anguish
4 uses
But his anguish after he'd discovered his dead son had sounded real.†
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
approach
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
Maybe if I hit some code-breaking sites I could figure out a different approach for how to find our parents.†
approach = way of doing something
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 41-50 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
appropriate from their culture
Nudge got onto the laptop we'd more or less appropriated from Anne.
appropriated = taken
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:to take without asking — often without right
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 71-80 |
condescending
1 use
"That is so condescending," he said.
condescending = a manner that treats 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 | Chapter 31-40 |
direct (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 7 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
I glanced around again — and saw Angel looking directly at me through the vent.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-20 |
2 —3 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
It had never, ever responded to a direct question before.†
direct = straightforward (specific and clear)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed the movie
The Director was right — they're going to Washington DC.†
director = someone (or one of a group) who is in charge of an organization or project — sometimes someone in charge of making a film or other performance
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
But since we were in a seven-freaking-bedroom country chateau with a Sub-Zero fridge and Viking range at our disposal, it didn't cut it.†
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 21-30 |
dispute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
their border dispute
That Nudge never quit yapping, and Angel and Gasman had gotten into disputes like whether the sky was blue and what day this was.
disputes = disagreements or arguments
Definition
Generally this sense of dispute means:disagreement, argument, or conflict
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 121-130 |
DNA
8 uses
Morphing had hurt at first — his lupine DNA wasn't seamlessly grafted into his stem cells, like the other Erasers'.†
DNA = cell structures that transmit genetic information which determines inherited traits such as hair color or height
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
grave
2 uses
I swung my head to see her gravely watching an Eraser who looked confused, paralyzed.†
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
monopoly
1 use
Like — you can't build bombs or cook or win at Monopoly.†
monopoly = the only supplier of a good or service; or a market with only one supplier
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 31-40 |
optimistic
2 uses
I felt kind of optimistic.†
optimistic = expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-10 |
revise
1 use
Only three days before this year's budget was supposed to be presented, President Danning announced a stunning revision: He has taken back almost a billion dollars allotted to the military and is channeling it into public education, as well as nationwide shelters for homeless women and children.†
revision = a change; or a changed version
(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 revise means:to change (and hopefully improve) — most frequently to improve a written document, but it can be any intentional change such as a change in an estimated amount, a plan, or a series of procedures
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 71-80 |
serene
3 uses
I mean, there was no way I was going to wallow in serenity for more than two seconds, right?†
serenity = untroubled calm
Definition
Generally serene means:calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 91-100 |
vary
2 uses
The others nodded with varying levels of enthusiasm.†
varying = differing; or changing
Definition
Generally vary means:to be different, or to change
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11-20 |
virtual (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
virtual organization
Gliders are virtually soundless.
virtually = to almost be so, but not so strictly speaking
Definition
Generally this sense of virtual means:to almost be something; or to effectively be something without entirely being it in a traditional sense
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 91-100 |
2 —1 use as in:
computer's virtual world
A fine time for the big guys' latest super-top-secret holographic virtual-reality system to crash.
virtual = simulated by a computer
Definition
Generally this sense of virtual means:something simulated by a computer
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 131-142 |
wallow
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
wallow happily in the mud
Of course it was too freaking peaceful to last, right? I mean, there was no way I was going to wallow in serenity for more than two seconds, right?
wallow = relax
Definition
Generally this sense of wallow means:to relax — especially of an animal rolling about in mud or shallow water
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
or more rarely: a noun describing the mud puddle or indentation in which an animal relaxes or rolls around
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 91-100 |
wistful
3 uses
"It's what we've all waited for," said Nudge, sounding wistful.†
wistful = showing longing or unfulfilled desire
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 91-100 |