assert
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
asserted her opinion that...
Science, on the other hand, has to assert its soberness and seriousness afresh and declare that it is concerned solely with what-is.
assert = say (that something is true)
Definition
Generally this sense of assert means:to say that something is true — especially something disputed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
The girl gave him a contemptuous look...
contemptuous = showing a 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 |
dogged
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dogged determination
The boy's look was irritated but dogged.
dogged = persistent
Definition
Generally this sense of dogged means:continuing effort to achieve something despite difficulties (persistent)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
earnest
2 uses
He paused and gave her a straight earnest look and said, "Lady, I've come to speak of serious things."
earnest = sincere or serious
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
gaunt
1 use
He was a tall gaunt hatless youth who had called yesterday to sell them a Bible.
gaunt = very thin and bony
Definition
Generally gaunt means:very thin and bony — often from hunger or as though having been worn to the bone
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
implication
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the implication is that...
She had started thinking of it as a great joke and then she had begun to see profound implications in it.
implications = consequences or results
Definition
Generally this sense of implication means:Something that follows from something else.
The thing that follows could be:
- something suggested indirectly (not said directly)
- something that can be concluded (often a logical consequence)
- something that results from something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
inclined
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
...showed an inclination to leave.
inclination = desire (an attitude of mind favoring)
(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 this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
indignant
1 use
"I hope you don't think," he said in a lofty indignant tone, "that I believe in that crap!"
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
insistent
1 use
She would make these statements, usually at the table, in a tone of gentle insistence as if no one held them but her,
insistence = persistence (repeating the statements in a manner that demands a response)
Definition
Generally insistent means:persistent or continuing or firm — especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
literally
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
literally--not figuratively
Hulga had heard Mrs. Hopewell give her the details of the hunting accident, how the leg had been literally blasted off, how she had never lost consciousness.
literally = actually (not figuratively; not an exaggeration)
Definition
Generally this sense of literally means:actually true using the basic meaning of the words (not an exaggeration, metaphor, or other type of figurative speech)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
perceive
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
though blind, can perceive light
She could perceive her mother's eye on her.
perceive = see
Definition
Generally this sense of perceive means:to become aware of — especially by using the senses (to see, hear, smell, feel, or taste)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
presumption
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
presumption of innocence
She had a vision of the name working like the ugly sweating Vulcan who stayed in the furnace and to whom, presumably, the goddess had to come when called.
presumably = probably
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ably" is a combination of the suffixes "-able" and "-ly". It means in a manner that is capable of being. This is the same pattern you see in words like agreeably, favorably, and comfortably.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ably" is a combination of the suffixes "-able" and "-ly". It means in a manner that is capable of being. This is the same pattern you see in words like agreeably, favorably, and comfortably.)
Definition
Generally this sense of presumption means:to think of something as true or likely, even though it is not known with certainty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
...she had begun to see profound implications in it.
profound = deep or far reaching
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 |
prominent
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a prominent jaw
He had prominent face bones and a streak of stickylooking brown hair falling across his forehead.
prominent = protruding (sticking out)
Definition
Generally this sense of prominent means:sticking out and easily noticed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
remorse
2 uses
She imagined that she took his remorse in hand and changed it into a deeper understanding of life.
remorse = regret for doing something that was wrong
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
retract
1 use
...it was not often necessary for her to retract a statement, but when she did...
retract = take back (something said)
Definition
Generally retract means:to take back; or to move back or in
in various senses, including:
- to take back something previously said — such as a promise or opinion
- to move back or in — such as an airplane's landing gear, or pulling your hand back after being burned
- in surgery, the use of a medical instrument to draw skin or an organ back out of the way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
revere
2 uses
The boy's face and his voice were entirely reverent as he uncovered it and said, "Now show me how to take it off and on."
reverent = with feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
seduce
3 uses
She had seduced him without even making up her mind to try.
seduced = enticed to fall in love
Definition
Generally seduce means:to persuade someone to do something by tempting them with something pleasurable or desired — often to make them want to have sex
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
sober
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sobering thought
and he laughed again and then all at once his face sobered completely.
sobered = became serious
Definition
Generally this sense of sobering means:serious; or making one serious or calm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
sullen
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sullen mood
Mrs. Freeman would take on strange resentments and for days together she would be sullen but the source of her displeasure was always obscure;
sullen = showing a gloomy or bad mood
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:being unhappy and withdrawn
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |