aesthetic
1 use
It looked directly onto the gray backs of three stone warehouses, the windows of which were drawn, for aesthetic reasons, in creosote.
aesthetic = attractiveness
(editor's note: In this context, creosote can be thought of as a type of paint.)
(editor's note: In this context, creosote can be thought of as a type of paint.)
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
austere
1 use
Austerity pleased her—it gave her the comfort of sacrifice.
austerity = a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
benevolent
3 uses
I mean you can't be less ruthless than the opposition simply because your government's "policy" is benevolent
benevolent = kind
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
clandestine
3 uses
Comrade Mundt made a clandestine journey to Finland—once more allegedly in the interests of the Abteilung.
clandestine = done with hidden aims
Definition
Generally clandestine means:secret; or conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
collaborate
8 uses
The People's Prosecutor, in collaboration with Comrade Mundt, will no doubt consider what action is to be taken against...
collaboration = the act of working together
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally collaborate means:work together on a common enterprise or project
or more rarely and especially in the form collaborator: cooperate with the enemy as a traitor
or more rarely and especially in the form collaborator: cooperate with the enemy as a traitor
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
complacent
3 uses
"The workers are starving in England," she declared complacently.
complacently = without concern (contented)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
conciliatory
2 uses
Ashe attempted some conciliatory remark and he just shrugged irritably.
conciliatory = intended to end bad feelings
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
marked his file for review at the end of every year—stubborn, willful, contemptuous of instruction,
contemptuous = disrespectful
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 |
cursory
1 use
As they walked side by side, Peters and he, along the interminable corridors, through the cursory customs and immigration check,
cursory = quick (without attention to detail)
Definition
Generally cursory means:quick—not thorough (without attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
diffident
2 uses
He talked quietly and easily, with a diffidence which Leamas had never seen in him before.
diffidence = hesitancy and unassertiveness — apparently 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
diligent
2 uses
He performed this task well, and there is no reason to suppose that at that time he was other than a diligent member of his Department.
diligent = hard working
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
discern
7 uses
Vainly he tried to discern the figure that must be standing in the doorway, but there was no light
discern = see (something that is hard to see)
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
expedient
2 uses
it is expedient that one man should die for the benefit of many
expedient = an action that is practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
Holland
11 uses
I knew Holland well ... I'd lived there for nine years.
Holland = Informal reference to The Netherlands (confusion arises because important provinces in The Netherlands are North Holland and South Holland).
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
mitigate
1 use
On the other hand, there could be mitigation in your case.
mitigation = reduction in harm or unpleasantness
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
perfunctory
4 uses
The young Dutch officer gave a perfunctory glance at their luggage and passports and announced in awkward, throaty English, "I hope you have a pleasant stay in the Netherlands."
perfunctory = done without much interest or effort
Definition
Generally perfunctory means:done without much interest or effort — especially as when dispensing with a formality
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
persist
12 uses
But the rumors persisted.
persisted = continued
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
refute
1 use
...would go down in the record and it would be a brave man who set himself to refute it.
refute = argue against
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
sentry
14 uses
There was still the lonely sentry on the bridge, and he had turned and was watching Karl.
sentry = someone who stands guard
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
socialism
9 uses
This is a grand opportunity for our comrades to profit from the experiences of a young socialist system.
socialist = a person who wants an economic system based on government ownership or control of all important companies — with the ideal of equal benefits to all people
Definition
Generally socialism means:an economic system based on government ownership or control of all important companies — with the ideal of equal benefits to all people
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |