accord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
done of her own accord
She was not forced. She did it of her own accord.
own accord = mind
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind — voluntarily (without anyone asking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
attain
2 uses
She was the first woman to attain the rank of general.
attain = gain or reach something with effort
Definition
Generally attain means:to gain or reach something with effort
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
burnish
1 use
burnished bronze
burnished = polished
Definition
Generally burnish means:polish and make shiny — especially metal
or more generally: to improve something — especially the impression that something makes
or more generally: to improve something — especially the impression that something makes
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
congregate
1 use
Planned demonstrations never materialized as a heavy presence of police and soldiers made it impossible for protesters to congregate.
congregate = gather together
Definition
Generally congregate means:come together as a group
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
conscientious
1 use
She is conscientious in the lab.
conscientious = careful and thorough
Definition
Generally conscientious means:careful to do what is right—especially to perform duties in a thorough manner (as when guided by conscience)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
devise
2 uses
She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.
devise = come up with (invent or create)
Definition
Generally this sense of devise means:to come up with a way of doing something — typically a creative idea or plan
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
humiliate
2 uses
She felt humiliated by his public insults.
humiliated = extremely embarrassed (feeling decreased dignity)
Definition
Generally humiliate means:extremely embarrass (decrease dignity, self-respect, or pride — especially in front of others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
mutilate
2 uses
The murder mutilates his victims bodies before killing them.
mutilates = severely damages — for example by cutting up
Definition
Generally mutilate means:severely damage — for example by cutting up
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
perceptible
2 uses
The car makes a barely perceptible clicking sound at high speeds.
perceptible = capable of being noticed
Definition
Generally perceptible means:capable of being noticed — typically because it is different enough or large enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
phosphorescence
6 uses
She loves to swim in the ocean on nights when phosphorescence shines in her wake.
phosphorescence = a dim glowing light
Definition
Generally phosphorescence means:a dim glowing light
or more technically: a fluorescence (dim light) created by a chemical reaction within a living organism; or a dim light that continues to shine from something after the bombarding radiation (stronger light that fell upon it) has ceased
or more technically: a fluorescence (dim light) created by a chemical reaction within a living organism; or a dim light that continues to shine from something after the bombarding radiation (stronger light that fell upon it) has ceased
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
precede
1 use
Stone tools preceded bronze tools.
preceded = were before in time
Definition
Generally precede means:to go or do before
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
proprietor
2 uses
After 40 years of greeting guests in person, the proprietor is retiring.
proprietor = the owner of a business
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
resolution
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Her resolution weakened.
She ran each mile of the marathon with increasing resolution.
resolution = determination
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
scythe
3 uses
fell like grass before a scythe
scythe = a tool for cutting grass that has a curved blade and a long handle that is held with both hands
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
sever
2 uses
She severed an artery.
severed = cut all the way through
Definition
Generally sever means:to split something into two unconnected parts — usually by cutting
or:
to break up a relationship; or separate from something
or:
to break up a relationship; or separate from something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
species
1 use
It is an endangered species.
species = a similar group of animals or plants identified as separate from others because they can interbreed with each other
Definition
Generally species means:a similar group of animals or plants identified as separate from others because they can interbreed (create baby animals) with each other
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a tentative plan
My plans are still tentative.
tentative = with an expectation that there may be changes
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
treachery
3 uses
Benedict Arnold remains the U.S.'s symbol of ultimate treachery.
treachery = an act of deliberate betrayal
Definition
Generally treachery means:the behavior of someone who pretends to be a friend and then tricks, cheats, or betrays
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
wallow
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a wagon wallowed through the mud
The tractor wallowed through the mud.
wallowed = moved with difficulty
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to move with difficulty; or perhaps just to move through water or in a rolling/wave-like manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |