claustrophobia
1 use
...as he tossed in his bed, the sheet twisted around him like a shroud, suffocatingly. He fought the sheet, filled suddenly with the terror of claustrophobia, being buried alive.
claustrophobia = abnormal fear of being closed in a confined space
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
condone
1 use
How could a school condone an organization like The Vigils?
condone = accept without taking a stand against
Definition
Generally condone means:accept without criticism; or approve of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
confront
7 uses
He also ached for a chance to confront Janza.
confront = challenge
Definition
Generally confront means:to deal directly with an unpleasant situation or person
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 27 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
deride
1 use
The chuckle turned into a hoot of derision.
derision = treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
He had a terrible feeling of doom about to descend on all of them.
descend = come
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
emerge
6 uses
Most of them were freshmen and had been in Leon's class only a month or so but the teacher's pattern had already emerged.
emerged = appeared (shown itself)
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish a positive tone
He shook his head, quick vision-clearing shakings and established himself in the world once more.†
established = settled
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
fastidious
1 use
He was a fastidious, precise man who ordinarily taught math but had been filling in for the regular art teacher.
fastidious = giving careful attention to detail
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
furtive
1 use
He also had to do it furtively, afraid that his father or mother might see him.
furtively = while taking pains to avoid being observed
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 14 |
incredulous
1 use
"You don't want to?" Archie asked, incredulous.
incredulous = unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
indulgent
1 use
Archie allowed himself the indulgence of a quiet, confident laugh, but closed his fists to hide his moist palms.
indulgence = special pleasure (something enjoyed more than he might normally permit)
Definition
Generally indulgent means:to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
ingenious
1 use
It was an ingenious idea thought up by someone long before Archie's time, someone who was wise enough ... to realize that an assigner could go off the deep end if there wasn't some kind of control.
ingenious = showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
insolent
2 uses
A junior, Rollo was insolent, a troublemaker.
insolent = rudely disrespectful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
meticulous
1 use
Only five thousand to go—or four thousand, nine hundred and ninety to be exact, as Brother Leon pointed out in that fussy meticulous way of his.
meticulous = treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
mock
10 uses
Leon accepted this small hint of mockery from Johnson because he was in such a good mood.
mockery = ridicule
Definition
Generally mock means:making fun of
or:
not real
or:
not real
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
notorious
2 uses
The guys were notorious for holding back some of the money until the last minute.
notorious = well known for something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
sacrilege
1 use
I know you wouldn't consider anything so sacrilegious.
sacrilegious = disrespectful of something others consider important or sacred
Definition
Generally sacrilege means:disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
scrutiny
1 use
The sound of the restless audience in his ears, Archie scrutinized the paper.
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 36 |
squander
1 use
He listened to it splash dismally below, bidding a wistful farewell to the squandered buck and a quarter.
squandered = wasted
Definition
Generally squander means:to waste — money, resources, or opportunities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
zeal
1 use
Oh, once in a while they get carried away but it's good to see all that energy and zeal and enthusiasm.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 38 |