accord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 33 uses
1 —32 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
...inviting him to come and see him; and he came accordingly some months after,
accordingly = in keeping with (the invitation)
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 | 32 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
done of her own accord
...of her own accord encouraged the correspondence on all occasions,
own accord = own mind (without anyone asking)
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
...he got his indictment deferred,
deferred = postponed
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
diligent
5 uses
...he was a quiet, sensible, sober man; virtuous, modest, sincere, and in his business diligent and just.
diligent = a hard and careful worker
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
discourse
56 uses
So we dropped the discourse for that time.
discourse = conversation on a particular topic
Definition
Generally discourse means:a serious speech, writing, or conversation on a particular topic
or much more rarely: to speak or write formally on a particular topic; or to have a conversation
or much more rarely: to speak or write formally on a particular topic; or to have a conversation
Word Statistics
| Book | 56 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
disdain
2 uses
...and if at last he should take the advantage the law would give him, he might put me away with disdain and leave me to sue for the little portion that I had, and perhaps waste it all in the suit,
disdain = a 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
earnest
41 uses
I hope you are not in earnest.
in earnest = serious
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 41 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
endeavor
26 uses
I endeavoured to reason myself out of it, but it was in vain; the impression lay so strong on my mind, that it was not to be resisted.†
endeavoured = tried or attempted
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.)
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use endeavored.)
Definition
Generally endeavor means:to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
Word Statistics
| Book | 26 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
grave
10 uses
The parson said that Mr. —— had said something to him of it; that he hoped it was no clandestine business; that he seemed to be a grave gentleman, and he supposed madam was not a girl, so that the consent of friends should be wanted.†
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
To give the history of a wicked life repented of, necessarily requires that the wicked part should be make as wicked as the real history of it will bear, to illustrate and give a beauty to the penitent part, which is certainly the best and brightest, if related with equal spirit and life.†
illustrate = help make clear
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 |
inclined
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
I'm inclined to
I shall always be your sincere friend, without any inclination to nearer intimacy,
inclination = tendency
(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 inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
inquiry
19 uses
'Your own time for that, my dear,' says he; 'I am satisfied that I have got the wife I love; I have not troubled you much,' says he, 'with my inquiry after it.'†
inquiry = questioning or investigating
Definition
Generally inquiry means:the act of asking a question or performing an investigation
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
melancholy
24 uses
But things were not come to their height with him, and I observed he became pensive and melancholy; and in a word, as I thought, a little distempered in his head.†
melancholy = a sad feeling or manner
Definition
Generally melancholy means:a sad feeling or manner — sometimes thoughtfully sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
minute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
keep the minutes
...and the manner of their behaviour in the voyage; of which I have a very diverting account by me, which the captain of the ship who carried them over gave me the minutes of, and which he caused his mate to write down at large.†
minutes = formal notes
Definition
Generally this sense of minutes means:a written record of what happened at a meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
penitent
23 uses
for while I lived thus, I was really a penitent for all my life past.
penitent = sorry for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 23 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
repentance
42 uses
It was now that, for the first time, I felt any real signs of repentance.
repentance = regret for having done something wrong with a firm decision to be a better person in the future
Definition
Generally repentance means:the feeling or expression of regret for having done something wrong with a firm decision to be a better person in the future
Word Statistics
| Book | 42 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
resolve (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 5 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
At last I resolved to go to my old governess, and acquaint myself with her again.
resolved = decided
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
How did you resolve the problem?
I won't say that I will have her; how can I resolve that point, when you see I cannot have her without your consent?
resolve = settle
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to solve a problem or settle a disagreement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 16 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
Them I repented heartily of all my life past, but that repentance yielded me no satisfaction, no peace, no, not in the least, because, as I said to myself, it was repenting after the power of further sinning was taken away.†
yielded = produced or gave
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
2 —12 uses as in:
yield to pressure
I must try the world again; a man ought to think like a man; to be discouraged is to yield to the misfortune.'†
yield = give in, give way, or give up
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |