astute
1 use
Astute investors spread their risk instead of investing all their money in just one thing.
astute = smart and perceptive
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
confide
13 uses
She confided in her parents.
confided = told with the understanding that what was told would be kept secret
Definition
Generally confide means:tell with the understanding that what is told will be kept secret
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
contrary (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
on the contrary
She was not smiling. On the contrary, she frowned.
on the contrary = In opposition to what was just said
Definition
Generally this sense of on the contrary means:in opposition to what was just said
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
2 —2 uses as in:
to the contrary
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
to the contrary = with an opposite or different effect
Definition
Generally this sense of to the contrary means:with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
deviate
1 use
She never deviated from her goal of getting a good education and becoming a teacher.
deviated = strayed (changed)
Definition
Generally this sense of deviate means:differ or change
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
divined from tea leaves
She claims she can divine the future with a crystal ball.
divine = to predict or discover something supernaturally (as if by magic)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
engender
1 use
The police in Mexico don't engender confidence.
engender = cause
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
flourish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
the business is flourishing
The children are flourishing.
flourishing = thriving (growing or developing well)
Definition
Generally this sense of flourish means:to thrive (grow or develop well)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
2 —1 use as in:
dismissed them with a flourish
She entered with a great flourish.
flourish = showy gesture
Definition
Generally this sense of flourish means:a showy gesture
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
incantation
10 uses
She believes in the power of magical incantations.
incantations = creating a magical effect by saying words aloud
Definition
Generally incantation means:words believed to have a magical effect when they are said aloud; or the saying of such words
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
I'm inclined to believe him.
inclined = have a tendency; or an attitude or mood that favors something
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency; in the mood; or an attitude that favors something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
2 —2 uses as in:
on an incline or incline his head
I climbed down the incline.
incline = something that is at an angle (in this case, probably sloping land)
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
incredulous
10 uses
I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.
incredulous = difficult to believe
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
indignant
11 uses
She was indignant, but agreed to be searched when they accused her of shoplifting.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
loathe
8 uses
I make New Year's resolutions every year and then loathe myself for breaking them.
loathe = detest or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ominous
7 uses
I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.
ominous = threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
I know you're unhappy there, but don't submit your resignation until you find a better job.
resignation = a document expressing that someone is quitting a job
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = having accepted something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
The puppy approached us tentatively until it knew we wouldn't harm it.
tentatively = done in a careful way indicating a lack of confidence
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |