apprehensive
3 uses
His silence made her more apprehensive than hearing something terrible would have.†
apprehensive = nervous or worried
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
belittle
1 use
Belittled.†
belittled = made someone or something seem less important
Definition
Generally belittle means:to make someone or something seem less important
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
chronological
1 use
LENA HAD GRABBED Professor Gurshelfs Illustrated Atlas of the World — Being a Compendium of Statistical, Descriptive, Chronological, Geographical, Astronomical and Political Information Respecting All the Peoples and Nations of the Earth.†
chronological = arranged according to time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
confound
3 uses
At Jaybird Kelsey's confounded face.†
confounded = confused or frustrated
Definition
Generally confound means:to confuse, prove wrong, frustrate, or express frustration
in various senses, including:
confuse or surprise — sometimes specifically to confuse one thing with another
- "confounded by the puzzle" — confused or perplexed
- "Test results confounded the experts." — surprised and confused
- "Do not confound confidence with correctness." — mistake one thing for another
prove wrong, defeat, or frustrate
- "The test results confounded my theory." — proved wrong
- "Their defense confounded our offense." — defeated or frustrated
make worse
- "She confounded the problem by painting without sanding." — made worse
- "The task is complicated by other confounding factors." — making worse
an exclamation expressing anger or frustration
- "Confound it! Will I ever get this thing to work?"
- "I don't understand the confounded directions!"
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
She couldn't bear to think of their contempt turned on her.
contempt = dislike and disrespect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
digress
1 use
And now, Winslow, we have digressed enough.
digressed = wandered away from the main topic
Definition
Generally digress means:wander from a direct or straight course — typically verbally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
enable
1 use
Part of our colonial policy which enabled the United States to enact legislation for the government of backward people.†
enabled = made possible
Definition
Generally enable means:to make possible
in various senses, including:
- to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something — as in "The study will enable an informed discussion."
- to activate a computer system for use — as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page."
- to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern — as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
endure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
endured the pain
as he had found a way to endure losing them.
endure = suffer through
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
flaunt
1 use
Couldn't she have said anything that didn't flaunt book learning?†
flaunt = show off
Definition
Generally flaunt means:the act of showing off (displaying something in an obvious way for others to admire or envy)
or:
openly defiant of rules or expectations
or:
openly defiant of rules or expectations
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
hoard
2 uses
She and Winslow began in earnest, using their hoarded ammunition carefully.†
hoarded = gathered something valuable and stored it
Definition
Generally hoard means:to gather something valuable and store it; or a collection of such things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
indifferent
1 use
She fixed her face stiffly into an expression of indifference.†
indifference = 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 8 |
omit
1 use
You omitted to tell Miss Chism you took her books, didn't you?†
omitted = to exclude or neglect something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
perplex
3 uses
Papa's way of thinking perplexed her.†
perplexed = confused or puzzled
Definition
Generally perplex means:to confuse
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
probe
2 uses
She sat frozen like a leaf in a winter puddle, watching his fingers probe his scraped face.†
probe = to investigate; or an investigation; or an instrument used for investigation
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
rebuke
2 uses
Maybe he thought she was happy, and he didn't want to spoil it by rebuking her.†
rebuking = criticizing severely
Definition
Generally rebuke means:criticize severely; or such criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
reproach
1 use
But his reproach was not enough to stop her from pouring out the fear curdled up inside.†
reproach = a criticism; or to express criticism
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
taut
3 uses
As she started on the yams, the rope she had dropped wiggled and snapped taut.†
taut = pulled or drawn tight;
or: subjected to great tension
or: subjected to great tension
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
vengeance
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
vengeance is mine
'Vengeance is mine; / will repay, saith the Lord.'†
vengeance = the act of taking revenge
Definition
Generally this sense of vengeance means:the act of taking revenge
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
wane
2 uses
If it looked like the letter C it was waning, Papa had taught her.†
waning = declining or diminishing
Definition
Generally wane means:a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) — especially the part of the moon that is visible
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
waver
4 uses
The lamplight wavered on the water bucket and Papa's shaving mirror, and went still.†
wavered = was unsure or weak; or moved 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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |