abrupt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an abrupt change
Abruptly, not knowing beforehand that he would do it, he plucked the small ring from his little finger.
abruptly = suddenly and unexpectedly
Definition
Generally this sense of abrupt means:sudden and unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.4 |
acute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
acute pain
Lee, watching, felt a sudden acute depression.
acute = severely negative
Definition
Generally this sense of acute means:sharp (severe or strong) — usually negative
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
His wife attributes his death to the judgment of God.†
attributes = credits (a source for something)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Aft. |
brevity
1 use
I have condensed some of the action, for the sake of clarity, and eliminated some minor characters, for brevity;
brevity = make it shorter
Definition
Generally brevity means:the use of just a few words; or lasting a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Frwd. |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
All these men had nothing but contempt for the Yankees, whom they had beaten so often.
contempt = disrespect
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
converge
7 uses
The roads all converged, weblike, to Gettysburg.
converged = came together
Definition
Generally converge means:to come together; or to be adjacent or similar
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
"The General, ah, defers to General Hill's judgment, I believe."
defers = yields (or submits)
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
deference
2 uses
the men nearby were backed off in deference
deference = polite respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
devious
8 uses
By damn, man, if there is one human being in the world less devious than Robert Lee, I aint yet met him.
devious = tricky (deceitful in a complicated, clever manner)
Definition
Generally this sense of devious means:deceitful (not honest and straightforward) — often in a complicated, clever manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
Somebody blew a discordant bugle.
discordant = unpleasant sounding
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
disdain
1 use
He smiled slightly, with a touch of the disdain for which he was rapidly becoming notorious.
disdain = a lack of respect
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 1.6 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
There was the divine spark, as my mother used to say.
divine = wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
grave
11 uses
General Pickett is gravely concerned, sir.
gravely = very seriously (severely)
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
ominous
5 uses
"General, I understood General Lee to say that the enemy would be up on the ridge back there..."
Longstreet said, "That's correct."
McLaws hummed, scratched his face.
"Well?" Longstreet said ominously.
"Well, the enemy's right in front of me..."
Longstreet said, "That's correct."
McLaws hummed, scratched his face.
"Well?" Longstreet said ominously.
"Well, the enemy's right in front of me..."
ominously = suggesting/expecting bad things (in this case news)
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
pious
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
Mrs. Pender is, ah, a pious woman, and she believes that now that we have invaded Pennsylvania we are in the wrong, and God has forsaken us
pious = religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
rein
22 uses
He let go the reins of command.
reins = means of control
Definition
Generally this sense of rein means:to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" — to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" — do not restrain
- "the reins of government" — means of control
- "the reins of the horse" — leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
reproach
7 uses
Taylor drew back in frosty reproach,
reproach = criticism (in this case, nonverbal criticism)
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army...
resigned = quit
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Frwd. |
seminary
21 uses
A preacher from the Seminary began a low, insistent, theological argument with a young lieutenant,
seminary = a school for training ministers
(editor's note: Seminary Ridge, the place mentioned in this book was given that name because of a Lutheran seminary at that location.)
(editor's note: Seminary Ridge, the place mentioned in this book was given that name because of a Lutheran seminary at that location.)
Definition
Generally seminary means:a school for training ministers, priests, or rabbis
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
suppress
5 uses
Chamberlain suppressed a smile.
suppressed = stopped (controlled)
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control
The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example:
- "suppressed the revolution" — to stop others from doing something by force
- "suppressed a smile" — kept something from happening
- "suppressed the story" — kept news from spreading
- "suppressed her fear" — controlled an emotion
- "suppressed the memory" — avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |