candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
your candid opinion
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
We saw the rocket descend.
descend = move downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
diffident
1 use
She is diffident around adults, but dominant with her peer group.
diffident = hesitant and unassertive
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
digress
1 use
She always digresses when telling a story.
digresses = wanders from a direct course
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 13 |
discern
4 uses
The second picture has more pixels, but the human eye can't discern the difference.
discern = notice or see (something that is not obvious)
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
There is too much discord in the team.
discord = conflict
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
disdain
1 use
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
diverse
7 uses
The college wants a diverse student body.
diverse = varied (in this case, of different ethnic groups and genders)
Definition
Generally diverse means:varied (having variety amongst things of the same kind) — especially with regard to ideas or members of a population group
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
diversity
17 uses
Diversity has strengthened our Board of Directors.
diversity = the condition of variety
Definition
Generally diversity means:the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
doleful
1 use
It was another year of a doleful Detroit economy.
doleful = very sad; or causing sadness or misfortune
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
highlight
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
highlight the main findings
The main purpose of this passage is to highlight the degree of income inequality.
highlight = emphasize (call attention to)
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:emphasize (call attention to something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
interloper
1 use
All the new settlers made him feel like an interloper in the country of his fathers.
interloper = someone who intrudes or encroaches (inserts himself without invitation)
Definition
Generally interloper means:someone or something that, without invitation, inserts itself — such as an uninvited guest at a party or a species that invades non-native territory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
Ivy League
22 uses
She wants to attend an Ivy League school.
Ivy League = a group of universities and colleges in the northeastern United States that have a reputation for scholastic achievement and social prestige
Definition
Generally Ivy League means:a group of universities and colleges in the northeastern United States that regularly compete against each other in sports and have a reputation for scholastic achievement and social prestige
(Specifically: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, & Yale)
(Specifically: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, & Yale)
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
meticulous
4 uses
She is a meticulous researcher who takes pride in a thorough job.
meticulous = treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
obscure (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The stars are obscured by the clouds.
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
For some obscure reason that goes back many years, they don't like each other.
obscure = not clearly understood
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
3 —1 use as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
The obscure battle is hardly mentioned in history books.
obscure = 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 13 |
pedantic
1 use
Her lectures were too pedantic for my taste.
pedantic = overly concerned with book learning
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
pious
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
The cartoon with a drawing of Muhammad outraged many pious Muslims.
pious = highly religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
rigorous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a rigorous math class
The class was equally interesting and rigorous.
rigorous = difficult and demanding
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | A.N. |