports a dream of uncertainty, that dream has the power to set a candidate aside instantly.
fleeting = short-lived (lasting just a short time)
Definition
Generally fleeting means:lasting a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.62.1 |
lapse
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a lapse in judgement
...for each lapse the discipline wand came again, escalating to a series of painful lashes that left marks on Asher's legs. Eventually, for a period of time, Asher stopped talking altogether, when he was a Three. But he learned. ... When he began to talk again, it was with greater precision.
lapse = instance of forgetting to do the right thing
Definition
Generally this sense of lapse means:a change in behavior or state—usually undesired such as a temporary failure
The exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context:
- basic example that simply indicates an undesired change in behavior — "lapsed into alcoholism"
- example indicating that the change was short-term and due to a failure (often of effort or diligence) — "a lapse in judgment"
- example indicating return to a previous undesired behavior or state — "lapsed into her old bad habits"
- examples indicating a change in what was occurring where the change is not necessarily negative — "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.55.9 |
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.84.1 |
reflect (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I want to reflect on it.
The evening proceeded as all evenings did in the family unit, in the dwelling, in the community: quiet, reflective, a time for renewal and preparation for the day to come.
reflective = thoughtful
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
From page 25.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of reflect means:think carefully — possibly aloud or in writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.25.9 |
2 —2 uses as in:
reflect poorly on the school
But each such error reflected negatively on his parents' guidance and infringed on the community's sense of order and success.
reflected = influenced opinion
Definition
Generally this sense of reflect means:influence opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.45.9 |
successor
5 uses
My job is important and has enormous honor. But that does not mean I am perfect, and when I tried before to train a successor, I failed.
successor = replacement
Definition
Generally successor means:replacement — typically a person who takes the job of another person, but it can also be a thing that replaces something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.60.9 |
tentative
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
said it tentatively
"Sir," Jonas said tentatively, "I would be very interested to hear the story of your life, and to listen to your memories."
tentatively = in a hesitant, unsure manner
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.77.3 |
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
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", 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 discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", 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 discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
Definition
Generally transgress means:to violate a rule, promise, or social norm
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.45.9 |