abstract (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
abstract thought
...stipulates and brushes aside the concept that identity is a meaningless abstraction—is this the sword you actually used, in the everyday meaning, and don't kid me, soldier.
abstraction = a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
(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 abstract means:of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
2 —1 use as in:
read the abstract
I recognized neither language nor script—and the only sense I could abstract from it was...
abstract = pull in summary
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:a summary; or to summarize — especially academic writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
3 —1 use as in:
abstract art
It crawled and the colors were wrong, as jarring as some abstract paintings.
abstract = not imitating objects of nature
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
arbitrary
1 use
Now let's assign Muri an arbitrary score of ten.
arbitrary = picked at random (by chance rather than based on any reasoning)
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
belligerent
3 uses
The littlest dragon followed us to the cave, not belligerently (although I don't trust anything with teeth that size)
belligerently = with an attitude of one 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 | Chapter 12 |
consort
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her consort
It isn't easy for the Empress's consort to have friends.
consort = a husband, wife, or companion — especially of a reigning monarch
Definition
Generally this sense of consort means:a husband or wife — especially of a reigning monarch
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
daunt
1 use
...this noble warrior,
Wise and Strong and never daunted,
Wise and Strong and never daunted,
daunted = discouraged or intimidated
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
She consulted individuals, often summoning them from other universes, and she had at her disposal all the news from everywhere, organized in a system that had been developed over centuries.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
futile
1 use
He's right about the futility of 'adding zeros'—but he doesn't realize that he is a zero.
futility = pointlessness
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
herald
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
announced by herald & trumpet
your fame needs no heralds milord
heralds = a person who announces important news
(editor's note: Elsewhere in the book, the word is primarily used as part of the name of a newspaper.)
(editor's note: Elsewhere in the book, the word is primarily used as part of the name of a newspaper.)
Definition
Generally this sense of herald means:a person who announces important news — especially a king's representative
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
impetuous
1 use
Impetuous youth.
impetuous = impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought)
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
latent
2 uses
Some baddies wanted power—and the Egg, by its unique resources, has latent in it key to such power as Genghis Khan never dreamed.
latent = potentially existing but not presently evident or active
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
manor
6 uses
Just at sundown we could see outbuildings and the lights in the manor where Star said that we would spend the night.
manor = a large house of a lord or wealthy person
Definition
Generally manor means:a large house of a lord or wealthy person; or the house and the land around it
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
novel
1 use
Besides the usual offers of psychic readings and how to learn yoga and the veiled messages from one set of initials to another there were several that were novel.
novel = pleasantly new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
parry
5 uses
There is a go-for-broke tactic, "the target," taught by the best swordmasters, which consists in headlong advance with arm, wrist, and blade in full extension—all attack and no attempt to parry.
parry = use one's blade to turn aside the blade of an opponent
Definition
Generally parry means:to avoid — especially to deflect (cause something to change direction)
in 2 primary senses:
- to avoid an attack — especially a physical attack as when deflecting the thrust of a sword
- to avoid answering a question with a clever response that directs attention elsewhere
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
Star says that he was the most unsuccessful emperor in all that long line, with genius for doing the wrong thing from pious motives, so she learned more from him than any other; he made every mistake in the book.
pious = highly moral or religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
polygamy
1 use
Or didn't turn me loose—Center has no rule against polygamy.
polygamy = the practice of being married to more than one person at the same time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
pragmatic
2 uses
She can find ways, not lie to you in words—and hurt Her conscience not at all because She hasn't any. Just Wisdom, utterly pragmatic.
pragmatic = concerned with practical matters
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
rectify
1 use
He had the honor to inform me that, in cooperation with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he had submitted a group of special bills to correct injustices resulting from failure to classify correctly persons who were "war orphans," that the bills had passed under consent, and that he was happy to say that one affecting me allowed me to my twenty-seventh birthday to complete my education inasmuch as my twenty-third birthday had passed before the error was rectified.
rectified = corrected
Definition
Generally this sense of rectify means:correct, fix, or make right
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
tedious
3 uses
We left almost at once, going out the "front" way and had no trouble, no illusions, no traps, nothing but the fact that the "true path" was long and tedious.
tedious = boring or monotonous
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |