aphorism
6 uses
She often quotes St. Augustine's aphorism, "Love the sinner and hate the sin."
aphorism = short saying intended to impart wisdom
Definition
Generally aphorism means:a short saying intended to impart wisdom
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is appropriate
These clothes aren't appropriate for work.
appropriate = suitable (fitting)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
atrophy
1 use
Muscles that are not used will quickly atrophy.
atrophy = wither or weaken — especially from lack of use
Definition
Generally atrophy means:to wither or weaken — especially from lack of use
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
buoyant
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
buoyant personality
People like to work with her because of her buoyant personality.
buoyant = cheerful and optimistic
Definition
Generally this sense of buoyant means:characterized by cheerfulness and optimism; or a tendency to maintain or quickly recover cheerfulness and optimism after setbacks
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
colleague
6 uses
The surgeon consulted his colleagues.
colleagues = fellow workers
Definition
Generally colleague means:fellow worker — especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
contort
2 uses
Her face contorted in fury and frustration.
contorted = twisted into an unnatural shape
Definition
Generally contort means:twist or bend to an unnatural shape — something such as the human body, a facial expression, or the truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
diffuse
1 use
When the United States focused on terrorism, the movement went further underground and became more diffuse.
diffuse = spread out
Definition
Generally diffuse means:to spread; or to soften or calm
or:
to be spread out (not concentrated) — sometimes implying a lack or organization or the use of too many words
or:
to be spread out (not concentrated) — sometimes implying a lack or organization or the use of too many words
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
focus
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
I find that studying in the library helps me to focus.
focus = concentrate
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
gaunt
2 uses
She looked gaunt from the chemotherapy.
gaunt = very thin
Definition
Generally gaunt means:very thin and bony — often from hunger or as though having been worn to the bone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
grapple
3 uses
I've just begun to grapple with the problem.
grapple = struggle
Definition
Generally grapple means:to struggle:
typically a mental struggle — as in coming to terms with something
more rarely a physical struggle — as in hand-to-hand combat or moving something heavy or awkward
typically a mental struggle — as in coming to terms with something
more rarely a physical struggle — as in hand-to-hand combat or moving something heavy or awkward
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
induce
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
induce symptoms
She was suffering from alcohol-induced stupidity.
induced = caused
Definition
Generally this sense of induce means:to cause something to arise or happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
innate
1 use
She has an innate musical talent that cannot be taught.
innate = present at birth
Definition
Generally innate means:of a quality: present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
neurology
4 uses
In the United States a specialty in neurology requires 8 years of post-undergraduate education and clinical training.
neurology = the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system (including the brain)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
nostalgia
1 use
The music makes me feel nostalgic.
nostalgic = with a longing for something past
Definition
Generally nostalgia means:happiness that come with the memory of good times combined with a hint of sadness that those times are over
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
Her apology was heartfelt—expressing profound sorrow and regret.
profound = intense (of great emotional depth)
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
She reconciled her checking account statement.
reconciled = brought into agreement (in this case, the statement from the bank with the record she kept in her check register)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
remission
1 use
Her cancer is in remission.
remission = a state with symptoms decreased or gone
Definition
Generally remission means:a decrease in intensity — most typically of a disease or (especially in the UK) the length of a prison sentence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
solidarity
1 use
The incident threatens Arab solidarity.
solidarity = agreement and mutual support
Definition
Generally solidarity means:a state of agreement and support — especially for political action
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
stagnate
1 use
We don't want the economy to stagnate.
stagnate = stay still or not develop
Definition
Generally stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
stoic
1 use
She suffered quietly, courageously, with a stoic acceptance of her illness.
stoic = unemotional
Definition
Generally stoic means:seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |