acute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
acute sense of smell
He was suddenly acutely conscious of the actions of other people.
acutely = in a manner showing perception
Definition
Generally this sense of acute means:sharp (highly perceptive in some area or mentally sharp)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
anxiety
5 uses
Realize that the tension and the headache are anxiety reactions.
anxiety = nervousness or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
belligerent
1 use
"That's my bike," I say.
"What are you talking about?" he answers, belligerently. He is prepared to fight
"What are you talking about?" he answers, belligerently. He is prepared to fight
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 27 |
claustrophobia
4 uses
The alley is so narrow that claustrophobia threatens me again and my palms turn wet with perspiration while drops of sweat gather in my armpits.
claustrophobia = abnormal fear of being closed in a confined space
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
corroborate
1 use
Psychiatric reports ... corroborate results of OZK series tapes. Subject A responded with consistency of earlier sessions.
corroborate = support (reinforce)
Definition
Generally corroborate means:to support an opinion — typically with additional evidence or testimony
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
desecrate
1 use
Listen, Amy, you're not going to desecrate a church, are you?
desecrate = violate the sacred character of a place
Definition
Generally desecrate means:violate the sacred nature of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
indifferent
1 use
His father wasn't fond of McDonald's and had toyed indifferently with the fish filet.
indifferently = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
irrevocable
3 uses
It was only later, in the eighth grade, when he knew irrevocably that he wanted to be a writer, that he realized he had stored up all his observations, all his emotions, for that purpose.
irrevocably = in a manner that cannot be undone
Definition
Generally irrevocable means:incapable of being undone
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
landmark
4 uses
The first landmark was that day in the woods with the dog.
landmark = something very important
Definition
Generally landmark means:something very important
or:
something easily recognized (such as a monument, building, or geographic feature) — especially one that helps one to know where she is; or that is a tourist destination
or:
something easily recognized (such as a monument, building, or geographic feature) — especially one that helps one to know where she is; or that is a tourist destination
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
nonchalant
3 uses
"Don't rush, act nonchalant," Amy cautioned.
nonchalant = calm and unconcerned
Definition
Generally nonchalant means:calm in manner — appearing unconcerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
His voice quivering, he would read her a poem he had written, pretending it was the work of an obscure poet:
obscure = little known (not known to many people)
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
probe
5 uses
He keeps probing for more information and I tell him there isn't any more, that I've held nothing back.
probing = searching (investigating)
Definition
Generally probe means:to investigate; or an investigation
or:
any of various instrument used for investigation
or:
any of various instrument used for investigation
instruments such as:
- an instrument to measure electronic voltage
- a surgical tool used for examination
- an unmanned spacecraft used for exploration
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
superficial
1 use
Roscoe Campbell, owner and editor of the Telegrapher, encouraged Adam's father to go beyond the superficial aspects of stories, to find the meanings below the surfaces, to root out what might be hidden or not apparent to the casual reader.
superficial = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
sustain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sustained by her faith
—religion, in fact, had always sustained her through bad periods, particularly after her father died.
sustained = supported
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:provide support or necessities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
He remembered asking his father, tentatively, afraid that he was invading his privacy, how much it had hurt him to start life over, to give up his old life, his career, his friends.
tentatively = 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 25 |
testify
7 uses
Weren't the people Dad testified against sent to jail?
testified = provided oral evidence
Definition
Generally testify means:provide evidence of something — especially to say something under oath in a court of law
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
testimony
8 uses
The first people to give testimony were criminals themselves, members of the organizations and syndicates who, for one reason or another, decided to turn against their own kind.
testimony = oral evidence in a trial
Definition
Generally testimony means:something that serves as evidence — especially a statement at a trial or hearing
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
wary
4 uses
He was wary again, on guard, distrustful.
wary = nervous or distrustful
Definition
Generally wary means:nervous about (or distrustful of) someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
waver
5 uses
His huge figure wavers in the wetness of my tears, as if he is somehow underwater.
wavers = moving back and forth (in this case, appearing to move back and forth)
Definition
Generally waver means:to move back and forth (shake or quiver)
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
wistful
3 uses
She was sitting at the window, looking out, a forlorn figure, wistful.
wistful = showing longing or unfulfilled desire
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |