acquiesce
2 uses
Though amazed at so curious an objection, the Americans, still smiling, acquiesced:
acquiesced = complied
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
aesthetic
7 uses
Sabina's initial inner revolt against Communism was aesthetic rather than ethical in character.
aesthetic = (having to do with) a sense of beauty
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
apathy
2 uses
As a result of such apathy, the countryside had maintained more than a modicum of autonomy and freedom.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
banal
3 uses
she had failed to understand his apprehensive attempts to save their love from banality
banality = being uninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual
Definition
Generally banal means:uninteresting due to a lack of anything original or unusual
(editor's note: This word is correctly pronounced differently by various educated speakers of American English.)
(editor's note: This word is correctly pronounced differently by various educated speakers of American English.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
complacent
1 use
Their smiles were all the more complacent because he had never had the reputation of being a conformist.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
condescending
4 uses
dismiss it with a condescending laugh
condescending = treating as inferior and beneath respect
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
denounce
3 uses
it was a time when news about who betrayed, who denounced, and who collaborated spread through nervous Prague
denounced = informed against someone to the authorities
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
It sounded cold, almost hostile. Apparently hoping to counteract the discordant note, the editor said, ...
discordant = argumentative (harsh)
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
disdain
1 use
The chairs and stalls seem to have been placed there without the slightest concern for the shape of the walls or position of the columns, as if wishing to express their indifference to or disdain for Gothic architecture.
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 3 |
dispose
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
What weapons did she have at her disposal?†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
eccentric
3 uses
She announced to her husband (whom she now considered a difficult drunk rather than an eccentric) that she was leaving him.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
incessant
2 uses
his wife had fallen into a deep depression and complained incessantly
incessantly = continuously
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
In a flash of insight Franz saw how laughable they all were, but instead of cutting him off from them or flooding him with irony, the thought made him feel the kind of infinite love we feel for the condemned.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
2 —2 uses as in:
verbal irony
To clear the air Tomas came out with as sprightly a "Fine, just fine!" as he could muster, but he immediately felt that no matter how hard he tried (in fact, because he tried so hard), his "fine" sounded bitterly ironic.
ironic = saying one thing while meaning the opposite
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
mitigate
2 uses
This mitigating circumstance prevents us from coming to a verdict.
mitigating = making less harmful or unpleasant
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
pedantic
1 use
All else he excluded (almost pedantically) from his memory.
pedantically = with too much concern for details
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
polygamy
2 uses
Then, when the evidence became too blatant, he argued that his polygamous way of life did not in the least run counter to his love for her.
polygamous = having more than one wife
Definition
Generally polygamy means:the practice of being married to more than one person at the same time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
reprehensible
1 use
Was it really so reprehensible that he was afraid of his fourteen-year-old daughter's coming home pregnant?
reprehensible = bad and unacceptable
Definition
Generally reprehensible means:bad — deserving severe criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
The very next day he resigned from the clinic,
resigned = quit (a job)
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 | Chapter 5 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
...he resigned himself with a sigh to a sea of words with no weight and no resemblance to life.
resigned = gave up (accepting something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |