banish
1 use
He was banished from his own country.
banished = forced to leave
Definition
Generally banish means:to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
- to force someone to leave a country as punishment
- to push an idea from the mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
chaos
3 uses
The country entered a period of civil war and chaos.
chaos = extreme confusion and disorder
Definition
Generally chaos means:a state of extreme confusion and disorder
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
chimera
17 uses
She describes his dream as a political chimera.
chimera = something imagined, but not possible — often an idea requiring an impossible combination
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
conjugate
1 use
Afrikaans, spoken in South Africa and Nambia, does not conjugate verbs differently depending upon the subject. The verb forms for I am, You are, and It is are all the same.
conjugate = change in the form of a verb for the context in which it is used
Definition
Generally this sense of conjugate means:grammatical changes of verb forms to agree with other words in a sentence for tense, number, person, and other things
English tense example:
She writes.
She is writing.
She will write tomorrow.
She has written in the past.
English number example:
Jane is...
Jane and Susan are...
English tense example:
She writes.
She is writing.
She will write tomorrow.
She has written in the past.
English number example:
Jane is...
Jane and Susan are...
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
dissipate
2 uses
Airborne radiation dissipates over time and distance.
dissipates = gradually disappears
Definition
Generally dissipate means:to gradually disappear; or to gradually waste
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
elated
1 use
I felt elated the first day of summer break.
elated = happy and excited
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
falsetto
1 use
He sings with a falsetto voice.
falsetto = a male singing voice with artificially high tones in an upper register
Definition
Generally falsetto means:a male voice that is artificially high — usually while singing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
goad
1 use
She goaded him into an argument.
goaded = provoked (angered or annoyed)
Definition
Generally goad means:to a human: to provoke or encourage someone to do something — usually something bad and often provoking in an annoying manner
to an animal: to prod with a pointed stick to make it move
to an animal: to prod with a pointed stick to make it move
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
herbivorous
1 use
It is a peaceful herbivore.
herbivore = feeding only on plants
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
metamorphosis
1 use
the metamorphosis of the old house into something new and exciting
metamorphosis = a complete transformation or change
Definition
Generally metamorphosis means:a complete change; or more specifically, the rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in some insects
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
parry
1 use
She parried the question by asking...
parried = avoided answering the question with a clever response that directs attention elsewhere
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
pretense
1 use
The country maintains a pretense of a free press.
pretense = false appearance
Definition
Generally pretense means:a false appearance or action to help one pretend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
She reconciled her checking account statement.
reconciled = brought into agreement (in this case, the statement from the bank with the record she kept in her check register)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = (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 11 |
revere
1 use
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
revere = deeply respect and admire
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
spontaneous
1 use
The group broke into spontaneous laughter.
spontaneous = happening or arising without plan
Definition
Generally spontaneous means:behaving in an instinctive, uninhibited manner
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
summon
13 uses
I was summoned to the principal's office.
summoned = called to come
Definition
Generally summon means:to call forth
The exact meaning of summon can depend upon its context. For example:
- "summon to court" — officially demand that someone appear in court (call them to court)
- "summon the team to a meeting" — call upon the team members to attend a meeting
- "summon help" — call others to come and help
- "summon her courage" — call forth her courage from within
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 35 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
taint
1 use
Three people died from eating the tainted ice cream.
tainted = spoiled or contaminated
Definition
Generally taint means:to spoil something so it is not desirable — as when bacteria contaminates a food; or as when a rumor makes people distrust a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
theme
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
theme of the novel
The party had a 1950's theme.
theme = an idea that is unifying or recurrent
Definition
Generally this sense of theme means:a basic idea that underlies what is being said or done — especially in a literary or artistic work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
usurp
1 use
The lawsuit claims that the Federal Government is usurping rights reserved by the Constitution for state governments.
usurping = taking without authority
Definition
Generally usurp means:seize or take control without authority
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |