assiduous
1 use
She is an assiduous student who expects to earn A's.
assiduous = diligent (showing care and persistent effort)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
contrast
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
contrast their writing styles
Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.
contrast = point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
convey
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
convey her thoughts
Please convey my gratitude for her hospitality.
convey = communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
desist
1 use
The Federal Trade Commission ordered the company to cease-and-desist from making such claims.
desist = to 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 38 |
disdain
3 uses
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
efficacious
2 uses
The drug is safe and efficacious.
efficacious = effective in producing an intended effect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.
establishing = showing or demonstrating
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
grindstone
1 use
Do you have a grindstone to sharpen the knife?
grindstone = a revolving stone shaped like a disk that is used to grind, sharpen or polish
Definition
Generally grindstone means:a revolving stone shaped like a disk that is used to grind, sharpen or polish
or:
work — as in the expressions "back to the grindstone" (back to work) or "keep your nose to the grindstone" (keep working hard)
or:
work — as in the expressions "back to the grindstone" (back to work) or "keep your nose to the grindstone" (keep working hard)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
indulgent
4 uses
Indulgent parents risk spoiling their children.
indulgent = treating with extra kindness or leniency (in this case, not demanding enough of the children)
Definition
Generally indulgent means:to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
malevolent
7 uses
She tells vicious lies and spreads malevolent rumors.
malevolent = evil
Definition
Generally malevolent means:evil:
- of a person: wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
- of a thing: exerting an evil or harmful influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
passage
1 use
Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a perspective of the entire block
The penthouse window gives a perspective on half the city.
perspective = view
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a view — often stressing that the view is different from a view from another location
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
peruse
5 uses
Please peruse this report at your leisure.
peruse = read or examine
Definition
Generally peruse means:to read or examine
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
servile
1 use
She acknowledged her submission in a servile tone.
servile = excessively submissive
Definition
Generally servile means:submissive — typically excessively so (so submissive or eager to serve and please that one seems to have no self-respect)
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
shrewd
7 uses
She is a shrewd negotiator.
shrewd = smart
Definition
Generally shrewd means:smart — especially in negotiating with people (may infer underhanded dealings)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
stagnate
1 use
We don't want the economy to stagnate.
stagnate = stay still or not develop
Definition
Generally stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
sultry
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sultry afternoon
It was a sultry afternoon. I could barely breath.
sultry = hot and humid
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
supine
1 use
The Olympic luge team hits speeds of 80 m.p.h. while supine on their sled.
supine = lying down face upward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
sycophant
1 use
He was a sycophant to Stalin.
sycophant = a person who tries to flatter or please someone in authority in order to gain personal advantage
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
wallow
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
wallow in self-pity
Don't wallow in your sorrows.
wallow = indulge
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to indulge in an emotion or situation
(This is often said of something negative such as self-pity when no attempt is made to move beyond it. But it is also sometimes said without connotation just to indicate that someone has a lot of something such as money or luxury.)
(This is often said of something negative such as self-pity when no attempt is made to move beyond it. But it is also sometimes said without connotation just to indicate that someone has a lot of something such as money or luxury.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |