abrupt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
an abrupt change
Miles and Jesse grabbed at the horse's harness and he pulled up abruptly, nearly toppling Winnie off over his neck.
abruptly = suddenly
Definition
Generally this sense of abrupt means:sudden and unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 1, p.6 |
appeal
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
appeals to youthful tastes
Children are much more appealing, anyway.
appealing = desirable
Definition
Generally this sense of appeal means:attractiveness or desirability; or to be attractive or desirable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 19, p.100.3 |
comprehend
2 uses
For her part, Winnie, now that the running was over, began to comprehend what was happening,
comprehend = understand
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 6, p.34.1 |
demonstrate
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
It demonstrates my point.
Once Winifred drinks some of the water, she'll do just as well for my demonstrations.
demonstrations = displays (of how something works)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of demonstrate means:to show
The exact meaning of this sense of demonstrate can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I will demonstrate how to throw a Frisbee." — show how to do something
- "I will demonstrate how much quicker the new computer is than the old one." — show how something works
- "Her questioned demonstrated that she was listening and thinking deeply about what was said." — showed to be true or proved
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 19, p.98.4 |
direct (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 6 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
depart directly
Next morning Winnie went out to the fence directly after breakfast.
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 15, p.73.7 |
2 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
There was a clearing directly in front of her, at the center of which an enormous tree thrust up, its thick roots rumpling the ground ten feet around in every direction.
directly = close
From page 25.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 5, p.25.6 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
The constable swung her up onto his horse and directed Mae to her own saddle.
directed = pointed
From page 104.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 20, p.104.3 |
earnest
1 use
"You think on it, Winnie Foster," Jesse whispered earnestly.
earnestly = sincerely
From page 72.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 14, p.72.6 |
elated
2 uses
She was running away after all, but she was not alone. Closing the gate on her oldest fears as she had closed the gate of her own fenced yard, she discovered the wings she'd always wished she had. And all at once she was elated.
elated = extremely happy and excited
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 11, p.57.1 |
melancholy
2 uses
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.
melancholy = sad
Definition
Generally melancholy means:a sad feeling or manner — sometimes thoughtfully sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 2, p.9.4 |
persist
2 uses
"How old are you, anyway?" she asked, squinting at him.
...
"I'm one hundred and four years old," he told her solemnly.
"No, I mean really," she persisted.
...
"I'm one hundred and four years old," he told her solemnly.
"No, I mean really," she persisted.
persisted = continued asking (despite difficulty)
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 5, p.28.2 |
poise
3 uses
He grasped the bars of the window firmly, ready to pull, and stood poised. ... Then—a flash of lightning and, soon after, a crack of thunder. In the midst of the noise, Miles gave a mighty heave.
poised = prepared (ready to do something)
Definition
Generally poise means:calm and in control — as in "shows poise under pressure"
and/or:
prepared for action — as in "poised for action" — (sometimes suspended or hovering as in "a finger poised over the mute button")
and/or:
confident and graceful in movement — as in "the poise and balance of a dancer"
and/or:
prepared for action — as in "poised for action" — (sometimes suspended or hovering as in "a finger poised over the mute button")
and/or:
confident and graceful in movement — as in "the poise and balance of a dancer"
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 18, p.90.5 |
precise
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
about noon; 12:03 to be precise
No one ever said precisely what it was that she would not be able to manage.
precisely = exactly
Definition
Generally this sense of precise means:exact (accurate)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 5, p.23.1 |
profound
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
profound sadness
Two weeks had gone by since the night of the storm, the night of Mae Tuck's escape. And Mae had not been found. There was no trace of her at all, or of Tuck or Miles or Jesse. Winnie was profoundly grateful for that.
profoundly = very
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 25, p.128.2 |
resent
3 uses
Winnie had found some pebbles at the base of the fence and, for lack of any other way to show how she felt, had flung one at the toad. ... and since every pebble missed its final mark, the toad continued to squat and grimace without so much as a twitch. Possibly it felt resentful.
resentful = unhappy at having to accept something not liked
Definition
Generally resent means:to feel anger or unhappiness at having to accept something — often something seen as unjust or something that creates jealousy
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 20, p.101.9 |
scorn
1 use
She ... was scornful—most of the time—of her grandmother's elves.
scornful = full of disrespect
From page 42.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 8, p.42.2 |
solemn
2 uses
"I'm one hundred and four years old," he told her solemnly.
solemnly = in a serious and sincere manner
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 5, p.28.2 |
tone
1 use
She leaned her forehead against the bars and after a short silence went on in a thoughtful tone.
tone = quality of voice that expresses a feeling or attitude
From page 15.1 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of tone means:the general feeling, mood, or attitude of something — especially of something said or written
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 3, p.15.1 |
twilight
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
pink clouds in a twilight sky
The last stains of sunset had melted away, and the twilight died, too,
twilight = light from the sky between daylight and darkness
Definition
Generally this sense of twilight means:the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | 1 Div 4, p.18.3 |
vary
1 use
The kitchen came first, with an open cabinet where dishes were stacked in perilous towers without the least regard for their varying dimensions.
varying = differing
From page 50.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally vary means:to be different, or to change
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | 1 Div 10, p.50.9 |