accompany
4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
accompany on the journey
But many came to the stage accompanied by another child beaming with pride to receive a little brother or sister, the way Jonas had when he was about to be a Five.
accompanied = joined
From page 43.4 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of accompany means:to travel along with
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.43.4 |
unquizzed meaning —3 uses
acknowledge
4 uses
It was a small thing, the standing; but no one had ever stood automatically to acknowledge Jonas's presence before.
acknowledge = recognize (showing respect)
Definition
Generally acknowledge means:express recognition of someone or something; or admit something
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.22.4 |
acquire
5 uses
We are convinced that Jonas has the ability to acquire wisdom.
acquire = obtain (come into possession of)
Definition
Generally acquire means:obtain (come into the possession of something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.12.9 |
anguish
7 uses
He sat in his dwelling alone, watching through the window, seeing children at play, citizens bicycling home from uneventful days at work, ordinary lives free of anguish because he had been selected, as others before him had, to bear their burden.
anguish = pain and distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13, p.100.9 |
apprehensive
5 uses
But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he thought about it, about what might happen. Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That's what I am.
apprehensive = worried about what will happen
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.79.2 |
appropriate
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
it is appropriate
"I'm feeling apprehensive," he confessed, glad that the appropriate descriptive word had finally come to him.
appropriate = suitable (fitting for a particular situation)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16, p.127.7 |
comprehend
4 uses
"But you will be faced, now," she explained gently, "with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience."
comprehend = understand
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11, p.82.1 |
conscious
13 uses
1 —12 uses as in:
environmentally conscious
The entire community had performed the Ceremony of Loss together, murmuring the name Caleb throughout an entire day, less and less frequently, softer in volume, as the long and somber day went on, so that the little Four seemed to fade away gradually from everyone's consciousness.
consciousness = awareness or concern
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally this sense of conscious means:aware or concerned about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.44.5 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
direct
14 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
directed her question to
There would be an announcement like that quite soon, he felt certain, and it would be directed mainly at Lily, though her name, of course, would not be mentioned.
directed = aimed (intended for)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.1.7 |
unquizzed meaning —9 uses
dwell
39 uses
1 —38 uses as in:
a modest dwelling
Go immediately to your dwelling at the conclusion of Training Hours each day.
dwelling = home
Definition
Generally this sense of dwelling means:a house or shelter in which someone lives
Word Statistics
| Book | 38 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.27.5 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
function (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
Its main function is to...
Without wisdom I could not fulfill my function of advising the Committee of Elders when they call upon me.
function = job
Definition
Generally this sense of function means:purpose, job, or natural activity
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.74.1 |
2 —1 use as in:
can't function well without sleep
And of course our community can't function smoothly if people don't use precise language.
function = operate
From page 127.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of function means:work or operate — sometimes to work or operate normally or in a particular way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16, p.127.5 |
meticulous
5 uses
All of it — all the things they had thought through so meticulously — fell apart. That night, Jonas was forced to flee.
meticulously = carefully with great attention to detail
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.48.6 |
nurture
44 uses
I'll have to select the one to be nurtured, and the one to be released.
nurtured = helped to develop and grow
Definition
Generally nurture means:help develop or grow
Word Statistics
| Book | 44 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.7.5 |
perceive
10 uses
1 —10 uses as in:
though blind, can perceive light
Suddenly he perceived the word for it: sunshine.
perceived = became aware of
Definition
Generally this sense of perceive means:to become aware of — especially by using the senses (to see, hear, smell, feel, or taste)
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11, p.81.5 |
precise
12 uses
1 —12 uses as in:
about noon; 12:03 to be precise
Even trained for years as they all had been in precision of language, what words could you use which would give another the experience of sunshine?
precision = exactness or accuracy
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally this sense of precise means:exact (accurate)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7, p.55.4 |
relinquish
4 uses
Each family member, including Lily, had been required to sign a pledge that they would not become attached to this little temporary guest, and that they would relinquish him without protest or appeal when he was assigned to his own family unit at next year's Ceremony.
relinquish = surrender (give away)
Definition
Generally relinquish means:to give something up, or to let go of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.46.6 |
solemn
8 uses
"We failed in our last selection," the Chief Elder said solemnly.
solemnly = in a very serious manner
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.45.3 |
subside
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
her anger subsided
"Everyone had access to memories. It was chaos," he said. "They really suffered for a while. Finally it subsided as the memories were assimilated. But it certainly made them aware of how they need a Receiver to contain all that pain."
subsided = become less severe
Definition
Generally this sense of subside means:become less intense, less severe, or less active — perhaps going away entirely
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.59.6 |