approach
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
approached the city
As midnight approached, the devotional chanting began, rising and falling with the drumbeat, working a net about the senses.†
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 | Part 3 |
attribute (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 20 uses
1 —19 uses as in:
It is an attribute of...
Someone always has an Attribute to stand against any one weapon.†
attribute = characteristic (of something or someone)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:a characteristic (of something or someone)
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
-fragility perhaps, about his unconscious form, which might have been caused partly by the fevers that racked his body, but which could not be attributed entirely to them.†
attributed = credited (pointed to a source for something)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
auspicious
1 use
Brahma wore a purple crown, studded with pulsating amethysts, and he bore in his right hand a scepter mounted with the nine auspicious gems.
auspicious = favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
condescending
1 use
That is rather condescending of you.
condescending = treating others as inferiors
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
consequence
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a direct consequence of
Consequently, both her monks and those of the saffron robe wondered as to her appearance and sought to gain possible favor in her eyes.†
consequently = resultantly (as a result)
Definition
Generally this sense of consequence means:a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
He thought of its splendor and its color, in contrast to that of the rest of the world, and he wept as he raged, for he knew that he could never feel either wholly right or wholly wrong in opposing it.†
in contrast = in a comparison that shows differences
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
I choose to defer acceptance.
defer = delay
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
deity
11 uses
Under his breath, he called upon the more notable of the current fertility deities, invoking them in terms of their most prominent Attributes.†
deities = gods or goddesses
Definition
Generally deity means:god or goddess
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
descend (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
Sam raised his lance and a jagged line of light ran up into the heavens, provoking a dozen more to descend upon the field.†
descend = come down
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
A horde of demons had tried to descend upon the City at that moment, but the power of the weird held them back.†
descend = come or arrive
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discordant music
a discordant music trailing in their wake
discordant = unpleasant sounding
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
dispose
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
"To give you an honest answer," said the other, "neither did I. But then, I had at my disposal the combined powers of many of my kind."†
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
dispute
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
She disputes his claim.
Together we beat a world, you and I, for nothing really wanted us here and everything disputed our coming.†
disputed = challenged, argued about, or fought over
Definition
Generally this sense of dispute means:challenge, argue about, or fight over
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
dwell
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a modest dwelling
All the women of the town had been ordered to stand before the doors of their dwellings.†
dwellings = houses or shelters in which people live
Definition
Generally this sense of dwelling means:a house or shelter in which someone lives
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
earnest
1 use
It has a certain earnest, working-class sound about it.
earnest = sincere
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 | Part 2 |
incarnate
17 uses
We could not permit them to continue their attempts to possess the machines of incarnation and the bodies of men.†
incarnation = embodiment
(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 incarnate means:embody (made real in a material sense) — especially in the form of a human body, but sometimes figuratively
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
mortal
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
mortal body
You are said to be a god, whose kingdom is death and whose knowledge extends beyond the ken of mortals.†
mortals = humans (especially merely humans) or people subject to death
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
parry
10 uses
Twice, he parried the staff.†
parried = avoided
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 | 10 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
precede
4 uses
Not preceded by conch and drum did he move, but by silence, as he passed along the dim streets of the city.†
preceded = went or was before
Definition
Generally precede means:to go or do before
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |