abstruse
1 use
The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them.
abstruse = difficult to understand
Definition
Generally abstruse means:difficult to understand; or not known by the great majority of people
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
acquire
5 uses
Children acquire language at an amazing rate.
acquire = obtain (get)
Definition
Generally acquire means:obtain (come into the possession of something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
antediluvian
1 use
Someone needs to replace her and her antediluvian ideas.
antediluvian = ancient
Definition
Generally antediluvian means:very old; or relating to the period before the biblical flood
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
augment
1 use
Our school hired a new counselor to augment our college counseling service.
augment = enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
cease
7 uses
They signed a cease-fire agreement.
cease = to stop or discontinue (in this case, to stop firing weapons at each other)
Definition
Generally cease means:to stop or discontinue
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
circumscribe
1 use
I will not let their expectations circumscribe how I live my life.
circumscribe = restrict the boundaries of
Definition
Generally circumscribe means:to restrict something within set limits; or draw a circle around or surround
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
comprehend
6 uses
I don't think she comprehends how dangerous this has become.
comprehends = fully understands
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
conciliatory
1 use
Their statements are conciliatory, but their actions are uncompromising.
conciliatory = intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
despondent
1 use
When her mother died, she was so despondent it was hard for her to get out of bed.
despondent = emotionally depressed
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
earnest
6 uses
I began training in earnest the summer before high school.
in earnest = in a serious manner
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
futile
1 use
Resistance is futile.
futile = pointless because it cannot produce anything useful
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
impetuous
1 use
She regretted her impetuous promise.
impetuous = impulsive (made suddenly without much thought)
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
inevitable
1 use
It is as inevitable as death and taxes.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
innate
1 use
She has an innate musical talent that cannot be taught.
innate = present at birth
Definition
Generally innate means:of a quality: present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
odious
1 use
Though they think the country's government is odious, they're unwilling to help topple it for fear of the consequences.
odious = worthy of hate
Definition
Generally odious means:extremely unpleasant, disgusting, dislikable, or worthy of hate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
recite
7 uses
She recited a poem.
recited = said the lines of
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
remonstrate
1 use
When she has a complaint with her staff, she will remonstrate quietly and in private.
remonstrate = criticize or argue
Definition
Generally remonstrate means:argue, complain, or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
sufficient
7 uses
We have sufficient supplies.
sufficient = adequate (enough)
Definition
Generally sufficient means:adequate (enough — often without being more than is needed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
sultry
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sultry afternoon
It was a sultry afternoon. I could barely breath.
sultry = hot and humid
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
vivacious
1 use
She's a charming and vivacious hostess.
vivacious = has an engaging liveliness
Definition
Generally vivacious means:having an engaging liveliness — when said of a person, typically said of a female
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |