accord
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
Carrie had been going to school with some of them since the first grade, and this had been building since that time, building slowly and immutably, in accordance with all the laws that govern human nature,
accordance = 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 | 6 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
apathy
1 use
found the sliver of whetstone in its small aluminum dish, and began to scrub it along the gleaming edge of the blade with the apathetic, fixated attention of the damned.
apathetic = without interest or enthusiasm
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
apparent
11 uses
How apparent was Carrie's "wild talent" and ...?
apparent = obvious
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
audacious
1 use
Norma's smile slipped a notch, and Carrie was amazed by her own wit-and audacity.
audacity = boldness and daring
Definition
Generally audacious means:bold and daring (inclined to take risks) — especially in violating social convention in a manner that could offend others
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
blasphemy
1 use
The ultimate blasphemy had been spoken,
blasphemy = something said that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Definition
Generally blasphemy means:something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
condensation
1 use
She could see her reflection in the darkened glass, lips parted, eyes wide, and then the condensation of her breath obscured it.
condensation = moisture formed from water vapor
Definition
Generally condensation means:water that forms from warm air that comes in contact with a cold surface — such as the outside of a glass of ice water; or the process of the liquid forming
or:
an abridgement (shortened version of writing)
or:
anything made smaller, more compressed
or:
an abridgement (shortened version of writing)
or:
anything made smaller, more compressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
dissent
1 use
There is, however, a small dissenting faction.
dissenting = disagreeing
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
dominate
4 uses
But the room was actually dominated by a huge plaster crucifix on the far wall,
dominated = most influenced (in this case, the thing that was most noticeable)
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
furtive
1 use
She cast an odd, furtive look at Carrie's face and it made her feel nervous.
furtive = nervous
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
indicate
6 uses
the physical evidence seems to indicate that Margaret White was waiting for her....
indicate = show
Definition
Generally indicate means:to show (point out, demonstrate, express, or suggest)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 40 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
inevitable
2 uses
There were two folding chairs at the table (looped and beribboned with the inevitable crepe paper), and the table itself was decked with crepe paper in the school colors.
inevitable = certain to be there
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
meticulous
1 use
all this had been rehearsed meticulously by Miss Geer
meticulously = in a manner treating details with great care
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
penitent
1 use
sitting here with her head bowed over the sewing machine like a penitent,
penitent = a person feeling sorrow for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
resilient
1 use
A week after the tornado of '54 had cut its path of death and destruction through Worcester, the air was filled with the sound of hammers, the smell of new timber, and a feeling of optimism and human resilience.
resilience = ability to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it
Definition
Generally resilient means:able to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it — such as a person retaining a positive attitude, or a material returning to its shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
righteous
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a righteous cause
who righteously claimed he had been bum rapped
righteously = correctly
Definition
Generally this sense of righteous means:morally correct; or morally justified
or:
acting or feeling morally superior — especially when it isn't true (this meaning is more typically seen as a compound word beginning with "self-")
or:
acting or feeling morally superior — especially when it isn't true (this meaning is more typically seen as a compound word beginning with "self-")
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
sic
1 use
"It is," Margaret declares near the end of her letter, "the oney [sic] way you & That Man can avoid the Rain of Blood yet to come."†
sic = indicates that a word or phrase that looks incorrect, is as it should be
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
trepidation
1 use
Trepidation rose thickly in her throat, but she nodded.
trepidation = nervousness
Definition
Generally trepidation means:nervousness (fear or anxiety about what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
vacuous
1 use
"Blood," Henry said, and smiled with a kind of vacuous surprise.
vacuous = lacking intelligent thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
vapid
2 uses
She hated her face, her dull, stupid, bovine face, the vapid eyes, the red, shiny pimples, the nests of blackheads.
vapid = dull (lacking anything interesting or stimulating)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
zeal
1 use
Her eyes began to sparkle with the strange, disconnected zeal that came over her at events which she considered to be tests of faith.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |