ambivalent
1 use
He studied my face, and perhaps he saw an ambivalence about my own choices.
ambivalence = uncertainty
Definition
Generally ambivalent means:having mixed feelings about something — such as when part of you wants to do something and part of you does not
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
approached the city
When his breathing approached normal again, I cleared my throat and said I knew he was tired, so I would be back next Tuesday, and I expected him to be a little more alert, thank you.†
approached = got near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
2 —2 uses as in:
use the best approach
Morrie's approach was exactly the opposite.†
approach = technique (way of doing something)
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
Often he defers to their words,
defers = submits
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
demonstrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
demonstrate to protest
Back in Detroit, the newspaper strikers were gearing up for a huge holiday demonstration, to show the solidarity of unions against management.†
demonstration = public protest or display of support
(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 demonstrate means:a public display supporting a cause — usually joining with others in a political protest
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
detach
9 uses
Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment.
detach = separate
Definition
Generally detach means:to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
engender
1 use
Every birth must therefore engender a death, and every death bring forth another birth.
engender = cause
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
insidious
2 uses
What ... did Morrie dread the most about his slow, insidious decay?
insidious = harmful over time
Definition
Generally insidious means:not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
interpret
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her interpretation of the data
You know how I always interpreted that?†
interpreted = understood (in a particular way)
Definition
Generally this sense of interpret means:to understand or explain something in a particular way — often the meaning or significance of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
lament
3 uses
In a strange way, I envied the quality of Morrie's time even as I lamented its diminishing supply.
lamented = mourned (express grief)
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
negative
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
had a negative effect
... I would raise my hand, as if I was going to make a negative gesture, and then I would wave and smile.†
negative = bad
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:bad or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
passage
1 use
He quoted a passage from Marcus Aurelius, something he felt strongly about.†
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
perish
4 uses
Love each other or perish.
perish = cease to exist
Definition
Generally perish means:to die — especially in an unnatural way
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
perspective
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
Keep it in perspective
The average person is so fogged up by all this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore.
perspective = sensible view
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
positive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
had a positive effect
It's more than the negative that you're going to die, it's also the positive that you understand you're going to die, and that you live a better life because of it.†
positive = good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
2 —1 use as in:
a positive attitude
I asked Morrie how he managed to stay positive through that.†
positive = optimistic
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
serene
5 uses
I want to die serenely.
serenely = in a manner that is calm and untroubled
Definition
Generally serene means:calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
syllabus
2 uses
Only a dozen or so students are there, fumbling with notebooks and syllabi.
syllabi = outlines of the topics to be studied in an academic course
Definition
Generally syllabus means:an outline of the topics to be studied in an academic course
or:
in law: a summary of findings at the beginning of the report of a decided court case
or:
in law: a summary of findings at the beginning of the report of a decided court case
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
whimsical
1 use
Even in bronze, he had a whimsical look, and I thought this friend had sculpted a little spirit as well.
whimsical = playful
Definition
Generally whimsical means:playful, amusing, or impulsive rather than seriously rational
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
wither
11 uses
Because Morrie sat in the wheelchair, the camera never caught his withered legs.
withered = shriveled and weak
Definition
Generally wither means:to shrivel (wrinkle and contract — usually from lack of water)
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |