belligerent
1 use
"We don't take money for such," said Sonny's voice belligerently.†
belligerently = with an attitude of one eager to fight
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
bestow
1 use
What prompted her to stay there across the room, silently bestowing her presence upon him?†
bestowing = giving
Definition
Generally bestow means:to give — typically to present as an honor or give as a gift
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
bewilder
1 use
I'll sleep in the dark, he thought, in his bewilderment pitying himself.†
bewilderment = a feeling of extreme confusion
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
conspiracy
1 use
Between them they had a conspiracy.
conspiracy = a secret agreement or plot
Definition
Generally conspiracy means:a secret agreement or plot — especially to do something illegal or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
continuous
1 use
Before long he heard something-soft, continuous, insinuating.†
continuous = continuing in time or space without interruption or irregularity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
docile
1 use
In docility he held his eyes stiffly wide; they fixed themselves on the woman's clasped hands as though she held the cord they were strung on.†
docility = easily led or managed — perhaps submissive or well-behaved
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
elated
1 use
It shot up with great power, almost elation, and fell gently, like acrobats into nets.†
elation = intense feeling of happiness and excitement
(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 elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
equivalent
1 use
He was moved almost to tears, feeling for no reason that she had made a silent declaration equivalent to his own.†
equivalent = being equal or essentially equal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
grave
3 uses
After a little interval they both rose and looking at him gravely went into the other room.
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
indignant
1 use
Somehow he felt unable to be indignant or protest, although some sort of joke had certainly been played upon him.†
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
liable
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she is liable to
You never know who's liable to knock at your door,
liable = maybe going to
Definition
Generally this sense of liable means:likely to; or maybe going to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
melancholy
1 use
He drove through a heap of dead oak leaves, his wheels stirring their weightless sides to make a silvery melancholy whistle as the car passed through their bed.†
melancholy = a sad feeling or manner
Definition
Generally melancholy means:a sad feeling or manner — sometimes thoughtfully sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
nimble
1 use
He stared at the woman while the frantic nimbleness of his feeling made his head sway.†
nimbleness = quickness and agility
(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 nimble means:quick and agile — typically physically, but can also reference quick, agile thinking
(someone who is agile does things easily)
(someone who is agile does things easily)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
ostentatious
1 use
On some impulse he put all the money from his billfold under its fluted glass base, almost ostentatiously.†
ostentatiously = in a manner intended to attract notice and impress others
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
placid
1 use
But he moved a trembling hand across his eyes, and looked at the placid crouching woman across the room.†
placid = calm and not easily excited
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
premonition
1 use
Had she wished to affect him with some sort of premonition? he wondered unhappily.†
premonition = a feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen
Definition
Generally premonition means:a feeling, not based on reason, that something will happen — especially something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
It began to pound profoundly,
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 |
ravine
3 uses
Then he saw that he was on the edge of a ravine that fell away, a red erosion, and that this was indeed the road's end.†
ravine = a deep narrow steep-sided valley — especially one formed by running water
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
serene
1 use
Bowman averted his head and saw the woman looking serenely back at the mule, with only satisfaction in her face.†
serenely = in a manner that is calm and untroubled
Definition
Generally serene means:calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
sustain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sustained through the ages
When she never said a word, and sustained her quiet pose of holding the lamp, he was convinced of the strength in her body.
sustained = continued
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:to continue through time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |