adulation
1 use
The adulation that Trout was receiving, mindless and illiterate as it was, affected Trout like marijuana.
adulation = much admiration and praise
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
altercation
1 use
As the Americans were waiting to move on, an altercation broke out in their rear-most rank.
altercation = a noisy argument or fight
Definition
Generally altercation means:a noisy argument, confrontation, or fight
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
anecdote
2 uses
Billy Pilgrim had not heard this anecdote.
anecdote = a short story that is true — often told for amusement or to make a point
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
atom
7 uses
By 1942, however, we knew that the Germans were working feverishly to find a way to add atomic energy to all the other engines of war with which they hoped to enslave the world.
atomic = the smallest part of any material that cannot be broken up by chemical means; comprised of a nucleus of protons and neutrons surrounded by orbiting electrons
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
clemency
1 use
There was no recommendation for clemency in the case
clemency = leniency (kindness or mercy) shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
Definition
Generally this sense of clemency means:mercy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
convention (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
to convene
an international convention of optometrists in Montreal
convention = formal gathering
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:a large conference or meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
conventional behavior
...where 135,000 people died as the result of an at attack with conventional weapons.
conventional = normal or typical (in this case standard acceptable weapons that weren't nuclear)
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
diffident
1 use
There were diffident raps at the factory window.
diffident = hesitant and unassertive due to a lack of self-confidence
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
gospel
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a gospel song
He supposed that the intent of the Gospels was to teach people, among other things, to be merciful, even to the lowest of the low.
gospels = one of the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that Christians believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
Definition
Generally this sense of gospel means:the religious teachings of Jesus
or:
one of the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that Christian's believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
or:
a type of vocal music that originated in African-American churches in the United States
or:
one of the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that Christian's believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
or:
a type of vocal music that originated in African-American churches in the United States
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
lament
2 uses
He wondered what tragedy so many had found to lament out of doors.
lament = grieve (or express grief about)
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
listless
5 uses
They would inevitably surface within a rectangle of barbed wire, would find themselves greeted listlessly by dying Russians who spoke no English, who had no food or useful information or escape plans of their own.
listlessly = with a lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
Definition
Generally listless means:lacking energy and normal enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
lugubrious
2 uses
Derby now came to lugubrious attention.
lugubrious = excessively mournful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
massacre
7 uses
And Billy had seen the greatest massacre in European history, which was the firebombing of Dresden.
massacre = the savage and excessive killing of many people
Definition
Generally massacre means:the savage and excessive killing of many people
or:
to defeat an opponent by a wide margin
or:
to defeat an opponent by a wide margin
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
mitigate
1 use
their motives were those of bigotry unmitigated
unmitigated = complete (not diminished)
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
optometry
22 uses
Her father owns the optometry school where Billy was going.
optometry = the practice of testing eyesight and providing glasses or contact lenses to improve vision
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
prescribe
3 uses
He was doing nothing less now, he thought, then prescribing corrective lenses for Earthling souls.
prescribing = of a medical doctor: to give medical instructions — such as writing that a patient should have antibiotics
or:
to recommend — especially with expertise
or:
to require by rule
or:
to recommend — especially with expertise
or:
to require by rule
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
render (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
rendered service or a verdict
...and the great services they rendered to Christianity.
rendered = gave
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to give or supply something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
rendered with, or rendered from
...and another pamphlet of German phrases rendered in English phonetics,
rendered = translated
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to portray or create something in a particular way; or to interpret, translate, or extract from
(see word notes for more detailed definitions based on context)
(see word notes for more detailed definitions based on context)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
simulate
2 uses
The head zoo keeper ordered a crane operator, who was standing by, to drop a navy blue canopy over the dome, thus simulating Earthling night inside.
simulating = imitating
Definition
Generally simulate means:make an imitation or representation of
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
'Doctor,' said the patient tentatively.
tentatively = done in a careful way indicating a lack of confidence
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |