afflict
5 uses
They could have something, an affliction, that's beyond their control.†
affliction = something that causes ongoing suffering
(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 afflict means:cause suffering — such as illness, pain, or unhappiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
banish
5 uses
And then I'm off to sleep, banishing it from my mind.†
banishing = expelling or getting rid of
Definition
Generally banish means:to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
- to force someone to leave a country as punishment
- to push an idea from the mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
bequeath
1 use
We bequeath our racquets to an eager, pink-cheeked foursome.
bequeath = give or pass down
Definition
Generally bequeath means:give or pass down — often upon death in a will
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
Her candor has us both looking away.†
candor = honesty and directness
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
chide
8 uses
"Come now," Felicity chides.†
chides = scolds or criticizes
Definition
Generally chide means:to tell someone they have done wrong — sometimes in a gentle way to encourage better behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
condescending
1 use
I hear him, condescending and impatient, trying to reason with the couple in the street.
condescending = treating others as inferiors
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
A contemptuous "ha" escapes from Felicity's mouth.
contemptuous = showing disrespect
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
convention
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
conventional behavior
I recognize that this is unconventional.†
unconventional = not regarded as normal
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unconventional means not and reverses the meaning of conventional. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unconventional means not and reverses the meaning of conventional. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
"Mama says... That's why we're supposed to defer to our husbands."
defer = submit or yield to another's opinions
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
Ann has stayed behind to practice her aria for Assembly Day—the day when our families will descend upon Spence and see what marvels of womanhood we're becoming.†
descend = come
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
disdain
2 uses
My voice drips with disdain.†
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
duplicity
1 use
But mostly, I'm hoping that it will be my mother's voice I hear next, laughing at my duplicity, forgiving me for everything, even this bit of trickery.
duplicity = deception — such as lying
Definition
Generally duplicity means:deception (lying to or misleading others) — usually over an extended period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
evaluate
2 uses
Would you like to be paraded around the ballrooms of London society like some prize horse there to have its breeding capabilities evaluated?†
evaluated = thought carefully and made a judgment about
Definition
Generally evaluate means:to think carefully and make a judgment about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
hideous
12 uses
No. This is all some hideous dream.†
hideous = extremely ugly, offensive, and/or frightening
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
indulge
4 uses
Mustn't let them think we British ladies are so petty as to indulge in arguments on the streets.†
indulge = enjoy to excess
Definition
Generally indulge means:to give into a desire or enjoy something — especially in excess of what is thought good—such as a desire to eat too much cake, or be too lazy
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
The great irony is that we told him the truth. And now we'll be punished for it.
irony = when what happens is very different than 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 33 |
malevolent
1 use
What if this otherworldly little girl is a malevolent spirit who means to do me harm?
malevolent = evil
Definition
Generally malevolent means:evil
- of a person — wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
- of a thing — exerting an evil or harmful influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
optimistic
3 uses
It isn't the most optimistic outlook I've ever heard.†
optimistic = expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
ravine
12 uses
It's a solid hike through the trees, beyond the boathouse and the lake, and along a deep ravine.†
ravine = a deep narrow steep-sided valley — especially one formed by running water
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
taut
4 uses
A line of dark hair snakes over a taut stomach.†
taut = pulled or drawn tight;
or: subjected to great tension
or: subjected to great tension
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |