accompany
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accompany on the journey
The nurse accompanies the old woman everywhere.
accompanies = travels 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 7 |
accord (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 19 uses
1 —14 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
She will get a fair trial in accordance with the law.
accordance = keeping
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
2 —4 uses as in:
done of her own accord
She was not forced. She did it of her own accord.
own accord = own mind — voluntarily (without anyone asking)
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
3 —1 use as in:
accord her the respect deserved
They expect to be accorded the same respect as any other nuclear armed nation.
accorded = given special treatment
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:to give someone special treatment — especially respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 13 uses
1 —12 uses as in:
approached the city
Winter is approaching.
approaching = getting nearer
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
2 —1 use as in:
approached her with the proposal
They approached her about becoming a member of the committee.
approached = began communication with
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
austere
1 use
He took a vow of silence and leads an austere life at the monastery.
austere = lacking luxury (and stern)
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 20 |
bard
14 uses
Shakespeare is sometimes called the Bard of Avon.
bard = someone who composes poems about important events and people
Definition
Generally this sense of bard means:someone who composes and recites or sings poems about important events and people; or (as a proper noun) Shakespeare
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
bound (5 meanings)
5 meanings, 30 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
She's bound to succeed.
She's bound to get into a good college.
bound = almost certain to
Definition
Generally this sense of bound means:almost certain to; or determined to
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
bound together
The pieces of bread are moistened and bound together with eggs and a small amount of flour.
bound = held together
Definition
Generally this sense of bound means:held together (connected or united) or wrapped
The exact meaning of this sense of bound is subject to its context. For example:
- "The pages of the book are bound with glue." — held together physically
- "The book is bound in leather." — wrapped or covered
- "The United States and England are bound together by a common language." — connected or united (tied together metaphorically)
- "She cleaned the wound and bound it with fresh bandages." — wrapped
- "She is wheelchair-bound." — connected (moves with a wheelchair because she is unable to walk)
- "The jacket has bound buttonholes." — edges wrapped by fabric or trim rather than stitches
- "She's the one in the bound-edge hat." — where the edge of the hat is wrapped in a decorative material.
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
3 —18 uses as in:
I can't/must. I'm bound by...
The suspect sat in the cell with her wrists bound by rope.
bound = tied together
Definition
Generally this sense of bound means:to be constrained in some way — such as tied up, prevented, required, or obligated
The exact meaning of this sense of bound is subject to its context. For example:
- "Her wrists were bound." — tied up
- "I am bound by my word." — required or obligated (in this case to keep a promise)
- "It is a binding contract." — must be obeyed (The people who signed the contract are legally required to do what it says or suffer legal penalties.)
- "He is muscle bound." — prevented from moving easily (due to having such large, tight muscles)
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
4 —2 uses as in:
the binding is loose
The library buys books with a durable binding or rebinds them to make them stronger.
binding = things that hold the pages together (in this case, careful assembly with glue and perhaps strings)
Definition
Generally this sense of binding means:something that holds things together, or wraps or covers or ties something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
5 —3 uses as in:
The deer bound across the trail.
She's the sort of person who bounds out of bed in the morning and runs five miles before starting her day.
bounds = jumps
Definition
Generally this sense of bound means:to leap or jump
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34 |
disparage
1 use
She has a reputation for disparaging the efforts of her co-workers.
disparaging = criticizing or making seem less important
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.
illustrate = make clear
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
nevertheless
14 uses
The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.
nevertheless = in spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally nevertheless means:in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
tone
25 uses
Which of the following words best maintains the tone established in this passage.
tone = general feeling
Definition
Generally this sense of tone means:the general feeling, mood, or attitude of something — especially of something said or written
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
trace (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 15 uses
1 —9 uses as in:
found a trace of
There was not a trace of the defendant's DNA at the crime scene.
trace = a tiny quantity or indication
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
- a small indication that something was present — as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
- a very small amount of something — as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
- any evidence of something — as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
2 —5 uses as in:
trace the origin or development
Early cat domestication is traced back to China over 5,000 years ago.
traced = found through investigation
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:to find, search, research, or keep track of
This sense of trace usually has to do with information. It's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
to find or search for something through investigation — often the origin of something:
- "The police traced the call." — found out where it originated
- "We are tracing the lost luggage" — searching for
- "Can you trace the problem to its source?" — find through investigation
- "She traced her family history to discover that her great-grandmother came to the United States from Lithuania when the Nazis occupied it." — discovered something through investigation
to research or report on the development of something
- "She traced the history of the automobile in her paper." — researched the development of something
- "Her presentation traced recent progress in alternative energy solutions." — reported on
to monitor or keep track of the progress or development of something
- "She traces the progress of at-risk students." — monitors information
- "I used binoculars to trace her progress up the mountain." — monitor, follow, or track
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
3 —1 use as in:
trace a picture or outline
She didn't have a camera or a copier, so she used a pencil to trace an outline of the picture on thin paper.
trace = draw (by following the image)
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:copy the lines of an image; or draw an outline; or carefully draw a specific pattern
This sense of trace has to do with drawing, but it's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
copying the outline of an image
- "She used tracing paper to make a copy." — paper you can see through, so that when it is placed on a picture, you can use a pencil to follow the lines of the image being copied
- "She projected the image onto the wall, hung a sheet of paper there, and traced the projected image onto the paper." — followed the lines with her pencil
draw an outline or a specific pattern
- "She used her toe to trace half the fish symbol in the sand." — draw a simple outline
- "The child used a stick to trace circles and swirls in the mud." — draw
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |