affectation
1 use
It means 'father' in the Urgal tongue, an affectation that pleases him.
affectation = behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 52 |
alacrity
1 use
Her reply came with surprising alacrity.
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 41 |
attribute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I attribute it to...
Our king has lived long enough to make that apparent, but most people attribute it to his own magical abilities.†
attribute = credit (point to as the cause of)
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 | Chapter 6 |
breach
12 uses
If the outer wall were breached, archers would be posted on all the roofs.
breached = broken through
Definition
Generally breach means:break — as in break an understanding or a break (gap) in a wall
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
contempt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
He ... held himself with ease, and seemed to regard the rest of the world with slight contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
convey (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
convey her thoughts
Is there anything you would have me convey to Ajihad on your behalf?†
convey = communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 46 |
2 —1 use as in:
convey her safely to
If you're being attacked with heat, you have to know whether it is being conveyed to you through air, fire, light, or some other medium.†
conveyed = transported
Definition
Generally this sense of convey means:transport
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
convoluted
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convoluted folds of the brain
His favorite item was a root so convoluted he never tired of looking at it.
convoluted = complexly twisted and folded
Definition
Generally this sense of convoluted means:having complex coils, folds, twists, or irregularities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
deride
6 uses
Putting all the derision he could into his voice, he jeered, "How did you like being shot?"
derision = critical disrespect — typically while laughing at or making fun of
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 50 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
He listened as she descended the stairs.
descended = moved downward
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 | Chapter 12 |
disdain
3 uses
The butcher always treated him with disdain, as if he were something unclean.
disdain = 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 | Pro. |
duplicity
1 use
The Twins dislike us-we should be on our guard for any duplicities they might attempt.
duplicities = deceptions
Definition
Generally duplicity means:deception (lying to or misleading others) — usually over an extended period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 53 |
foal
1 use
He was given to me when he was just a foal.
foal = young horse
Definition
Generally foal means:a young horse; or giving birth to a young horse
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 39 |
guile
1 use
Don't make the mistake of underestimating a Ra'zac, for they are cunning and full of guile.
guile = cunning (shrewd, clever) and deceitful
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
Two boys from Carvahall wrestled nearby, but he felt no inclination to join them.
inclination = desire (tendency)
(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 inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
he inclined his head toward Eragon,
inclined = bent
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Look at it from her perspective
It's a matter of perspective.†
perspective = a way of seeing and thinking about things
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
taciturn
1 use
They returned to their meals in the taciturn presence of Garrow.
taciturn = reserved and uncommunicative
Definition
Generally taciturn means:with a tendency to be reserved and not to talk
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
will yield valuable data
Magic can yield unexpected results when the ancient words are combined in new ways.†
yield = produce
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43 |
2 —3 uses as in:
yield to pressure
It was blocky, unadorned, and cut with unyielding precision.†
unyielding = strict
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unyielding means not and reverses the meaning of yielding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unyielding means not and reverses the meaning of yielding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |