anachronism
1 use
He stood there, beside the spice rack, a living anachronism.
anachronism = something out of place for it's time - typically something that belongs in the past
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it is appropriate
I don't have a single thing that's appropriate.
appropriate = suitable (fitting)
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:suitable (fitting) for a particular situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
elaborate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an elaborate design
He was mad, as if I'd elaborately planned getting sick.†
elaborately = with much detail or complexity
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:having details and complexity — sometimes fancy or ornate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
engrossed
1 use
Marion was acting like she couldn't hear us, engrossed in buffing a pinky nail.
engrossed = with all attention focused
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
entwined
1 use
"I know," I said, and it was easy to believe him as we lay there in the early winter darkness, him kissing my forehead, my bare feet entwined with his.
entwined = twisted together
Definition
Generally entwined means:interconnected (not easily separated) or twisted together
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
glower
3 uses
He sulked around, glowered at me, and still came over every Friday with his little sister and his parents, sitting stony-faced on the couch as I slipped out the door, yelling good-bye.
glowered = stared angrily
Definition
Generally glower means:to stare angrily
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
inane
1 use
Scarlett, of course, just shook her head and smiled as she listened to me prattle on, detailing every word and gesture of our inane sock-and-volleyball conversations.
inane = lacking substance (or silly)
Definition
Generally inane means:lacking substance - perhaps silly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ingenious
1 use
Noah had never slid his hand further than my neck, had never found ingenious ways to get places I was trying zealously to guard.
ingenious = showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
listless
1 use
You smell like cigarettes when you come home, you're listless and distracted.
listless = lacking energy and normal enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
morbid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a morbid curiosity
All of her copycat friends were following suit, casting off their J. Crew tweeds for ripped jeans and black clothes, trying to look morose and morbid in their BMWs and Mercedes.
morbid = suggesting death and decay; or an unhealthy interest in disturbing thoughts — such as of death or cruelty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
morose
1 use
All of her copycat friends were following suit, casting off their J. Crew tweeds for ripped jeans and black clothes, trying to look morose and morbid in their BMWs and Mercedes.
morose = unhappy
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
mortified
1 use
The thought alone was mortifying.
mortifying = causing extreme embarrassment, shame, or humiliation
Definition
Generally this sense of mortified means:exceedingly embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
nonchalant
1 use
All I had to do was walk out of the dressing room, nonchalant, acting like I was still half-asleep and too out of it to notice Macon,
nonchalant = appearing unconcerned
Definition
Generally nonchalant means:calm in manner — appearing unconcerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
notorious
1 use
He failed all of P.E.'s notoriously easy quizzes, but he could copy any signature perfectly on the first try.
notoriously = well known for something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
oblivious
1 use
She had her head down, resting against the rail of the bed, and her shoulders shook as she wept, with Grandma Halley sleeping on, oblivious.
oblivious = unaware of what was going on
Definition
Generally oblivious means:unaware of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
ogre
1 use
"You don't know my father," I said, like he was some big ogre, chasing boys across the yard with a shotgun.
ogre = an evil, hideous, and frightening person (in fairy tales: a frightening giant — especially one who likes to eat people)
Definition
Generally ogre means:fairy tales: a frightening giant — especially one who likes to eat people
or:
an evil, hideous, and frightening person
or:
an evil, hideous, and frightening person
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
placate
1 use
He never got involved anymore; his job was to placate, to smooth, once it was all over.
placate = calm someone who is or may become angry or concerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
stoic
1 use
I wondered what Michael was thinking, looking down at all these people with red faces shifting in their seats, at the wailing girls he left behind, at his parents in the front pew with his little sister, quietly stoic and sad.
stoic = trying to be unaffected by emotion
Definition
Generally stoic means:seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
unobtrusive
1 use
She was eating saltines and juice, the only things she could keep down, while I tried to eat my potato chips quietly and unobtrusively.
unobtrusively = in a manner that fits in so as not to disturb
Definition
Generally unobtrusive means:fitting in so as not to attract much attention or disturb
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
zeal
1 use
Noah had never slid his hand further than my neck, had never found ingenious ways to get places I was trying zealously to guard.
zealously = with active interest and enthusiasm
Definition
Generally zeal means:active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |