acute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
acute pain
...was twice hospitalized for acute asthma.
acute = a severe, rapid onset case of
Definition
Generally this sense of acute means:sharp (severe or strong) — usually negative
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | A.P. |
auspicious
1 use
At the time I didn't know much about the Chief Johnson pole or the story of Raven and Fog Woman, but later I learned what an auspicious location my writing office had.
auspicious = favorable
Definition
Generally auspicious means:favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | A.P. |
converge
4 uses
he had arrived at the point of convergence where the fate of all living things, and even the earth, had been laid.
convergence = coming together
Definition
Generally converge means:to come together; or to be adjacent or similar
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
diffuse
2 uses
As the sun went higher and left the eastern sky, the square of sunshine on the wall grew larger and diffuse, and the bright yellow color of early morning was gone.
diffuse = more spread out and softer (less concentrated or less bright)
Definition
Generally diffuse means:to spread; or to soften or calm
or:
to be spread out (not concentrated) — sometimes implying a lack or organization or the use of too many words
or:
to be spread out (not concentrated) — sometimes implying a lack or organization or the use of too many words
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
endure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
endured the pain
Tayo could not endure it any longer.
endure = put up with
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
endure through the ages
Their memory of people endured long after all other traces of domestication were gone;
endured = continued to exist
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to continue to exist
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
entangled
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
entangled in local politics
Every evil which entangled him was cut to pieces.
entangled = was deeply involved with; or created constraining complications or difficulties for
Definition
Generally this sense of entangled means:deeply involve; or intermix with complications or difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
lethargic
1 use
The change in climate had a profound effect on me; I spent all of June, July, and August fighting off the terrible lethargy of a depression caused in large part by the absence of sunlight.
lethargy = lack of energy
Definition
Generally lethargic means:lacking energy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | A.P. |
luminous
2 uses
The stars gave off a special light, more subtle and luminous than moonlight.
luminous = shining
Definition
Generally luminous means:glowing or shining
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
(also used metaphorically to describe beauty or intelligence)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
malicious
1 use
She alone had known how to outsmart the malicious mountain Ka't'sina who imprisoned the rain clouds in the northwest room of his magical house.
malicious = evil
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
niche
5 uses
They climbed a steep trail where niches for toes and fingers had been worn into the yellow sandrock after centuries of use.
niches = a shallow recess or hole
Definition
Generally niche means:a smaller market within a larger market — such as the market for scissors designed for people who are left-handed
or:
a role for which someone is especially well-suited
or:
a shallow recess, cranny or crevice
or:
a role for which someone is especially well-suited
or:
a shallow recess, cranny or crevice
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
obscure
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The mesas to the east were obscured by veils of falling snow, and the sky above them was dark blue.
obscured = hidden or made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
parched
2 uses
He ate another piece of jerky and a handful of parched corn, waiting for the dark.
parched = dried out
Definition
Generally parched means:dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; or very thirsty
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
persist
2 uses
But the new doctor persisted; he came each day, and his questions dissolved the edges of the fog, and his voice sounded louder every time he came.
persisted = continued — despite difficulty
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
plateau
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
found on the plateau
A cool wind blew down from the northwest rim of the mountain plateau above them...
plateau = high land that is reasonably flat
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
The change in climate had a profound effect on me;
profound = intense
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 |
| 1st use | A.P. |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
So Auntie had tried desperately to reconcile the family with the people;
reconcile = bring into agreement
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 |
rein
15 uses
He reined the mare in tight and kept his heels hard against her sides to let her know he meant business.
reined = restrained or controlled (in this case, by pulling on straps used to control a horse)
Definition
Generally this sense of rein means:to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" — to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" — do not restrain
- "the reins of government" — means of control
- "the reins of the horse" — leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
twilight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
pink clouds in a twilight sky
Twilight was giving way to darkness.
twilight = the light from the sky between daylight and darkness (in this case, just after sunset; though in other usage, it could be just before sunrise)
Definition
Generally this sense of twilight means:the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
zenith
1 use
the sun was crossing the zenith to a winter place in the sky, a place where prayers of long winter nights would call out the long summer days of new growth.
zenith = the highest point
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |