abstain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abstained from alcohol
I will let you abstain this time.
abstain = keep away (choose not to do something)
Definition
Generally this sense of abstain means:choose not to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
apparent
1 use
"He said you drank Sam's blood to keep his spirit alive."
"Apparently," I replied weakly, unconvinced.
"Apparently," I replied weakly, unconvinced.
apparently = appearing clear or obvious though not necessarily so
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 34 |
colleague
1 use
When your colleague-in-blood arises" — he meant Mr. Crepsley — "you're free to spend the night with him if he so desires.†
colleague = fellow worker — especially in a respected profession such as teaching, medicine, or law
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
confront
1 use
R.V. said NOP didn't believe in violent confrontation, but we could see from the look on his face that he wasn't happy about that.†
confrontation = an argument or a hostile situation
(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 confront means:to deal directly with an unpleasant situation or person
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
or:
to challenge someone — often by presenting evidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 27 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
contrary
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
on the contrary
Trees grew along both sides of the road home, making it very dark and dangerous for anyone who wasn't used to it. But Stanley had no fears. On the contrary, he loved the night.
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
despot
1 use
They think school's a despotic system of indoctrination, designed to crush the spirit and stamp out creativity.
despotic = typical of a ruler who abuses absolute power
Definition
Generally despot means:a ruler with absolute power — especially one who abuses that power
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
direct
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Mr. Tall standing directly behind me.†
directly = exactly where stated (used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
emerge
1 use
When night came, Mr. Crepsley emerged and rubbed his belly.
emerged = came out of, or appeared
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
galaxy
1 use
When we die, if we have lived good lives, our spirits float free of the earth, cross the stars and galaxies, and come at last to a wonderful world at the other side of the universe — Paradise.†
galaxies = collections of star systems held together by gravity
Definition
Generally galaxy means:a collection of star systems held together by gravity — for example, our sun is a star whose system includes Earth and the other planets. That star system is a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
"However, while they're learning, I'd like it if you two fine, young men would help ease them into the swing of things.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
interrogate
1 use
Darren is in no shape for an interrogation.
interrogation = the process of asking a series of questions of someone
(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 interrogate means:ask a series of questions of someone — typically asked by law enforcement officials or by someone in an aggressive manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
macabre
1 use
"We're masters of the macabre," Evra said.
macabre = disturbing because of graphic and emotional association with death
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
muse
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her musings
"Tell me this," Mr. Crepsley mused. "What happens when..."
mused = thought (in this case aloud)
Definition
Generally this sense of muse means:reflect (think) deeply on a subject — perhaps aloud
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
mutation
1 use
Agents of mutations.†
mutations = a change in the genes that determines how a living organism is designed; or the result of the change
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
notify
1 use
I didn't expect much of a crowd — we were in the middle of nowhere and hadn't had much time to notify people about the show — but the tent was packed.†
notify = tell someone about something
Definition
Generally notify means:to tell someone about something — typically in an official manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
paralysis
1 use
I smiled back, but Evra looked paralyzed, unable to move the muscles in his mouth.
paralyzed = loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
Definition
Generally paralysis means:loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
or:
inability to act or make a decision
or:
inability to act or make a decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
rant
2 uses
He ranted on for a while longer, complaining about adults and the "corrupt frigging system" and about the time being ripe for a young people's revolution.
ranted = complained or verbally attacked in an excited rather than thoughtful way
Definition
Generally rant means:to complain or verbally attack in an excited rather than thoughtful way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
summon
4 uses
"Excuse me," I said, summoning all my courage, "but why do you call them Little People?"
summoning = calling forth (from within)
Definition
Generally summon means:to call forth
The exact meaning of summon can depend upon its context. For example:
- "summon to court" — officially demand that someone appear in court (call them to court)
- "summon the team to a meeting" — call upon the team members to attend a meeting
- "summon help" — call others to come and help
- "summon her courage" — call forth her courage from within
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 35 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
taint
1 use
Your blood would have tainted his.†
tainted = spoiled or contaminated
Definition
Generally taint means:to spoil something so it is not desirable — as when bacteria contaminates a food; or as when a rumor makes people distrust a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
virus
2 uses
She'd picked up a virus, and Evra had to stay in to look after her.
virus = a submicroscopic organism that causes disease
Definition
Generally this sense of virus means:a submicroscopic organism that causes disease (by using the cellular reproductive machinery of the organism it invades)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |