adjacent
1 use
They climbed down into adjacent holes, and waited for the camp to fall asleep.
adjacent = nearby (close to each other)
From page 197.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally adjacent means:very near — often directly beside
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43, p.197.9 |
appreciate
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
I appreciate her efforts.
But if you want to buy a few extra onions for Mary Lou, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
appreciate = be grateful
Definition
Generally this sense of appreciate means:to recognize the value or importance of
and/or:
to be grateful for
and/or:
to be grateful for
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20, p.88.2 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is appropriate
He used to think he wanted to work for the F.B.I., but this didn't seem the appropriate place to mention that.
appropriate = right (suitable or fitting)
From page 57.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12, p.57.5 |
assume
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I assume it's true
I assume the phone works.
assume = accept as true (without really knowing)
From page 220.4 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of assume means:to accept something as true without proof
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 67 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 48, p.220.4 |
bacteria
5 uses
...he hoped, that he didn't get any of the bad bacteria.
bacteria = tiny organisms so small it takes a microscope to see them
Definition
Generally bacteria means:microorganisms (living creatures so small it takes a microscope to see them) that can both cause disease and be beneficial. They are different and larger than viruses.
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 35, p.157.3 |
comprehend
2 uses
It took a moment for Stanley to comprehend.
comprehend = understand
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 39, p.175.7 |
delirium
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
fever induced delirium
He was delirious when he said it.
delirious = mentally confused
Definition
Generally this sense of delirium means:a usually brief state of mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29, p.128.8 |
desolate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a desolate place
The land was barren and desolate.
desolate = empty, providing no shelter, water, or food
Definition
Generally this sense of desolate means:empty, providing no shelter or sustenance
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.11.7 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
It was the bitter smell of despair. Even if he could somehow climb Big Thumb, he knew he wouldn't find water.
despair = hopelessness
From page 171.3 Typical Usage
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 38, p.171.3 |
distinct
2 uses
They were still too far away to see the camp, but he could hear a blend of indistinct voices.
indistinct = not clear or easily identifiable
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indistinct means not and reverses the meaning of distinct. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indistinct means not and reverses the meaning of distinct. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally distinct means:clear, easily noticed, and/or identifiable as different or separate
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 30 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43, p.196.8 |
eviction
2 uses
In her last letter, his mom was worried that they might be evicted from their apartment because of the smell of burning sneakers.
evicted = forced to move out (by the owner of the building)
Definition
Generally eviction means:the process of forcing someone to leave a place — typically from a home due to non-payment
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 43, p.190.7 |
excavate
2 uses
[The dirt] expanded when it was excavated. The piles were a lot bigger than his hole was deep.
excavated = dug out
Definition
Generally excavate means:to dig out
in various senses, including:
- remove or lay bare — as when removing top soil to lay a foundation
- find or uncover — as at an archaeological site
- remove a part — as a tooth from the gum that surrounds it
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7, p.34.1 |
fugitive
2 uses
It would mean living the rest of his life as a fugitive.
fugitive = someone hiding from police
Definition
Generally this sense of fugitive means:someone who is running away or hiding to avoid arrest or an unpleasant situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42, p.188.2 |
initiate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
initiate discussions
The A.G. will most likely initiate an investigation.
initiate = start
From page 208.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of initiate means:to cause (something) to begin
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 46, p.208.3 |
neutral
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a carbon-neutral building
Made from all natural ingredients, it neutralizes odor-causing fungi and bacteria.
neutralizes = makes something have no effect
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
From page 232.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of neutral means:not affected by; or does not affect
The expression [x] neutral means two things do not affect each other. More specifically, it means one of two things depending upon context:
- something is not affected by x — for example "a revenue neutral tax plan" does not affect the amount of revenue collected. (It might raise taxes in one area and reduce them in another so that the total tax revenue is unchanged.)
- something does not affect x — for example "a carbon neutral home" is a home that does not affect carbon. Part of its design might include using solar energy to control climate rather than burning fossil fuels.
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 50, p.232.5 |
recite
3 uses
He recited the alphabet for Zero, then Zero repeated it without a single mistake.
recited = said out loud
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16, p.76.9 |
refuge
6 uses
If there was no water, no refuge, then they'd have nothing, not even hope.
refuge = safe place
Definition
Generally refuge means:something giving protection — especially a safe place
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21, p.93.1 |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
But those changes are subtle and hard to measure.
subtle = difficult to notice
From page 230.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 50, p.230.2 |
tedious
3 uses
But it would be boring to go through all the tedious details of all the changes in their lives.
tedious = boring
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 50, p.230 |
trace
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
found a trace of
"Yes, it is," the Warden agreed, with just a trace of disappointment in her voice.
trace = small amount
From page 214.6 Typical Usage
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 47, p.214.6 |