affirm
15 uses
I've never been more loved and appreciated than when I tried to "justify" and affirm someone's mistaken beliefs;
affirm = agree with (make a firm statement that it is true)
Definition
Generally affirm means:a firm statement that something is true
or:
expressing emotional support or encouragement for someone
or:
expressing emotional support or encouragement for someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
contempt
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
I could feel their eyes, saw them all and saw too the time when they would know that my prospects were ended and saw already the contempt they'd feel for me, a college man who had lost his prospects and pride.
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
decorum
5 uses
The honored guests moved silently upon the platform, herded toward their high, carved chairs by Dr. Bledsoe with the decorum of a portly head waiter.
decorum = manners and conduct considered to be proper
Definition
Generally decorum means:manners and conduct considered to be proper and in good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
denounce
11 uses
...they denounced the American scene as corrupt and degenerate,
denounced = strongly and publicly criticized
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
that always threatened internal discord
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
dispossess
31 uses
Too many have been dispossessed of their heritage, and we have banded together in brotherhood so as to do something about it.
dispossessed = deprived (had something taken away from them)
Definition
Generally dispossess means:to take away possession of something — especially real estate
Word Statistics
| Book | 31 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
diversity
3 uses
the principle lives on in all its human and absurd diversity.
diversity = variety
Definition
Generally diversity means:the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Epil. |
eloquent
9 uses
I had no words and no eloquence, and when Ras thundered, "Hang him!" I stood there facing them, and it seemed unreal.
eloquence = the powerful use of language
Definition
Generally eloquent means:powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
eviction
20 uses
You were legally evicted.
evicted = forced to move from your home
Definition
Generally eviction means:to force someone to leave — typically from the place they have lived due to non-payment
Word Statistics
| Book | 20 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
exhort
27 uses
exhorted and threatened
exhorted = urged strongly
Definition
Generally exhort means:to urge strongly
Word Statistics
| Book | 27 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
extol
1 use
"We of the younger generation extol the wisdom of that great leader and educator," I shouted,
extol = praise, glorify, or honor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
futile
5 uses
His name was Clifton, Tod Clifton, he was unarmed and his death was as senseless as his life was futile.
futile = pointless because it was unproductive or unsuccessful
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
integrity
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a person of high integrity
My ambition and integrity were nothing to them
integrity = having strong moral principles
Definition
Generally this sense of integrity means:having strong moral principles — especially honesty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
philanthropy
2 uses
the strength of philanthropic dollars
philanthropic = given as charity from the wealthy
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
what profound conclusions were they drawing?
profound = deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
with profound respect
profound = of great intensity
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
refute
1 use
I leaned there, aching to humiliate them, to refute them.
refute = prove false
Definition
Generally refute means:to prove or argue that something is false
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
subtle
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
Sometimes it appeared as though they played some vast and complicated game with me and the rest of the school folk, a game whose goal was laughter and whose rules and subtleties I could never grasp.
subtleties = distinctions that are hard to notice
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
superfluous
2 uses
So don't waste time with superfluous questions.
superfluous = more than is needed, desired, or required
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
suppress
9 uses
I hurried on, suppressing a savage urge to push my fist through the pane.
suppressing = keeping under control
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control — in many senses such as:
- to stop others from doing something by force
- to keep something from happening
- to keep news from spreading
- to control an emotion
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |