candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
your candid opinion
"I lied," Magnus admitted candidly.
candidly = with honesty and directness
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
cleave
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
cleave to
Shadowhunters cleave to no single religion, and in turn all religions assist us in our battle.
cleave = hold firmly
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to hold firmly to something — such as an object, a person or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
contrite
2 uses
"I have short legs," she reminded him.
"Sorry." He slowed down, contrite.
"Sorry." He slowed down, contrite.
contrite = feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
deride
2 uses
It was a derisive sort of cough, the kind of noise someone might make who was trying not to laugh out loud.
derisive = contemptuous (treating as inferior and unworthy of respect)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
disdain
1 use
With a look of disdainful exasperation Gretel set the tray down on the ground and marched out of the room.
disdainful = full of disrespect
(editor's note: Exasperation means "great annoyance", so this sentence could be paraphrased as "With a look of disrespect and great annoyance...")
(editor's note: Exasperation means "great annoyance", so this sentence could be paraphrased as "With a look of disrespect and great annoyance...")
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
dubious
3 uses
Simon looked dubious. "What makes you think so?"
dubious = doubtful
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
engender
1 use
And surely it must engender some bitterness in you, Starkweather, to know that they so easily left this fate to you...
engender = cause
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
fallacious
1 use
I mean, simple ontological reductionism is clearly a fallacious argument,
fallacious = mistaken (based on incorrect information or belief)
(editor's note: Ontological reductionism is a philosophical belief that everything is composed of collections of a limited number of less complex things. It's an esoteric philosophical topic which Jase is not really discussing. He is just joking around with Clary by sounding philosophical.)
(editor's note: Ontological reductionism is a philosophical belief that everything is composed of collections of a limited number of less complex things. It's an esoteric philosophical topic which Jase is not really discussing. He is just joking around with Clary by sounding philosophical.)
Definition
Generally fallacious means:not correct
- typically describing something as mistaken due to incorrect information or belief
- sometimes describing something as an intentional lie
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
inflexible
1 use
"It's a good story if you think about it," he said. "The boy's father is just trying to make him stronger. Inflexible."
"But you have to learn to bend a little," said Clary.... "Or you'll break."
"Not if you're strong enough," said Jace firmly.
"But you have to learn to bend a little," said Clary.... "Or you'll break."
"Not if you're strong enough," said Jace firmly.
inflexible = unbending (not willing to compromise or make concessions)
Definition
Generally inflexible means:not bendable or adaptable
in various senses, including:
- not willing to compromise or make concessions — as when a boss says "Do it my way or you're fired."
- not able to adjust well to different conditions — as of a schedule that cannot be changed
- not easily bent without physical damage or injury — as of brittle steel or person with stiff joints
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
I thought you liked it when I was witty and ironic.
ironic = saying one thing while meaning the opposite
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
laconic
2 uses
"Hello is girly," he informed her. "Real men are terse. Laconic."
laconic = use few words
Definition
Generally laconic means:using few words
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
meticulous
2 uses
Frowning, Hodge Starkweather rolled the letter, carefully and meticulously, into the shape of a tube, and whistled for Hugo.
meticulously = in a manner treating details with great care
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
obstinate
2 uses
I sat in the tiny, cheap hotel room we had rented and tried to reason with her, but it did no good. She was obstinate.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
philanthropy
1 use
"So you're a philanthropist." Jace's lip curled. "I suppose you expect me to believe that Downworlders don't pay you handsomely for the privilege of your Sanctuary?"
philanthropist = someone who helps or donates to others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
pragmatic
1 use
"It's nice to see that you've developed a healthy respect for your own skin over the years, Lucian. You weren't always so 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 8 |
remonstrate
1 use
And yet he has played her faithful lapdog ever since, never remonstrating, never accusing, never confronting her with his feelings.
remonstrating = arguing in protest or opposition
Definition
Generally remonstrate means:argue, complain, or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
"You thought he was cute," said Simon, sounding resigned.
resigned = having 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 1 |
supercilious
1 use
"You may be the only guy my age I've ever met who knows..."
"Yes, well," Jace said, with a supercilious look, "I'm not like other guys. Besides," he added, flipping a book off the shelf, "at the Institute we have to take classes in basic medicinal uses for plants. It's required."
"Yes, well," Jace said, with a supercilious look, "I'm not like other guys. Besides," he added, flipping a book off the shelf, "at the Institute we have to take classes in basic medicinal uses for plants. It's required."
supercilious = acting as if superior to others
Definition
Generally supercilious means:arrogant (acting as if better, more important, and superior in ideas than others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
taint
3 uses
She would make a new life for herself and her baby, and she wanted no whisper of Clave or Covenant ever to taint her future.
taint = spoil or contaminate
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
zeal
2 uses
Its only inhabitants were the mute Brothers and the dead they so zealously guarded.
zealously = with active interest and enthusiasm
Definition
Generally zeal means:active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |