alleviate
3 uses
There had been a great deal of concern that he might lapse into a long-term coma, but his wakening had alleviated all the worry.
alleviated = lessened (reduced)
Definition
Generally alleviate means:to lessen something that is bad — especially to lessen pain
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1. |
approach (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
approached the city
When Nan noticed that his eyes had opened, she quietly approached so as not to wake their daughter and kissed him.†
approached = moved nearer
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5. |
2 —1 use as in:
approached her with the proposal
Somehow, the way she had approached him had skirted his resistance to her love.†
approached = begun talking with
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6. |
assuage
1 use
What about the fathers who beat their sons for no reason but to assuage their own suffering?
assuage = soothe (lessen)
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11. |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
Maybe this was a hallucination being brought on by all his grief and despair.
despair = hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7. |
direct (5 meanings)
5 meanings, 31 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
depart directly
The path took him directly to a rock face, the faint outline of a door barely visible on the surface.†
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4. |
2 —21 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Without hesitation Mack turned directly into the maze of rocks and mountain walls.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4. |
3 —1 use as in:
was direct in my instructions
"They know one another very well, most of them, but they are here for a celebration that is not about them, nor about their relationships with one another, at least not directly," Sarayu explained.†
directly = in a straightforward manner (an uncomplicated manner before including secondary effects)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15. |
4 —3 uses as in:
directed her question to
He directed his words to Mack.†
directed = aimed
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7. |
5 —3 uses as in:
directed the jury to...
Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide and direct her.†
direct = instruct
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4. |
focus (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 20 uses
1 —18 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
Nan made it clear that he had a lot of explaining to do, but was for the time being focused more on his recovery than her need for answers.†
focused = concentrating
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11. |
2 —1 use as in:
The focus of our study is...
His primary focus was Josh.†
focus = place where attention is directed
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:where attention is concentrated or directed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3. |
3 —1 use as in:
The camera focuses automatically
But strangely, he still had a difficult time focusing on her; she seemed almost to shimmer in the light and her hair blew in all directions even though there was hardly a breeze.†
focusing = adjusting vision (to see something clearly)
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:to adjust a lens to make an image clear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5. |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
Sarayu continued, "Perhaps the best way you can understand is for me to give you a quick illustration."†
illustration = example (to help clarify or demonstrate)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15. |
paradigm
4 uses
Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions.
paradigms = conceptual models (of how things work and relate to each other)
Definition
Generally paradigm means:a conceptual model; or a standard example
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6. |
perturb
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she was perturbed
"I am afraid of emotions," Mack admitted, a bit perturbed that she seemed to make light of it.
perturbed = disturbed or made uneasy
Definition
Generally this sense of perturb means:to disturb in mind or make uneasy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14. |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
...reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.
reconciliation = to end the conflict (bring into agreement)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16. |
relevant
2 uses
... the resulting description was flashed out to all relevant agencies.
relevant = relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4. |
ubiquitous
1 use
The 'will to power and independence' has become so ubiquitous that it is now considered normal.
ubiquitous = to notice or understand something that is not obvious
Definition
Generally ubiquitous means:being present everywhere or all the time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8. |
vestige
2 uses
... a darkness sucking any last vestiges of hope from his heart.
vestiges = traces
Definition
Generally vestige means:a remaining trace (little bit of something) that was previously abundant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5. |