appease
1 use
On the morning after the village crier's appeal the men of Umuofia met in the marketplace and decided to collect without delay two hundred and fifty bags of cowries to appease the white man.
appease = satisfy (make less angry)
From page 197.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally appease means:satisfy or pacify (make less angry or upset) — typically by giving something wanted
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.23, p.197.8 |
atone
2 uses
That was why Okonkwo had been Chosen by the nine villages to carry a message of war to their enemies unless they agreed to give up a young man and a virgin to atone for the murder of Udo's wife.
atone = make up (for a wrong)
Definition
Generally atone means:to fix or make up for a wrong — especially a sin (even if nothing can be done to make up for the wrong other than to show regret)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.18, p.158 |
audacious
1 use
Of his three wives Ekwefi was the only one who would have the audacity to bang on his door.
audacity = boldness and daring
From page 76 Typical Usage
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9, p.76 |
brusque
1 use
But he was struck, as most people were, by Okonkwo's brusqueness in dealing with less successful men.
brusqueness = abruptness (not taking the time or trouble to be friendly)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
From page 26.4 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally brusque means:abrupt (sudden and quick — without taking the time to be friendly)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4, p.26.4 |
capricious
1 use
It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw.
capricious = impulsive and unpredictable
(editor's note: "red in tooth and claw" is an often quoted expression first written by Alfred Tennyson, an English poet who was born over 200 years ago.)
(editor's note: "red in tooth and claw" is an often quoted expression first written by Alfred Tennyson, an English poet who was born over 200 years ago.)
From page 13.2 Typical Usage
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 1.2, p.13.2 |
contemptible
1 use
And indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death.
contemptible = very bad
From page 18.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally contemptible means:very bad (deserving no respect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3, p.18.9 |
deity
2 uses
Ani played a greater part in the life of the people than any other deity.
deity = god or goddess
(editor's note: Ani is the Igbo earth goddess.)
(editor's note: Ani is the Igbo earth goddess.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5, p.36.2 |
desecrate
3 uses
This is the house of God and I will not live to see it desecrated.
desecrated = violated
Definition
Generally desecrate means:violate the sacred nature of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.22, p.186.9 |
discern
3 uses
He discerned fright in that tumult.
discerned = noticed
(editor's note: This is when Okonkwo realizes that the tribe will not fight to take back control of their homeland. The realization leads to his suicide.)
(editor's note: This is when Okonkwo realizes that the tribe will not fight to take back control of their homeland. The realization leads to his suicide.)
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2, p.9.4 |
heathen
6 uses
"Unless you shave off the mark of your heathen belief I will not admit you into the church," said Mr. Kiaga.
heathen = people who do not believe in Christianity
Definition
Generally heathen means:someone who is not civilized or not moral — typically said humorously
or:
an offensive term for a person who does not believe in a preferred religion — especially someone who grew up in a culture that is not familiar with the religion
or:
an offensive term for a person who does not believe in a preferred religion — especially someone who grew up in a culture that is not familiar with the religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.16, p.145.3 |
impotent
3 uses
Three converts had gone into the village and boasted openly that all the gods were dead and impotent and that they were prepared to defy them by burning all their shrines.
impotent = without power
Definition
Generally impotent means:lacking power or ability
or of a male: unable to maintain an erection, or unable to conceive a child
or of a male: unable to maintain an erection, or unable to conceive a child
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.24, p.200.7 |
luxuriant
2 uses
The yams put on luxuriant green leaves, but every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow.
luxuriant = growing well
Definition
Generally luxuriant means:characterized by growing well or being richly thick or abundant — as of vegetation or hair
or (more rarely):
characterized by luxury (very comfortable or extravagant)
or (more rarely):
characterized by luxury (very comfortable or extravagant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3, p.24.5 |
malevolent
2 uses
It was deeper and more intimate than the fear of evil and capricious gods and of magic, the fear of the forest, and of the forces of nature, malevolent, red in tooth and claw.
malevolent = causing harm
(editor's note: "red in tooth and claw" is an often quoted expression first written by Alfred Tennyson, an English poet who was born over 200 years ago.)
(editor's note: "red in tooth and claw" is an often quoted expression first written by Alfred Tennyson, an English poet who was born over 200 years ago.)
Definition
Generally malevolent means:evil
- of a person — wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
- of a thing — exerting an evil or harmful influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9, p.79.5 |
prevail
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
reason will prevail
But there were many others who saw the situation differently, and it was their counsel that prevailed in the end.
prevailed = won (was accepted)
Definition
Generally this sense of prevail means:prove superior or win
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.18, p.158.5 |
revere
2 uses
Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered.
revered = regarded with feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1, p.8.7 |
sinister
4 uses
An evil forest was, therefore, alive with sinister forces and powers of darkness.
sinister = evil, harmful, or frightening
Definition
Generally sinister means:evil or harmful; or making an evil or frightening impression
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2, p.9.8 |
suppress
3 uses
Okonkwo, who had been walking about aimlessly in his compound in suppressed anger, suddenly found an outlet.
suppressed = kept under control
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2, p.11.3 |
tumult (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
couldn't hear over the tumult
Then an unmistakable voice rose above the tumult and there was immediate silence.
tumult = noise from a disorderly event
Definition
Generally this sense of tumult means:loud noise — usually created by an unrestrained crowd or some kind of confusion
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.13, p.123.3 |
2 —4 uses as in:
tumult in financial markets
He discerned fright in that tumult.
tumult = confusion and disorder
Definition
Generally this sense of tumult means:confusion or disorder — often noisy
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.24, p.205.1 |
wily
2 uses
Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories that his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children—stories of the tortoise and his wily ways, and of...
wily = clever
Definition
Generally wily means:clever and good at tricking others to achieve a goal
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1, p.3.6 |