appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Congress will appropriate funds
Grimmer had to run an understaffed and underfunded institution and try to keep the whole thing together with spit, baling wire, and nickle-and-dime appropriations from a state legislature who had to go back and face the voters.
appropriations = budget
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:to set aside for a particular use
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
One child had had a convulsion while playing in the concrete rings, but Hallorann didn't know if that could be attributed to the Overlook's deadly siren song or not — word had gone around among the help that the child, the only daughter of a handsome movie actor, was a medically controlled epileptic who had simply forgotten her medicine that day.
attributed = credited (pointed to as the cause of 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 | Chapter 5 |
belligerent
1 use
The belligerent, I'm-sticking-up-for-my-rights way George was looking at him had sparked Jack's own temper.
belligerent = eager to fight
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
"Yes, sir," Danny said candidly, "my daddy got fired from his teaching job and that's why we're in Colorado, I guess."
candidly = with honesty and directness
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
capricious
1 use
the wind was blowing a capricious gale - now from the west, now backing around to the north,
capricious = unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
The contemptuous smile flicked over his features again.
contemptuous = showing 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 4 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
there is a contrast
Warm light still spilled out of it, contrasting with the oily darkness of the shaft below.†
contrasting = differing
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:a difference — especially a notable difference; or the side-x-side arrangement of things that draws attention to an unmissable difference
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
convey
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convey her thoughts
The Board has asked me to convey its decision to you.†
convey = communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
deference
2 uses
They watched him cross the lobby, touch Mrs. Brant's elbow deferentially,
deferentially = with 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 2 |
doleful
1 use
But the driver was shaking his head dolefully.
dolefully = in a manner that was full of sadness
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
dubious
1 use
[referring to a picture in a scary book] "But you knew it couldn't hurt you, didn't you?"
"Ye - ess..." Danny said, a little dubious.
"Ye - ess..." Danny said, a little dubious.
dubious = doubtful or suspicious
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
furtive
3 uses
He was thinking about ...about... Danny looked furtively behind him at the kitchen window. Sometimes thinking very hard made something happen to him.
furtively = nervously
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
gesticulate
1 use
He could see the high cab, even the gesticulating figure of the driver behind the single long wiper blade.
gesticulating = making gestures (hand or body movements)
Definition
Generally gesticulate means:to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
guile
1 use
He looked at her guilelessly, a milk mustache on his lip.
guilelessly = innocently — without cunning (shrewdness, cleverness) or deceit
(Editor's note: The suffix "-lessly" in guilelessly means in a manner that is without. This is the same pattern you see in words like harmlessly, fearlessly, and remorselessly.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-lessly" in guilelessly means in a manner that is without. This is the same pattern you see in words like harmlessly, fearlessly, and remorselessly.)
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
mallet
92 uses
The mallet hesitated at the top of its swing.
mallet = a piece of equipment for pounding or hitting — like a hammer with a large cylindrical head
Definition
Generally mallet means:a piece of equipment for pounding or hitting
such as:
- a tool resembling a hammer but with a large cylindrical head that is usually made of rubber or wood
- a long stick with a thick cylindrical head used to hit a ball in polo or croquet
- a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike percussion instruments
Word Statistics
| Book | 92 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
negative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
negative feedback from customers
"No," he said, and smothered the two words that rose behind his lips after that simple negative: Not yet.†
negative = indicating an answer of "no"
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:to express criticism or disagreement, or (especially when talking over a radio or in a military setting) to say "no"
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
perspective
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
Keep it in perspective
It had been Jack's idea to separate for a while — to get perspective on the relationship, he said.†
perspective = a sensible view
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
petulant
8 uses
There was nothing of the real Jack in that howling ... petulant voice, though.
petulant = unreasonably upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
phenomenon
3 uses
Real psychic phenomena or group hypnosis?†
phenomena = observable things
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
pragmatic
1 use
There was really only one question, and it was asked in a mental voice of utter coldness and pragmatism,
pragmatism = concern with practical matters
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |