accumulate
4 uses
Greenhouse gas continues to accumulate in the atmosphere.
accumulate = gradually increase
Definition
Generally accumulate means:to collect or gradually increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
aphorism
1 use
She often quotes St. Augustine's aphorism, "Love the sinner and hate the sin."
aphorism = short saying intended to impart wisdom
Definition
Generally aphorism means:a short saying intended to impart wisdom
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
apprehensive
2 uses
She is apprehensive about her new job.
apprehensive = worried
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
byline
3 uses
They moved her byline from the bottom of the article to the top.
byline = printed line giving the name of the writer of an article
Definition
Generally this sense of byline means:a line giving the name of the writer of an article — typically at the top of the article
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
consonant
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
consonant or vowel?
It takes longer for babies to learn to voice back-of-the-mouth consonants (like k) than front-of-the-mouth consonants (like p).
consonants = speech sounds that are not a vowels
Definition
Generally this sense of consonant means:a letter of the alphabet (or a speech sound) that is not a vowel
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
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 17 |
doleful
2 uses
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
dubious
2 uses
She was dubious, but agreed to come with us anyway.
dubious = doubtful; or suspicious; or full of uncertainty
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
equivalent
3 uses
At $50 a share, it is equivalent to about a billion dollars.
equivalent = is about equal
Definition
Generally equivalent means:being equal or essentially equal
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
flippant
1 use
Her response is entertaining, but the question deserves a less flippant answer.
flippant = having an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Definition
Generally flippant means:showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
malicious
1 use
I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.
malicious = evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
mortgage
5 uses
We are the proud owners of a new home and a $100,000 mortgage.
mortgage = property loan
Definition
Generally mortgage means:a real estate loan; or to offer real estate as collateral for a loan
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
(collateral is something that has to be given to the lender if the loan isn't paid as agreed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
Queen Victoria
1 use
The Victorian era is in reference to the 63 years that Queen Victoria ruled.
Queen Victoria = queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901 when the monarchy had primarily symbolic power
Definition
Generally Queen Victoria means:queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901 when the monarchy had primarily symbolic power; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
redress
1 use
Action must be taken to redress the wrongs of the past.
redress = fix, compensate, or make up for
Definition
Generally redress means:fix a problem; or make up for a wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
remedial
2 uses
I'm struggling a bit, but hope to catch up with a remedial math course this summer.
remedial = intended to fix a deficiency in
Definition
Generally remedial means:intended to remedy (fix) — especially a deficiency in education or health
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
sonorous
1 use
The candidate discussed weighty matters in rich, sonorous tones.
sonorous = (of sound:) full and deep
Definition
Generally sonorous means:full and deep sounding
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
squalor
1 use
To meet her today, you would never guess she lived in squalor as a child.
squalor = extremely dirty and unpleasant living conditions
Definition
Generally squalor means:(describing a place) extremely dirty and unpleasant — typically due to poverty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
supercilious
2 uses
I have come to hate her supercilious smile.
supercilious = arrogant
Definition
Generally supercilious means:arrogant (acting as if better, more important, and superior in ideas than others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
twinge
5 uses
I often feel a twinge at that tooth when I drink something cold.
twinge = a sudden, short-lived feeling of pain
Definition
Generally twinge means:a sudden, short-lived feeling of pain or emotion
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
Zen
2 uses
The study compares the mental benefits of Zen meditation to those of prayer.
Zen = school of Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition
Definition
Generally Zen means:school of Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |