aversion
3 uses
It's probably just my well-documented aversion to school.
aversion = dislike that leads to avoidance
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a candid photograph
At the end of every school year there was the annual slide show, full of candid shots that hadn't made the yearbook.
candid = unposed
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:unposed — typically said of a photograph
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
coherent
1 use
She was coherent, but barely; she was tired, the drugs made her woozy, and she kept closing her eyes.
coherent = able to think logically and express herself clearly
Definition
Generally coherent means:sensible and clear; or describing parts as fitting together in a consistent or pleasing manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
conjure
1 use
"Sorry," I said, and I couldn't believe he was here, in my yard, like some kind of ghost I'd conjured up with wishful thinking.
conjured = summoned into action or brought into existence — often as if by magic
Definition
Generally conjure means:summon into action or bring into existence — often as if by magic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a deliberate thinker
He walked like a little old man, slowly and deliberately.
deliberately = done with great care — often slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
divert
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
divert her attention
"Second," he said loudly, ignoring me, "try to divert them by mentioning anything about your therapist."
divert = distract (in this case, people's thinking)
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in undiverted means not and reverses the meaning of diverted. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in undiverted means not and reverses the meaning of diverted. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally this sense of divert means:to distract someone's attention or (more rarely) to entertain
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
dominate
2 uses
The way my mother held her tongue when I knew she was dying to offer an opinion, to dominate a conversation-to be my mother.
dominate = to control; or to be most influential
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
eccentric
2 uses
But my Grandma Halley was kind of wild, a little eccentric, more so in the ten years since my grandfather had died.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
elated
1 use
someone was saying in a bored voice from the front desk, and whatever elation I was experiencing screeched to a halt.
elation = feeling of happiness and excitement
(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 elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
enigma
1 use
By leaving the popular crowd, Michael Sherwood became an enigma.
enigma = something mysterious that seems unexplainable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
furtive
1 use
"Well, I heard Noah was drunk," she said, whispering the last word and taking a furtive look around.
furtive = taking pains to avoid being observed or heard
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
gist
1 use
The basic gist was this: ...
gist = the main point(s) of a more detailed matter
Definition
Generally gist means:the main point(s) of a more detailed matter
or:
law: the grounds for a legal action
or:
law: the grounds for a legal action
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
hypocrite
1 use
I thought I could make out the word hypocrite.
hypocrite = someone who violates claimed moral standards
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
indignant
4 uses
I was trying to be indignant but he was so cute.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
inevitable
1 use
Twice at his house, on Friday nights as we lay in his bed, so close it seemed inevitable.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
joust
4 uses
"They don't joust," Marion grumbled,
joust = a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances
Definition
Generally joust means:a contest in which knights attempt to knock each other off horses with blunted lances
or:
any kind of contest
or:
any kind of contest
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
precede
3 uses
As a Boy with a Reputation, his neighborhood legend preceded him.
preceded = came before (in this case, his legend was known before he was met)
Definition
Generally precede means:to go or do before
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
Mr. Averby just looked tired, beaten. resigned.
resigned = like one who had accepted something undesired 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 13 |
scrutiny
1 use
We'd all watch attentively as Coach scrutinized it.
scrutinized = looked at very carefully
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
solemn
3 uses
His face was stony, solemn, as he stared at me, holding a Coke in his hand.
solemn = serious
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |