accomplice
2 uses
She was ... an accomplice. She had helped a murderer escape.
accomplice = a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
Definition
Generally accomplice means:a person who joins with another in carrying out a plan — especially an unethical or illegal plan
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.129.7 |
anguish
1 use
Winnie, struggling with the anguish of all these things, could only sit hunched and numb,
anguish = extreme distress
From page 64.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 12, p.64.9 |
apprehension
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
apprehension about finals
She had heard first a bustling in the front of the jail, and smelled fresh coffee, and had sat up, stiff with apprehension.
apprehension = concern about what will happen
From page 129.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of apprehension means:worry about what is to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.129.2 |
decisive
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a decisive defeat
"Just the same, we got to get you home again, Winnie," said Tuck, standing up decisively.
decisively = in a way that ends any question about something
From page 59.7 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of decisive means:determining an outcome; or ending question; or describing something as unmistakable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 11, p.59.7 |
disarray
1 use
It was a whole new idea to her that people could live in such disarray, but at the same time she was charmed.
disarray = a messy way
From page 52.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally disarray means:a state of disorder, confusion, or untidiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 10, p.52.9 |
dismay
1 use
Mae Tuck's round face wrinkled in dismay. "Dear Lord, don't cry!"
dismay = distress
From page 34.4 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally dismay means:to feel sadness, disappointment, or worry — typically in response to something surprising
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 6, p.34.4 |
displace
1 use
For Tuck's head tilted to one side, his eyes went soft, and the gentlest smile in the world displaced the melancholy creases of his cheeks.
displaced = took the place of
From page 48.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally displace means:force to move; or to take the place of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 9, p.48.8 |
ebb
1 use
The thunder ebbed.
ebbed = gradually declined
From page 124.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally ebb means:decline — typically gradually as with the height of the tide
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 24, p.124.3 |
emerge
3 uses
The counterman emerged from the kitchen at the rear and sized them up expertly.
emerged = came out (appeared)
(editor's note: Counterman refers to the man who worked behind the counter at the diner.)
(editor's note: Counterman refers to the man who worked behind the counter at the diner.)
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 10, p.55.6 |
exasperated
1 use
"All right! I'm coming!" she cried, exasperated, and then added quickly, "I mean, I'll be right there, Mama."
exasperated = annoyed
From page 16.1 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally exasperated means:greatly annoyed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 3, p.16.1 |
however
7 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
However, complications may...
It was squatting on a low stump and she might not have noticed it, for it looked more like a mushroom than a living creature sitting there. As she came abreast of it, however, it blinked, and the movement gave it away.
however = though (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 1, p.8.2 |
illiterate
1 use
There's just no telling what illiterates like that might do.
illiterates = people who can't read or write
From page 74.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally illiterate means:unable to read or write (not literate)
or:
uninformed in a particular field or general subject area
or:
uninformed in a particular field or general subject area
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 15, p.74.6 |
indefinitely
1 use
Though she was confined to the yard indefinitely and could go nowhere,
indefinitely = for an unspecified, but long period of time
From page 130.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally indefinitely means:for an unspecified, but long period of time; or forever
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.130.5 |
lapse
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a lapse in judgement
It was totally unlike them, this lapse from gentility, and it made them much more interesting.
lapse = change in behavior
(editor's note: In this context, gentility is a synonym for good manners.)
(editor's note: In this context, gentility is a synonym for good manners.)
From page 116.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of lapse means:a change in behavior or state—usually undesired such as a temporary failure
The exact meaning of this sense of lapse is often subject to its context:
- basic example that simply indicates an undesired change in behavior — "lapsed into alcoholism"
- example indicating that the change was short-term and due to a failure (often of effort or diligence) — "a lapse in judgment"
- example indicating return to a previous undesired behavior or state — "lapsed into her old bad habits"
- examples indicating a change in what was occurring where the change is not necessarily negative — "There was a lapse in the conversation," or "She stopped talking as she lapsed into her own internal world."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 23, p.116.8 |
plaintive
2 uses
Winnie's mother and grandmother sat plaintive all afternoon in the parlor ... their hair unsettled and their knees loose.†
plaintive = a little unhappy
Definition
Generally plaintive means:expressing sadness — sometimes with a plea for help
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 5, p.29.5 |
recede
2 uses
Then the footsteps receded, the whistling grew fainter.
receded = moved away
Definition
Generally recede means:to move away or diminish (become less)
The exact meaning of recede depends upon its context. For example:
- "We can't move back in until the floodwaters recede." — diminish and move away
- "Her fear receded." — diminished
- "The waves first advance and then recede." — move away
- "The news story receded into the background as it was replaced by new stories." — received diminished attention
- "a receding hairline" — diminished hair (each year the line where hair stops growing is higher)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 8, p.45.4 |
staunch
1 use
...the Tucks were her friends. She had done it because—in spite of everything, she loved them. This of all things her family understood, and afterward they drew together staunchly around her.
staunchly = firmly and dependably (especially in loyalty)
From page 130.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally staunch means:firm and dependable especially in loyalty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.130.3 |
therefore
1 use
And anyway, for the people, there was another reason to leave the wood to itself: it belonged to the Fosters, the owners of the touch-me-not cottage, and was therefore private property in spite of the fact that it lay outside the fence and was perfectly accessible.
therefore = for that reason
From page 7.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally therefore means:for that reason (what follows is so because of what was just said)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 1, p.7.2 |
trace
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
found a trace of
There was no trace of her at all, or of Tuck or Miles or Jesse.
trace = sign or indication
From page 128.1 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
- a small indication that something was present — as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
- a very small amount of something — as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
- any evidence of something — as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.128.1 |
unwitting
1 use
But she had not dared to sleep, for fear she would kick off the blanket and give herself away—give the Tucks away—unwittingly.
unwittingly = unintentionally (without knowing it)
From page 128.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally unwitting means:not intentional (without knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.128.6 |