abrupt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an abrupt change
Abruptly, I remembered what had happened to Paris when Romeo came back.
abruptly = suddenly and unexpectedly
(editor's note: In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo fights with and kills Paris.)
(editor's note: In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo fights with and kills Paris.)
Definition
Generally this sense of abrupt means:sudden and unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Epil. |
apathy
1 use
Her expression was apathetic.
apathetic = without interest or enthusiasm
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a candid photograph
"Sure," she said, grinning, and turned to snap a candid shot of Mike with his mouth full.†
candid = unposed
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:unposed — typically said of a photograph
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
complacent
1 use
"You're right," he agreed, still complacent.
complacent = contented (unworried and happy)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
delude
12 uses
as long as I was truly insane now, I might as well enjoy the delusions while they were pleasant.
delusions = false beliefs
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
Definition
Generally delude means:deceive (convince to have a false belief)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
dubious
4 uses
She eyed me dubiously.
dubiously = doubtfully or 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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
endure
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
endured the pain
I had to know that he existed. That was all. Everything else I could endure. So long as he existed.
endure = suffer through
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
enigma
1 use
I watched curiously as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across her face.
enigmatic = mysterious and seeming unexplainable
Definition
Generally enigma means:something mysterious that seems unexplainable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
furtive
2 uses
I took advantage of his diversion, taking a furtive step back.
furtive = cautious (or to avoid being seen)
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
incredulous
1 use
She twisted in her seat to face me, eyeing me incredulously.
incredulously = with disbelief
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
indifferent
5 uses
Wouldn't Edward, indifferent as he might be, want me to be as happy as possible under the circumstances?
indifferent = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
irony
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
situational irony
But it was ironic, all things considered, that, in the end, I would wind up as a zombie. I hadn't seen that one coming.
ironic = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
morose
3 uses
I'd been careful to avoid all forms of moroseness, moping included.
moroseness = unhappiness
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
muse
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
her musings
"It's just so difficult to understand, even now," Aro mused,
mused = thought (in this case "out loud")
Definition
Generally this sense of muse means:reflect (think) deeply on a subject — perhaps aloud
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
I still had a hard time finding the obscure turnoff to his house in the dark.
obscure = not clearly seen
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
remorse
7 uses
The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse.
remorse = regret for doing something that was wrong
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
I nodded, disappointed but resigned.
resigned = having accepted something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
scrutiny
5 uses
"Bella," he hesitated, scrutinizing my reaction to his next words.
scrutinizing = careful inspecting
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
serene
7 uses
He struggled to conceal the tension behind his serene expression.
serene = calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
skeptical
8 uses
I didn't say anything, and he seemed to hear skepticism in my silence.
skepticism = doubt (that something is true)
Definition
Generally skeptical means:doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |