affirm
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her actions affirm my concerns
I've never been more loved and appreciated than when I tried to "justify" and affirm someone's mistaken beliefs;
affirm = demonstrate support or the truth of something
Definition
Generally this sense of affirm means:to demonstrate support or demonstrate the truth of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Epil. |
ambivalent
1 use
"I too have become acquainted with ambivalence," I said.
ambivalence = mixed feelings
Definition
Generally ambivalent means:having mixed feelings about something — such as when part of you wants to do something and part of you does not
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Pro. |
anguish
13 uses
For, despite my anguish and anger, I knew of no other way of living,
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
belligerent
3 uses
The white brothers looked uncomfortable and some of the Harlem brothers belligerent.
belligerent = hostile (eager to fight)
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
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 for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 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 | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
I was careful not to come too close to the rug now, and when I felt the hot whiskey breath descend upon me like a cloud of foul air I reached out and grabbed the leg of a chair.†
descend = come
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
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 |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
disdain
1 use
I disdain to answer such an attack.
disdain = reject (the attack) as unworthy
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
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 = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
eviction
24 uses
You were legally evicted.
evicted = forced to move from your home
Definition
Generally eviction means:the process of forcing someone to leave a place — typically from a home due to non-payment
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
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 |
inhibit
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
inhibited the growth of...
Somehow I felt that Bledsoe and Norton were behind it, and all day I was inhibited in both speech and conduct, for fear that I might say or do something scandalous.†
inhibited = limited
Definition
Generally this sense of inhibit means:to limit the activity of someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
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 2000 |
| 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 | 8 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 | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
refute
1 use
I leaned there, aching to humiliate them, to refute them.
refute = disprove the argument of
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
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 |