complacent
1 use
in that atmosphere of smiling complacency.
complacency = satisfaction (often unworried to a fault)
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 2.3 |
conciliatory
1 use
"I really don't know what to think about you," she began, in a feeble, perverse attempt at conciliation.
conciliation = actions intended to end bad feelings or build trust
(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 conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
contempt
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
Beatrice O'Hara absorbed the sort of education ... measured by the number of things and people one could be contemptuous of and charming about;
contemptuous = disrespectful of
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
deride
1 use
He ... regarded it derisively.
derisively = with treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
descend (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
I'm too bright for most men, and yet I have to descend to their level and let them patronize my intellect in order to get their attention.
descend = move downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
2 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
Absolutely between ourselves I should not be surprised to see the red hat of a cardinal descend upon my unworthy head within the next eight months.†
descend = come or arrive
(editor's note: The author is really using descend in 2 senses here. The cardinal's hat will come to be his, but it will also literally be lowered onto his head.)
(editor's note: The author is really using descend in 2 senses here. The cardinal's hat will come to be his, but it will also literally be lowered onto his head.)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
the nervous twanging and discord of untuned violins
discord = unpleasant sound
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
eccentric
8 uses
bringing the most eccentric characters to dinner,
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
futile
7 uses
now suddenly all his mental processes of the last year and a half seemed stale and futile
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |
guile
2 uses
So they proceeded with an infinite guile that would have horrified her parents.
guile = cunning (shrewd cleverness) and deceit
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
interpret
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
her musical interpretation
He felt as if a polite but insistent stage-manager were attempting to make him give a new interpretation of a part he had conned for years.
interpretation = an artists performance of another artist's work that expresses the performer's feelings or ideas about the work
(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 this sense of interpret means:express personal artistic ideas or feelings while performing (or performing to) someone else's work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
latent
4 uses
a latent strength, a realism, was brought to its fullest development by the facts that she was compelled to face.
latent = potentially existing but not presently evident or active
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
lucid
1 use
Out in Shanley's, Yonkers, he became almost logical, and by a careful control of the number of high-balls he drank, grew quite lucid and garrulous.
lucid = capable of thinking clearly (in this case, perhaps believing he could think clearly)
Definition
Generally lucid means:of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
orthodox
5 uses
the visitors ... took great pleasure in shocking them with unorthodox remarks.
unorthodox = different than what is commonly thought
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unorthodox means not and reverses the meaning of orthodox. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unorthodox means not and reverses the meaning of orthodox. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally orthodox means:normal (describing thinking or behavior as commonly or traditionally accepted)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
reproach
8 uses
never any more did he reproach himself for feelings that were natural and sincere.
reproach = criticize
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 5 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
About one-third of the junior class are going to resign from their clubs.
resign = quit
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 1.4 |
2 —4 uses as in:
accepted it with resignation
...he scrutinized his room resignedly, concluding that it was hopeless to attempt any more inspired decoration...
resignedly = having accepted something undesirable as the best that can be done
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
reticent
2 uses
He a-hemmed again with delicate reticence, and continued:
reticence = reluctance — usually to speak freely
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
scrupulous
3 uses
Not that he yielded to it—later in life he almost completely slew it—but at fifteen it made him consider himself a great deal worse than other boys... unscrupulousness... the desire to influence people in almost every way, even for evil... a certain coldness and lack of affection, amounting sometimes to cruelty...
unscrupulousness = unethical
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulousness means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulousness. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulousness means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulousness. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
superficial
4 uses
His masters considered him idle, unreliable and superficially clever.
superficially = seeming so on the surface (but not in a deep or meaningful way)
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |