accompany
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accompany on the journey
Harry bit back his retort, scared that he had gone too far, that he had ruined his chance of accompanying Dumbledore, but Dumbledore went on, 'Do you wish to come with me tonight?'
accompanying = traveling along with
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 25 |
austere
1 use
There was no cheerful Hagrid waiting for them at King's Cross Station. Instead, two grim-faced, bearded Aurors in dark Muggle suits ... marched them into the station without speaking.
"Quick, quick, through the barrier," said Mrs. Weasley, who seemed a little flustered by this austere efficiency.
"Quick, quick, through the barrier," said Mrs. Weasley, who seemed a little flustered by this austere efficiency.
austere = stern (lacking comfort)
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
bewilder
11 uses
All three of the Gaunts seemed to have forgotten Ogden, who was looking both bewildered and irritated at this renewed outbreak of incomprehensible hissing and rasping.
bewildered = confused
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
confide
13 uses
It had been here, in this very room, that Dumbledore had told him that he was to confide the contents of their lessons to nobody but Ron and Hermione.
confide = tell confidentially
Definition
Generally confide means:to place trust (in someone) by talking about private things or telling secrets
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
"You're right, Draco," said Narcissa, with a contemptuous glance at Hermione, "now I know the kind of scum that shops here..."
contemptuous = showing disgust and a lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
contrary (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
on the contrary
Ginny did not seem at all upset about the breakup with Dean; on the contrary, she was the life and soul of the team.
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
2 —2 uses as in:
to the contrary
Harry had wondered whether Dumbledore would return from wherever he had been in time for Monday night's lesson, but having had no word to the contrary, he presented himself outside Dumbledore's office at eight o'clock, knocked, and was told to enter.
to the contrary = with a 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
For or the rest of the week's Potions lessons Harry continued to follow the Half-Blood Prince's instructions wherever they deviated from Libatius Borage's, with the result that by their fourth lesson Slughorn was raving about Harrys abilities, saying that he had rarely taught anyone so talented.
deviated = differed
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 |
endure
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
endured the pain
There were Slytherin taunts to be endured next day,
endured = suffered through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
incantation
11 uses
So you just decided to try out an unknown, handwritten incantation and see what would happen?
incantation = words or sounds believed to have a magical effect
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 | 11 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
Personally, I am inclined to think that she used a love potion.
inclined = favoring (tending toward)
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
Voldemort inclined his head, unsmiling, and took another sip of wine.
inclined = angled
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
incredulous
10 uses
...read it through looking increasingly incredulous.
incredulous = like it was unbelievable
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
indifferent
9 uses
Keeping his face as immobile and his voice as indifferent as he could, he asked, "How come?"
indifferent = uninterested
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
indignant
11 uses
To general indignation, a sign went up on all common-room noticeboards that the next trip into Hogsmeade had been cancelled.
indignation = anger at something unjust
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally indignant means: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
Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principle.
loathed = detested or intensely disliked
Definition
Generally loathe means:hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ostentatious
2 uses
Malfoy yawned ostentatiously.
ostentatiously = in a showy way (intended to attract notice)
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
The whole Wizarding community has been screaming for my resignation for a fortnight.
resignation = quitting (from 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 | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
I think we must resign ourselves to the fact that they will, at some point, realize we are not Lord Voldemort.
resign = accept 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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
Quietly, tentatively, Harry spoke into the darkness.
tentatively = in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |