acquire
3 uses
a philosopher who should go deep enough to acquire the power would attain too lofty a wisdom to stoop to the exercise of it.
acquire = obtain (come into possession of)
Definition
Generally acquire means:obtain (come into the possession of something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
conjecture
1 use
These questions had such a particular drift that Georgiana began to conjecture that she was already subjected to certain physical influences, either breathed in with the fragrant air or taken with her food.
conjecture = think (based on inconclusive evidence), or guess or suspect
Definition
Generally conjecture means:a conclusion or opinion based on inconclusive evidence; or the act of forming of such a conclusion or opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
countenance
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a pleasant countenance
...he with a smile, though his countenance was uneasy and displeased.
countenance = facial expression
Definition
Generally this sense of countenance means:facial expression; or face; or composure or manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
it would produce a discord in Nature
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 |
distill
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
distill the whisky
He was pale as death, anxious and absorbed, and hung over the furnace as if it depended upon his utmost watchfulness whether the liquid which it was distilling should be the draught of immortal happiness or misery.
distilling = purifying or concentrating
Definition
Generally this sense of distill means:to make a more pure or concentrated liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors (as is done when making whisky or some petroleum products)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
fastidious
1 use
Some fastidious persons ... affirmed that the bloody hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgiana's beauty, and rendered her countenance even hideous.
fastidious = excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
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 |
imbue
1 use
were imbued with...
imbued = filled with
Definition
Generally imbue means:to fill with or diffuse throughout — especially an emotional quality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
immortal
5 uses
...whether the liquid which it was distilling should be the draught of immortal happiness or misery.
immortal = eternal
(editor's note: In this context, draught is a synonym for a drink or a liquid medicine.)
(editor's note: In this context, draught is a synonym for a drink or a liquid medicine.)
Definition
Generally immortal means:living or existing forever
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
imply
1 use
It was the fatal flaw of humanity which Nature ... stamps ... on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that ...
imply = say indirectly
Definition
Generally imply means:to suggest or say indirectly — possibly as a logical consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
induce (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
induce symptoms
It was a sensation in the fatal birthmark, not painful, but which induced a restlessness throughout her system.
induced = caused
Definition
Generally this sense of induce means:to cause something to arise or happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
induce her to
"I submit," replied she calmly. "And, Aylmer, I shall quaff whatever draught you bring me; but it will be on the same principle that would induce me to take a dose of poison if offered by your hand."
induce = persuade (convince)
Definition
Generally this sense of induce means:to persuade somebody to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
invariably
3 uses
At all the seasons which should have been their happiest, he invariably ... reverted to this one disastrous topic.
invariably = always
Definition
Generally invariably means:never changing; or always the same
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
mortal
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
mortal body
The fatal hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame.
mortal = merely human
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
Yet, had Alymer reached a profounder wisdom, he need not thus have flung away the happiness which...
profounder = deeper
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
loved him more profoundly than ever
profoundly = intensely
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 |
render
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
rendered her unconscious
...the bloody hand, as they chose to call it, quite destroyed the effect of Georgiana's beauty, and rendered her countenance even hideous.
rendered = made or caused to become
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to make or cause to become
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
resolve (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
"It is resolved, then," said Georgiana, faintly smiling.
resolved = decided
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
Her resolve weakened.
He had fancied himself with his servant Aminadab, attempting an operation for the removal of the birthmark; but the deeper went the knife, the deeper sank the hand, until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart; whence, however, her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.
resolved = determined (having firm purpose)
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
superficial
2 uses
"Oh, no," hastily replied her husband; "this is merely superficial."
superficial = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or serious
Definition
Generally superficial means:relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
wrought
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the damage she has wrought
proposing methods whereby wonders might be wrought
wrought = caused (made to happen)
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:caused to happen or occurred as a consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |