Achilles
23 uses
In the Iliad, Achilles is proud, arrogant, and too easily offended.
Achilles = mythical Greek hero of the Iliad
Definition
Generally this sense of Achilles means:mythical Greek hero of the Iliad; central character and foremost Greek warrior at the siege of Troy
Word Statistics
| Book | 23 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
arbitration
1 use
They submitted their disagreement to binding arbitration.
arbitration = the hearing and settling of a dispute by an impartial referee
Definition
Generally arbitration means:the process of solving a disagreement with the help of an impartial referee
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 22 |
attribute (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 11 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
It is an attribute of...
The spreadsheet has a column to describe the breed of dog and then ten additional columns to indicate attributes of the breeds. For example the second column has the average full-grown weight.
attributes = characteristics
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:a characteristic (of something or someone)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Foot |
2 —9 uses as in:
I attribute it to...
She attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.
attributed = credited (pointed to as the source of)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend from royalty
She descended from an old Italian noble family.
descended = came from (had as an ancestor)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to have come down a path from the past; i.e., to originate or come from — such as in reference to ancestors or evolutionary origins
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 20 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
There is too much discord in the team.
discord = conflict
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
disdain
32 uses
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 32 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 5 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
Troops were disposed strategically along the northern border.
disposed = placed
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
divine
13 uses
1 —13 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
Her pies are divine.
divine = wonderful
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
illustrate
3 uses
1 —3 uses 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Foot |
Jupiter
11 uses
Jupiter is the Roman counterpart to the Greek Zeus.†
Jupiter = Roman mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
Mars
8 uses
Mars is the Roman counterpart to the Greek Ares.†
Mars = Roman mythology: god of war and agriculture; father of Romulus and Remus
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
mortal
29 uses
1 —29 uses as in:
mortal body
Don't expect perfection of a mere mortal.
mortal = human
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 29 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
passage
2 uses
Each passage below is followed by a number of questions.
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Foot |
polygamy
1 use
The mainstream Mormon Church renounced polygamy more than a century ago.
polygamy = the practice of a husband having more than one wife at the same time
Definition
Generally polygamy means:the practice of being married to more than one person at the same time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Foot |
vengeance
64 uses
1 —64 uses as in:
vengeance is mine
Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.
vengeance = revenge
Definition
Generally this sense of vengeance means:the act of taking revenge
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 64 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
Venus
9 uses
In Roman mythology, Venus is the counterpart to the Greek Aphrodite.†
Venus = Roman mythology: goddess of love
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
Vulcan
9 uses
Vulcan is the Roman counterpart to the Greek Hephaestus.†
Vulcan = Roman mythology: god of fire and metal working
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 28 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.
yield = produce (lead to)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 7 |
2 —25 uses as in:
yield to pressure
The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.
yield = give in
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |