alleviate
1 use
The mansion was eerily quiet, with only the fizzle of the last few solinium flares to alleviate the stillness.
alleviate = lessen or make less severe (something that is bad)
Definition
Generally alleviate means:to lessen something that is bad — especially to lessen pain
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
ascend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
ascend the mountain
They had ascended from the cellar level and were just crossing the lobby.
ascended = climbed up
Definition
Generally this sense of ascend means:to move or slope upward — sometimes figuratively as when climbing the corporate ladder
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
assuage
3 uses
D'Klass thought that the greed of the Mud People in his kingdom could be assuaged by distributing lavish gifts.
assuaged = soothed
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
austere
1 use
The same family portraits glared down at her, but now they seemed smug rather than austere.
austere = stern (serious, strict, and expecting perfect discipline)
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
belligerent
1 use
echoed Juliet belligerently, still a bit miffed over the mesmerizing.
belligerently = with an attitude of one eager to fight
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
capitulate
1 use
Ah, it would seem the LEP have capitulated.
capitulated = stopped resisting
Definition
Generally capitulate means:to stop resisting something — such as surrendering to someone else's decision or accepting a military defeat
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
centaur
32 uses
This is Foaly, the centaur.
centaur = a mythical being that is half man and half horse
Word Statistics
| Book | 32 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
complacent
1 use
And these humans wouldn't stay complacent for long.
complacent = contented (unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
dubious
1 use
A dubious individual, even by Artemis Fowl's standards.
dubious = doubtful or suspicious
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
eccentric
1 use
But in spite of all that, if there was one race the People felt an affinity for it was the Irish. Perhaps it was their eccentricity, perhaps their dedication to the craic, as they called it.
eccentricity = unconventional or strange behavior
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
highlight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
highlight the main findings
Root's hesitation was highlighted by the hiss of interference.†
highlighted = emphasized (called attention to)
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:emphasize (call attention to something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
incredulous
2 uses
Holly was incredulous. 'A casualty of war? How can you say that? A life is a life.'
incredulous = unbelieving
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
interpret
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
her interpretation of the data
Plastering your absurd interpretations on to the most innocent of gestures.†
interpretations = ways of understanding or explaining things
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of interpret means:to understand or explain something in a particular way — often the meaning or significance of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
languish
2 uses
At present, Mulch was languishing in a stone-walled cell in LEP Central.
languishing = suffering in a bad situation for a long time
Definition
Generally languish means:to suffer in a bad situation for a long time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
lucid
2 uses
His sister wasn't lucid.
lucid = capable of thinking clearly
Definition
Generally lucid means:of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
manor
28 uses
The manor's security had been compromised.
manor = a large house and the land around it
Definition
Generally manor means:a large house of a lord or wealthy person; or the house and the land around it
Word Statistics
| Book | 28 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
pragmatic
1 use
And for some reason she mourned his passing. Root was more pragmatic.
pragmatic = concerned with practical matters
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
relevant
1 use
"Can you blow that up?"
"No problem."
Foaly cut to the relevant area, increasing it by 400 per cent.
"No problem."
Foaly cut to the relevant area, increasing it by 400 per cent.
relevant = relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
scrutiny
1 use
The holograms were handy for quick patches, but no good under scrutiny.
scrutiny = careful look or inspection
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 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
They approached the doorway tentatively.
tentatively = carefully (in an unsure or hesitant manner)
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |