accord
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
He was simply saying that according to the way he felt at the time the safety of his women was worth more than his own life.
according to = based upon (in keeping with)
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
adverse
1 use
could adversely affect the war effort
adversely = in a negative way (work against)
Definition
Generally adverse means:working against one's interests
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
anathema
1 use
Written in 1938 when pacifism was anathema to the American left and most of the center,
anathema = something intensely disliked
Definition
Generally anathema means:someone or something that is intensely disliked
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is appropriate
inappropriate to the times
inappropriate = not suitable or fitting
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in inappropriate means not and reverses the meaning of appropriate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in inappropriate means not and reverses the meaning of appropriate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
bewilder
2 uses
It was like the first time he went to school and was embarrassed and bewildered with so many people around.
bewildered = confused
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
bound and determined
1 use
Well if you're bound and determined to back out on our agreement I guess there's nothing I can do to stop you.†
bound and determined = firm in purpose and/or has a strong unconscious desire (to do something)
Definition
Generally bound and determined means:firm in purpose (to do something)
or:
has a strong unconscious desire (to do something)
or:
has a strong unconscious desire (to do something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
Carthage
4 uses
He thought of the slaves deep under the street levels of Carthage before the Romans came and destroyed the city.
Carthage = an ancient city state on the north African coast near modern Tunis; founded by Phoenicians; destroyed and rebuilt by Romans; razed by Arabs in 698
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
comprehend
1 use
With one quick rush of comprehension he understood what she was doing.
comprehension = understanding (especially complete understanding)
(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 comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
endure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
endured the pain
something so terrible and sickening that no one could endure the thought much less the action.
endure = suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
flexible
1 use
Then he got into his heavy clothes and his mackinaw and his boots and his sheepskin gloves and took his flexible flyer and went out with the rest of the kids and didn't come back till his feet were numb and his nose was frosty.†
flexible = bendable or adaptable
Definition
Generally flexible means:bendable or adaptable
in various senses, including:
- easily bent without physical damage or injury — as of a hose or gymnast
- able to adjust readily to different conditions — as of a plan
- willing to make concessions — as of a negotiator or a boss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
glimmer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a glimmer of hope
In the back of his mind something began to glimmer.
glimmer = arise (an inkling of a new thought — a slight indication of something)
Definition
Generally this sense of glimmer means:a slight indication of something — such as hope or interest
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
intrusion
1 use
It was so warm so secure so comforting to ... feel somehow that here was a place in the wilderness a place forever safe a place that could never be changed could never be harmed could never be intruded upon.
intruded = interrupted with an unwelcome entry
Definition
Generally intrusion means:an involvement or interruption that is unwelcome
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
liable
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she is liable to
Mike was liable to exaggerate when he got excited.
liable = likely to; or maybe going to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
metropolis
1 use
Shale City was really becoming a metropolis.†
metropolis = city
Definition
Generally metropolis means:city — especially a large city that is considered important
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
paralysis
2 uses
The pieces of skin on each side of his neck and the half of his forehead seemed to tingle as if they had been paralyzed and now were getting a fresh supply of blood.
paralyzed = lost the ability to move
Definition
Generally paralysis means:loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
or:
inability to act or make a decision
or:
inability to act or make a decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
recite
1 use
They could recite the whole thing any time of the year because it was the poem of Christmas.
recite = say something previously memorized aloud
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
Robinson Crusoe
1 use
He remembered how Robinson Crusoe was very careful to keep track of time even though he never had any appointments.†
Robinson Crusoe = Daniel Defoe's famous novel and the name of its main character — a shipwrecked English sailor who survives on a small tropical island (1719)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
stationery
2 uses
It was on a very expensive piece of stationery and written in a woman's hand.†
stationery = paper and envelopes for writing letters
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
summon
3 uses
He was twenty years old and he couldn't even summon enough strength to turn over in bed.
summon = call forth (from within)
Definition
Generally summon means:to call forth
The exact meaning of summon can depend upon its context. For example:
- "summon to court" — officially demand that someone appear in court (call them to court)
- "summon the team to a meeting" — call upon the team members to attend a meeting
- "summon help" — call others to come and help
- "summon her courage" — call forth her courage from within
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 35 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
torrent
2 uses
The rest of the letters tumbled into his mind in a perfect torrent.†
torrent = an overwhelming amount — especially of quickly moving water
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |