accord
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
...I fashion the expression of my face, as accurately as possible, in accordance with the expression of his,
accordance = keeping with; or agreement with
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
allude
2 uses
The boy to whom I allude won all the marbles of the school.
allude = indirectly reference
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
clandestine
1 use
I never yet encountered the mere mathematician ... who did not clandestinely hold it as a point of his faith that...
clandestinely = secretly
Definition
Generally clandestine means:secret; or conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
It was thrust carelessly, and even, as it seemed, contemptuously, into one of the uppermost divisions of the rack.
contemptuously = with 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 |
contemptible
1 use
...there was nearly half as much of the entertaining as of the contemptible about the man,
contemptible = deserving no respect (worthless or of bad quality)
Definition
Generally contemptible means:very bad (deserving no respect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
corroborate
1 use
...were strongly corroborative of suspicion,
corroborative = supporting (of an opinion or theory)
(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 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 |
embellish
1 use
"The material world," continued Dupin, "abounds with very strict analogies to the immaterial; and thus some color of truth has been given to the rhetorical dogma, that metaphor, or simile, may be made to strengthen an argument, as well as to embellish a description."
embellish = make something more attractive or interesting by adding to it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
expedient
1 use
...to conceal this letter, the Minister had resorted to the comprehensive and sagacious expedient of not attempting to conceal it at all.
expedient = an action that is speedy or practical
(editor's note: Sagacious is a synonym for wise.)
(editor's note: Sagacious is a synonym for wise.)
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
incredulous
1 use
For some minutes he remained speechless and motionless, looking incredulously at my friend with open mouth, and...
incredulously = with disbelief; or with difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
infer
4 uses
"It is clearly inferred," replied the Prefect,
inferred = concluded by reasoning
Definition
Generally infer means:to figure out or guess by reasoning
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
ingenious
3 uses
The method of the theft was not less ingenious than bold.
ingenious = showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
ingenuity
4 uses
...I reflected upon the daring, dashing, and discriminating ingenuity of D—
ingenuity = ability to solve problems in smart creative ways
Definition
Generally ingenuity means:the ability to solve problems in smart creative ways
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
Monsieur
1 use
I looked upon it, therefore, as something of a coincidence, when the door of our apartment was thrown open and admitted our old acquaintance, Monsieur G—, the Prefect of the Parisian police.
Monsieur = Mr. (in French)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to the English Mr.
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to saying sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
premise
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
located on the premises
"Then," I said, "you have been making a miscalculation, and the letter is not upon the premises, as you suppose."
premises = place (land and buildings together)
Definition
Generally this sense of premises means:land and/or buildings — especially of a business or organization
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
presumption
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
presumption of innocence
D—, I presume, is not altogether a fool, and, if not, must have anticipated...
presume = assume
Definition
Generally this sense of presumption means:to think of something as true or likely, even though it is not known with certainty
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
probe
5 uses
The cushions we probed with the fine long needles you have seen me employ.
probed = investigated (in this case by sticking the needles into the cushion)
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 |
prodigious
1 use
...the reward offered is prodigious!
prodigious = enormous; or far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
"Ha! ha! ha—ha! ha! ha!—ho! ho! ho!" roared our visiter, profoundly amused, "oh, Dupin, you will be the death of me yet!"
profoundly = with greatest intensity or emotional depth
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
scrutiny
5 uses
...then we scrutinized each individual square inch throughout the premises,
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 | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
supposition
1 use
This functionary, however, has been thoroughly mystified; and the remote source of his defeat lies in the supposition that the Minister is a fool, because he has acquired renown as a poet.
supposition = something supposed (rather than something known to be so)
Definition
Generally supposition means:something supposed (rather than something known to be so) — especially when others doubt that reality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |