accommodate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
moved to accommodate her
"I think they'd be quite happy to accommodate you," Mr. Tall said drily.
accommodate = help
Definition
Generally this sense of accommodate means:adjust something to provide for a need; or help
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
agony
3 uses
Everybody in the game knew the difference between a yell of pain and a scream of real agony.
agony = intense feelings of suffering
Definition
Generally agony means:intense feelings of suffering — can be from mental or physical pain
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
assets
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it's one of her best assets
I'd be an asset.
asset = something of value
Definition
Generally this sense of assets means:a positive trait or thing of value
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
aura
3 uses
I have searched for his aura many times.
aura = paranormal: a radiant light surrounding a person that is said to be seen by those sensitive to another's life force
Definition
Generally aura means:a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing
or:
paranormal: a radiant light surrounding a person that is said to be seen by those sensitive to another's life force; or drawn around the head of a saint
or:
paranormal: a radiant light surrounding a person that is said to be seen by those sensitive to another's life force; or drawn around the head of a saint
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
coincidence
1 use
It was probably just a coincidence.
coincidence = a situation where things happened at the same time by chance even though it was unlikely
Definition
Generally coincidence means:a situation where two things happened at the same time or in the same way by chance even though it was unlikely
(for example, if two students in the same class met by accident while visiting another country)
(for example, if two students in the same class met by accident while visiting another country)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
collide
1 use
The collision sent both of us flying to the ground.
collision = crash together with violent impact
(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 collide means:crash together with violent impact; or come into conflict
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
compensate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she compensates with extra effort
"You are stuck with me. If it is any compensation," he added, "I am none too fond of you, either."
compensation = something that makes up for something else
(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 compensate means:make up for; or adjust for
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dispose of the matter
they intend to dispose of him
dispose = settle something so it no longer requires attention (in this case, to get rid of the body)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:to settle something so it no longer requires attention
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 33 |
dominate
1 use
I had a great time for a while, dominating play, rushing back to defend, picking players out with pinpoint passes.
dominating = controlling
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
epidemic
1 use
No strange diseases, no food epidemics, no collapsing buildings.
epidemics = a widespread outbreak of a disease (in this case, affecting the food supply—such as diseases spread amongst crops or livestock)
Definition
Generally epidemic means:a widespread outbreak of a disease that is passed from one person (or other organism) to another
or more rarely: anything that spreads quickly — especially something bad
or more rarely: anything that spreads quickly — especially something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
essence
2 uses
When we drink small amounts of blood, we do not take any of a person's essence.
essence = most important part (that is needed to be who they are)
Definition
Generally essence means:the defining or most important quality of something
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
"Hands off!!" it warned at the end, which was pretty ironic given what had happened a minute or so earlier [when R.V. lost his hands]
ironic = an entertaining coincidence when what happens is not what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
pathology
2 uses
Darren, this is Jimmy Ovo, an old friend and the world's finest pathologist.
pathologist = a doctor who specializes in the study of disease by studying cells and tissues under a microscope
Definition
Generally pathology means:the study of disease by studying cells and tissues under a microscope; or a disease
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
...didn't seem happy about the arrangement, but looked resigned.
resigned = as though he had accepted something undesired as unavoidable
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
Shakespeare
5 uses
The William Shakespeare — the guy who wrote the plays?
William Shakespeare = author widely regarded as the greatest in the English language and whose works include Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet
Definition
Generally this sense of Shakespeare means:English dramatist and poet frequently cited as the greatest writer in the English language and who wrote such works as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1564-1616)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
solemn
1 use
Living with real circus freaks, traveling the world, privy to solemn and magnificent secrets.
solemn = serious
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
somber
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a somber mood
"I came as soon as I could," the vampire said somberly, turning my head gently to the left and right, examining the damage.
somberly = solemnly (in a manner that is serious—not cheerful or lighthearted)
Definition
Generally this sense of somber means:serious and without humor or fun — perhaps sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle shade of blue
"I never was very good at being subtle," he said, "so I will come right out and say it: ..."
subtle = understated so as not to draw attention to itself
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
surreal
1 use
Lords of the surreal.
surreal = fantastic imagery, or combinations of things and events that don't go together
Definition
Generally surreal means:characterized by fantastic imagery, or combinations of things and events that don't go together
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
virtual
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
virtual organization
I can grow back virtually any part of my body. Except my head.
virtually = to almost be so, but not so strictly speaking
Definition
Generally this sense of virtual means:to almost be something; or to effectively be something without entirely being it in a traditional sense
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |