accompany
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accompany on the journey
He began to accompany his mother on the meat-trail, and he saw much of the killing of meat and began to play his part in it.
accompany = travel with
Definition
Generally this sense of accompany means:to travel along with
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
alacrity
1 use
"All right," Beauty Smith spoke up with the alacrity of fear.
alacrity = liveliness
Definition
Generally alacrity means:quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
apathy
1 use
Without haste, with the air of one resigned to misfortune Bill turned his head, and from where he sat counted the dogs.
"How'd it happen?" he asked apathetically.
"How'd it happen?" he asked apathetically.
apathetically = without much concern (enthusiasm)
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
belligerent
3 uses
A part-grown puppy, somewhat larger and older than he, came toward him slowly, with ostentatious and belligerent importance.
belligerent = hostile (as though eager to fight)
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
censure
2 uses
But most potent in his education was the cuff of the master's hand, the censure of the master's voice.
censure = criticism
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
compel
17 uses
She compelled obedience from him,
compelled = forced
Definition
Generally compel means:to force someone to do something
or more rarely:
to convince someone to do something
or more rarely:
to convince someone to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
cunning
1 use
He became cunning; he had idle time in which to devote himself to thoughts of trickery.
cunning = clever and deceptive
Definition
Generally this sense of cunning means:being good at achieving goals through cleverness — and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
descend
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
descend the mountain
White Fang sprang clear, just in time to escape the descending blow.
descending = moving downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
disdain
3 uses
The men in the fort disdained the newcomers and enjoyed seeing them come to grief.
disdained = had a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
dubious
2 uses
He regarded her carefully and dubiously, yet desirefully.
dubiously = suspiciously
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
futile
7 uses
He made a futile rush at White Fang, clipping the empty air with an outraged snap.
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 | Part 2 |
insistent
9 uses
White Fang growled and growled with insistent warning.
insistent = firm
Definition
Generally insistent means:persistent or continuing or firm — especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
manifest
11 uses
1 —11 uses as in:
manifest destiny
He fired rapidly, six times, and six of the pack lay dead or dying—another manifestation of power that sank deep into White Fang's consciousness.
manifestation = demonstration (something made obvious or shown)
(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 manifest means:obvious; or to make obvious; or to show or demonstrate
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
morose
8 uses
The clay of White Fang had been moulded until he became what he was, morose and lonely, unloving and ferocious, the enemy of all his kind.
morose = unhappy
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
ominous
12 uses
Had he contented himself with looking fierce and ominous, all would have been well.
ominous = threatening
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
persecution
15 uses
Lip-lip had selected White Fang for his special object of persecution.
persecution = bad, ongoing, and unfair treatment
Definition
Generally persecution means:very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
prodigious
6 uses
they could feed prodigiously, and soon a few scattered bones were all that remained of the splendid live brute that had faced the pack a few hours before.
prodigiously = far beyond what is usual (in this case, eat an enormous amount)
Definition
Generally prodigious means:enormous; or far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
superfluous
1 use
From his mother he had inherited the heavier proportions of the dog, so that he weighed, without any fat and without an ounce of superfluous flesh, over ninety pounds.
superfluous = more than is needed, desired, or required
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
wistful
16 uses
White Fang gazed at him wistfully.
wistfully = with longing or unfulfilled desire
Definition
Generally wistful means:showing longing or unfulfilled desire
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
wrath
21 uses
Grey Beaver's wrath was terrible; likewise was White Fang's fright.
wrath = intense anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |