aggrieve
1 use
Izzy's aggrieved voice greeted him.†
aggrieved = felt harmed by unfair treatment
Definition
Generally aggrieve means:feeling harmed by unfair treatment; or (more rarely) harming someone unfairly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
caustic
1 use
People passed, leisurely, self-absorbed, and as they entered the radius of the light, it fixed them momentarily in caustic, carrion-green.†
caustic = corrosive or harsh
Definition
Generally caustic means:of a chemical substance: corrosive; capable of destroying or eating away such as a strong acid
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
condone
1 use
His mother laughed condoningly.†
condoningly = accept without criticism; or approve of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
crescendo
2 uses
He straightened, scaling crescendo with a roar.†
crescendo = gradual increase in intensity; or maximum intensity
Definition
Generally crescendo means:a gradual increase in intensity; or the time of maximum intensity — especially in the loudness of music
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
digress
1 use
He tried to deepen the channel of digression.†
digression = a wandering from a direct or straight course — especially verbally
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
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 | Book 4 |
dissociate
1 use
His mother came near, her face strangely sorrowful and brooding, incongruous somehow, dissociated completely from her task of carrying a platter of soup.†
dissociated = ended association with
Definition
Generally dissociate means:end association with
The expression: "dissociate with" means to publicly state one is not associated with someone or something
The expression: "dissociate with" means to publicly state one is not associated with someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
distend
1 use
Cheeks distended in a short customary puff, he dropped his cap on the wash-tub, leaned his new whip against it.†
distended = extended or swollen
Definition
Generally distend means:to extend — especially the swelling outward of a part of the body; e.g., the stomach
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
engender
1 use
But a kind of inertia engendered by loss kept him where he was, and he leaned back broodily against the skylight.†
engendered = caused
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
enumerate
1 use
His mother's voice became curiously flat and monotonous as though she were enumerating a list of items all of equal unimportance.†
enumerating = to name items individually (as though making a list); or to count
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
ephemeral
2 uses
But still the phrases flickered on as ephemeral and capricious as before, as thwarting-the abrupt and fragmentary glimpses of a figure passing behind the brief notches of parapets.†
ephemeral = existing only for a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
exorbitant
1 use
I want you to find a cheder for him and a rabbi who isn't too exorbitant.†
exorbitant = a lot more than is reasonable or typical
Definition
Generally exorbitant means:a lot more than is reasonable or typical — often said of price
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
expiate
1 use
"How well she must have seen," Aunt Bertha patted her mouth vigorously-the sign of expiation for mockery, "if she gave you vinegar instead of sugar-water."†
expiation = atonement (a way of demonstrating sorrow for a wrong either by doing something good in return for the wrong, or by accepting punishment)
(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 expiate means:atone (demonstrate sorrow for a wrong either by doing something good to make up for the wrong, or accepting punishment)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
expound
1 use
And when you leave here," his thumb and forefinger curled expoundingly, "take yourself home, sit long in the privy and you'll have a clearer brow."†
expoundingly = explain or discuss in detail
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
harangue
2 uses
Behind, between them and around them, like a solid wall, the ever-encroaching bodies, voices, faces at all heights, gestures at all heights, all converging upon him, craning, peering, haranguing, pointing him out, discussing him.†
haranguing = trying to persuade, or criticizing in an impassioned and often annoying manner
Definition
Generally harangue means:to try to persuade, or to criticize in an impassioned and often annoying manner; or a speech with such an intent
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
inarticulate
2 uses
The inarticulate flame that had pulsed within him, wavered and went out He sighed, bent over and picked up the wheel.†
inarticulate = unable to express oneself clearly; or not expressed clearly
Definition
Generally inarticulate means:unable to communicate clearly (or to use words)
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
or (more rarely): a feeling or idea that is not expressed
The exact meaning of inarticulate depends upon its context. For example:
- unable to find good words to express oneself — as in "She gets inarticulate when she's nervous."
- verbally expressing a feeling without words — as in "She uttered an inarticulate cry of despair."
- unable to make oneself heard and understood — as in "She mumbled inarticulately."
- unable to speak — as in "She was inarticulate with rage."
- a feeling or idea that is not expressed — as in "We shared an inarticulate fear."
- inability to express or understand feelings or ideas — as in "She is emotionally inarticulate, " or "Her symphony is inarticulate."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
increment
1 use
David who was watching his mother as she stood above her husband serving him, saw her bosom swell up slowly as though responding to minute increments of pain, and then without response, exhale tautly her muted breath and look off blankly and resigned.†
increments = a series of increases; or the amount of the increases
Definition
Generally increment means:one of a series of increases; or the amount of an increase — especially in small, consistent amounts
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
interpose
5 uses
"Perhaps he had better not eat," interposed his mother.†
interposed = to insert between other elements; or to interrupt or stop action by others
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
sheer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sheered to the left
He sheered away from it-where was she?†
sheered = changed direction suddenly; or caused such a change of direction
Definition
Generally this sense of sheer means:change direction abruptly; or to cause such a change of direction — (usually said of a boat)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
spurn
2 uses
But yesterday you would have spurned your breakfast if I had let you in your eagerness to go down.†
spurned = rejected as not good enough
Definition
Generally spurn means:reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
zenith
2 uses
Too pure the zenith was, too pure for the flawed and flinching eye; the eye sowed it with linty darkness, sowed it with spores and ripples of shadow drifting.†
zenith = the highest point
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |