approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 5 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
approached the city
Before the race began, I tried to approach Annabeth and tell her about my dream.†
approach = get near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
You tried the diplomatic approach.†
approach = technique (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 19 |
bronze
18 uses
1 —18 uses as in:
bronze won't corrode in salt water
Annabeth's bronze knife lay on the deck.
bronze = made of a brownish metal
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
centaur
24 uses
The centaurs shall carry you.
centaurs = mythical beings that are half man and half horse
Definition
Generally centaur means:a mythical being that is half man and half horse
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
chasm
6 uses
...it had a rope bridge across a chasm,
chasm = a large and deep and steep-sided opening on the earth's surface
Definition
Generally chasm means:a large and deep and steep-sided opening on the earth's surface; or (more rarely) any large gap
or:
a very large difference — often of opinion
or:
a very large difference — often of opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
chide
6 uses
"Never question a gift," Hermes chided.
chided = gently corrected (told him it is wrong to ask the question)
Definition
Generally chide means:to tell someone they have done wrong — sometimes in a gentle way to encourage better behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 15 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
I'd always had trouble looking directly at him, though I'd never quite understood why.†
directly = straight (focusing where stated rather than including it as part of a larger focus; or a careful look rather than a quick glance)
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —2 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
Percy, the hardest part about being a god is that you must often act indirectly, especially when it comes to your own children.†
indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious manner
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed the jury to...
I didn't know where I was anymore, or which way to steer the boat. It was a good thing Annabeth was directing me.†
directing = giving directions to
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
4 —10 uses as in:
directed the movie
It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director.†
director = supervisor (person in charge)
(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 | 10 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
expulsion
8 uses
For the first time in my life, I'd almost made it an entire year without getting expelled.
expelled = kicked out of school
Definition
Generally expulsion means:the act of forcing out
especially in 2 primary senses:
- kicking someone out of an organization — such as a school or country
- squeezing something to eliminate a liquid or gas
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
falsetto
2 uses
Grover said in his falsetto voice.
falsetto = a male using a voice with artificially high tones
Definition
Generally falsetto means:a male voice that is artificially high — usually while singing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
hubris
4 uses
My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris.
hubris = excessive pride, arrogance, or confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
immortal
8 uses
You told me the gods made you immortal only so long as you were needed to train heroes.
immortal = someone who lives forever
Definition
Generally immortal means:living or existing forever
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
lithe
1 use
She was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong,
lithe = thin with grace of movement
Definition
Generally lithe means:a graceful, flexible body — often implying thinness
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
menial
1 use
The monster may be able to do some menial chores.
menial = unskilled
Definition
Generally menial means:of work: unskilled and uninteresting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
mortal
13 uses
1 —13 uses as in:
mortal body
I was under strict orders from Chiron never to take my anger out on regular mortals,
mortals = humans (especially merely humans)
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
parry
3 uses
He slashed at Annabeth, and I parried the blade away.
parried = deflected (forced in a harmless direction)
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
prophecy
22 uses
Has Chiron even told you the prophecy?
prophecy = prediction of the future
Definition
Generally prophecy means:a prediction of the future (usually said to be obtained in a supernatural way)
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
Zeus
19 uses
Lord Zeus was most upset.
Zeus = Greek mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |