assuage
3 uses
Harry felt that nothing but action would assuage his feelings of guilt and grief
assuage = soothe
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
capacious
1 use
Opening it, she proceeded to force the painting inside and despite the fact that it was patently too large to fit inside the tiny bag, within a few seconds it had vanished, like so much ease, into the bag's capacious depths.
capacious = large in capacity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
This was in contrast the only Wizarding photograph on the walls which was a picture of four Hogwarts students standing arm in arm, laughing at the camera.
in contrast = in a comparison that shows differences
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
They had descended two more floors when another set of quiet joined theirs.
descended = moved downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
...leaving the eyeless dementors to glide amongst the Muggles who might not be able to see them, but would assuredly feel the despair they cast wherever they went.
despair = hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
the screams and bangs and all the discordant sounds of the battle
discordant = unpleasant (sounds)
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
distend
1 use
As Scabior said it, Harry's scar, which was stretched tight across his distended forehead, burned savagely.
distended = extended or swollen
Definition
Generally distend means:to extend — especially the swelling outward of a part of the body; e.g., the stomach
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
dogmatic
1 use
"I recognize the grooved markings around the base, that's an Erumpent horn and it's incredibly dangerous - I don't know where you got it-"
"I bought it," said Xenophilius dogmatically.
"I bought it," said Xenophilius dogmatically.
dogmatically = insisting what she says is the absolute truth
Definition
Generally dogmatic means:prone to stating opinions as absolute truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
immaterial
1 use
That is immaterial!
immaterial = not important, or not relevant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
Monsieur
11 uses
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were now sleeping in the sitting room, having shouted down Monsieur and Madame Delacour's protests
Monsieur = Mr. (in French)
(editor's note: And Madame is the French way to address a female.)
(editor's note: And Madame is the French way to address a female.)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to the English Mr.
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
obligatory
1 use
It's a change, because it was never obligatory before.
obligatory = required
Definition
Generally obligatory means:required (by rule, law, or expectation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
perfidy
1 use
In spite of my perfidy, she was desperate to see me one more time.
perfidy = deliberate betrayal
Definition
Generally perfidy means:an act of deliberate betrayal; or such behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Keep it in perspective
That really puts our sufferings into perspective, doesn't it?†
perspective = a sensible view of a situation
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
reflect (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 11 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
reflect in the mirror
Harry sat up and examined the jagged piece on which he had cut himself, seeing nothing but his own bright green eye reflected back at him.
reflected = shown (back)
Definition
Generally this sense of reflect means:show an image back (on a mirror or other shiny surface)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —2 uses as in:
reflect American Values
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione; their expressions reflected the mingled shock and gratitude he felt.
reflected = expressed
Definition
Generally this sense of reflect means:to show something — such as to demonstrate, express, or represent
The exact meaning of this sense of reflect depends upon its context. For example:
- "She says the immorality in the movie reflects American values." — expresses or represents
- "It reflects the selfishness she had seen growing for years." — demonstrates
- "She did not reflect the panic that surrounded her." — demonstrate or show indication of
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
3 —2 uses as in:
reflect the light/heat/sound
the landscape seemed to grow larger and more detailed as he squinted over the side of the dragon, and he wondered whether it had divined the presence of fresh water by the flashes of reflected sunlight.
reflected = bounced back
Definition
Generally this sense of reflect means:bounce back (rather than absorbing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
remorse
10 uses
When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse.
remorse = a feeling of deep regret
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
sanguine
1 use
Harry, who did not feel as sanguine as he had pretended when reassuring Hermione, was glad to reach the gate and the slippery pavement.
sanguine = confidently optimistic and cheerful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
serpent
11 uses
Voldemort swept from the room without a backward glance, and the great serpent floated after him
serpent = snake
Definition
Generally serpent means:a snake
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
venerate
1 use
He venerated Snape, the first Slytherin headmaster since he himself had controlled the school,
venerated = respected
Definition
Generally venerate means:regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |