ascetic
1 use
Guitar, eschewing his recent asceticism, allowed himself the pleasure of waking up old dreams:
asceticism = practice of extreme self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
He had done nothing to deserve their contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
deference
2 uses
Only Reba, with her light pimply skin and deferential manner, looked as though her simplicity might also be vacuousness.
deferential = politely respectful
(editor's note: Vacuousness is a synonym for stupidity.)
(editor's note: Vacuousness is a synonym for stupidity.)
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
disdain
1 use
Once more she made her disdain clear.
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
And they have huge profits and protection at their disposal.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
divine
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
It wasn't the divinity from the foreman's wife that made him sick.
divinity = a soft white candy
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of divinity which is more frequently used to mean "wonderful or god-like.")
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of divinity which is more frequently used to mean "wonderful or god-like.")
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
eccentric
2 uses
She had not recognized it in Pilate, whose equilibrium overshadowed all her eccentricities and who was, in any case, the only person she knew of strong enough to counter Macon.
eccentricities = unconventional or strange behaviors
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
emulate
1 use
Milkman feared his father, respected him, but knew, because of the leg, that he could never emulate him.
emulate = imitate
Definition
Generally emulate means:imitate (copy)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
fastidious
1 use
Marriage, children—all had been sacrificed to the Great Agony and her home was a tribute to the fastidiousness of her dedication (and the generosity of her father's will).
fastidiousness = tendency to give careful attention to detail or matters of taste
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
furtive
1 use
It was one-thirty in the morning, but in spite of the hour and her turned-up coat collar, there was no air of furtiveness about her at all.
furtiveness = not wanting to be seen
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
gesticulate
1 use
They sauntered on down route 6, stopping frequently to examine the cars, gesticulating, bantering each other about the best way to burglarize a shack that, as Guitar said, "didn't have a door or window with a lock."
gesticulating = making gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking
Definition
Generally gesticulate means:to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
haphazard
1 use
The decision he made would be extremely important, but the way in which he made the decision would be careless, haphazard, and uninformed.
haphazard = without pattern or planning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
homage
1 use
As the son of Macon Dead the first, he paid homage to his own father's life and death by loving what that father had loved: property, good solid property, the bountifulness of life.
homage = respect or loyalty
Definition
Generally homage means:respect or loyalty; or something done to show respect or loyalty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
indulgent
2 uses
They spoiled her, and she, as a favor to their indulgence, hid as best she could the fact that they embarrassed her.
indulgence = treatment with extra kindness and tolerance
Definition
Generally indulgent means:to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
lethargic
1 use
...at some point her lethargy dissipated of its own accord and...
lethargy = lack of energy
(editor's note: "Of its own accord" is like saying "of its own mind" or "on its own without my willing it to.")
(editor's note: "Of its own accord" is like saying "of its own mind" or "on its own without my willing it to.")
Definition
Generally lethargic means:lacking energy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
mitigate
1 use
None of that, however, had mitigated the reluctance of her publishers to bring out her complete collected works (tentatively called The Farthest Shore).
mitigated = reduced
Definition
Generally mitigate means:make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
pervasive
2 uses
Pervading everything was the odor of pine and fermenting fruit.
pervading = throughout (filling)
Definition
Generally pervasive means:existing throughout something; or generally widespread
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
She was the Indian, of course, and lost her land, her customs, her integrity to the cowboy and became a spread-eagled footstool resigned to her fate and holding fast to tiny irrelevant defiances.
resigned = accepted something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
vacuous
1 use
Only Reba, with her light pimply skin and deferential manner, looked as though her simplicity might also be vacuousness.
vacuousness = the lack of intelligent thought
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally vacuous means:lacking intelligent thought
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
wizened
1 use
She had dainty habits which matched her torn and filthy clothes in precisely the way her strong young cultivated voice matched her wizened face.
wizened = lean and wrinkled
Definition
Generally wizened means:thin and wrinkled — typically from age or illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |