banish
1 use
To be banished from this place seemed really unfair.
banished = expelled (kicked out)
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
Imagine the world in chaos.
chaos = 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
The Chimera charged, its lion teeth gnashing.
chimera = Greek mythology: a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail
(editor's note: More generally, the word chimera can be used to reference something imagined, but not possible—often an idea requiring a combination that is impossible in reality.)
(editor's note: More generally, the word chimera can be used to reference something imagined, but not possible—often an idea requiring a combination that is impossible in reality.)
Definition
Generally chimera means: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
And conjugating those Latin verbs?
conjugating = grammar: changing the form of a verb to indicate changes in grammatical function
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
The spirits made muffled hisses as they dissipated, like the air let out of tires.
dissipated = gradually disappeared
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
Then I heard yelling, elated screams, and I saw Luke racing toward the boundary line with the red team's banner lifted high.
elated = had a feeling of happiness and excitement
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
Gabe looked at him resentfully and mimicked in a falsetto voice:
falsetto = 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
As they fought, the ground rumbled, and a monstrous voice chuckled somewhere beneath the earth, goading the animals to fight harder.
goading = provoking (getting them to)
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
For a peace-loving herbivore, he looked downright murderous.
herbivore = feeding only on plants
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
metamorphosis
1 use
I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death.
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
Luke showed me thrusts and parries and shield blocks the hard way.
parries = ways of deflecting the thrust of a sword
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
You dare keep up this pretense, after what you have done?
pretense = deception (pretending something is true)
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
"reconciliation," she said. "Athena and Poseidon together."
reconciliation = end the conflict (bring them into agreement)
(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 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
She seemed resigned to the fact that I had a major talent for ticking off the gods.
resigned = to have accepted as unavoidable
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
Reverently, he placed the shoe box in my lap.
reverently = in a very respectful manner
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
"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron put in.
spontaneous = happening without apparent external cause
(editor's note: Spontaneous combustion refers to something bursting into flame without apparent cause.)
(editor's note: Spontaneous combustion refers to something bursting into flame without apparent cause.)
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
Why would anybody want to summon a monster?
summon = called forth
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
I must go personally to purify this thunderbolt in the waters of Lemnos, to remove the human taint from its metal.
taint = contamination (that makes it less desirable)
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
Soon, all three of us were decked out like walking advertisements for the defunct theme park.†
theme park = an amusement park with one or more basic underlying ideas — such as the Magic Kingdom
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
Now, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly-
usurp = seize or take control of
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 |