anecdote
1 use
Anyway he related long pointless anecdotes of his undergraduate days,
anecdotes = short stories (of things that really happened)
Definition
Generally anecdote means:a short story that is true — often told for amusement or to make a point
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
approbation
1 use
...shot his voice through the floor of Caddy's room tone of smug approbation.
approbation = approval
Definition
Generally approbation means:approval - often official
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
arbiter
2 uses
every man is the arbiter of his own virtues
arbiter = person who settles disputes
Definition
Generally arbiter means:someone who settles disputes — often because of reputation
or:
someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
or:
someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
arbitrary
2 uses
Of his niece he did not think at all, nor of the arbitrary valuation of the money.
arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
austere
1 use
...she sang, to herself at first, something without particular tune or words, repetitive, mournful and plaintive, austere,
austere = plain (without elaboration or decoration)
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 4 |
condone
1 use
She approved of Gerald associating with me... Forgave, at least. Or condoned.
condoned = accepted
Definition
Generally condone means:accept without criticism; or approve of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
congregation
1 use
...they dispersed to their seats and the congregation sat for an instant, expectant.
congregation = people who worship together in the same building
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
consternation
2 uses
They were still looking at him with consternation and unbelief when...
consternation = dismay (unhappiness, worry, and often confusion) — typically over something unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
diffident
1 use
I saw Roskus watching me ... diffident, secret, inarticulate and sad.
diffident = hesitant and unassertive due to a lack of self-confidence
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
distend
1 use
She chewed quietly and steadily; at regular intervals a small distension passed smoothly down her throat.
distension = swelling (in this case, made the throat stick out as it went down)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
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 2 |
divine
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
he was a graduate of the divinity school.
divinity = study of religion (God)
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
nostalgia
1 use
Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar.
nostalgic = with fond memory of the past
Definition
Generally nostalgia means:happiness that come with the memory of good times combined with a hint of sadness that those times are over
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
oblige (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
I obliged her every request.
You were obliging the W. C. T. U. then, I reckon.
obliging = being helpful to
Definition
Generally this sense of oblige means:grant a favor to someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
2 —5 uses as in:
I'm much obliged for your kindness
I'm much obliged to you.
obliged = grateful or indebted
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
pervasive
1 use
a pervading reek of camphor.
pervading = spreading
(editor's note: Reek means bad smell and camphor is a chemical that is often used to keep moths from destroying clothes.)
(editor's note: Reek means bad smell and camphor is a chemical that is often used to keep moths from destroying clothes.)
Definition
Generally pervasive means:existing throughout something; or generally widespread
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
The bird whistled again, invisible, a sound meaningless and profound, inflexionless, ceasing as though cut off with the blow of a knife,
profound = intense
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
putrid
2 uses
Created by disease, within putrefaction, into decay.
putrefaction = rotting (the process of biological decay)
(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 putrid means:rotting (an advanced state of decomposition) with a foul odor; or anything that is disgusting
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
reproach
3 uses
You were right to reproach me.
reproach = criticize
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
sonorous
1 use
...while the voice died in sonorous echoes between the walls.
sonorous = full and deep sounding
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
twilight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
pink clouds in a twilight sky
when we ran out of the trees I could see the twilight again, that quality of light as if time really had stopped for a while, with the sun hanging just under the horizon,
twilight = between daylight and darkness
Definition
Generally this sense of twilight means:the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |