alternative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an alternative plan
Mother's reasons for saving me were as complicated as fate itself, I suppose. Among other things, her alternatives were limited.
alternatives = other possibilities
Definition
Generally this sense of alternative means:something available as another possibility
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
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atrophy
1 use
They are atrophied, probably beyond hope of recovery.
atrophied = withered or weakened
Definition
Generally atrophy means:to wither or weaken — especially from lack of use
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
audacious
2 uses
Remile was quite shocked, whether by my deformity or my audacity I can't say,
audacity = boldness and daring
Definition
Generally audacious means:bold and daring (inclined to take risks) — especially in violating social convention in a manner that could offend others
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
benevolent
6 uses
Our Lord is benevolent.
benevolent = kind or generous
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
benign
2 uses
The belly of the plane groaned open and we were delivered abruptly into the benign spring air of Fort Benning, Georgia.
benign = mild and harmless
Definition
Generally benign means:kindly, mild, or harmless
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
bronze
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
bronze won't corrode in salt water
My father wears his faith like the bronze breastplate of God's foot soldiers, while our mother's is more like a good cloth coat with a secondhand fit.
bronze = made of a type of high-quality metal
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
correspond
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
corresponding by email
Of course, Anatole's most faithful prison correspondence was with a nun in Bangassou, which was a matter of great hilarity to his fellow prisoners.†
correspondence = communication by writing letters
Definition
Generally this sense of correspond means:communicate by writing letters or email
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
deference
3 uses
Anatole held his tongue, in deference to my family.
deference = polite respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
disdain
2 uses
When He looked in our hearts to weigh our worth, would he find love for our Congolese neighbors, or 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 2 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
A gang of men quick with guns and unfettered by conscience were at his disposal.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
diverse
1 use
Africa has parasites so particular and diverse as to occupy every niche of the body:
diverse = varied (having variety with differences)
Definition
Generally diverse means:varied (having variety amongst things of the same kind) — especially with regard to ideas or members of a population group
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
dubious
2 uses
Because that, darling, He makes fresh for us every day, without a lot of dubious middle managers.
dubious = doubtful (potentially wrong or untrustworthy)
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Keep it in perspective
...and then we just head out to the countryside for a view of the green rolling hills. Of course you have to look the other way when the train goes by the townships, because those people don't have any perspective of what good scenery is, that's for sure. They will make their houses out of a piece of rusted tin or the side of a crate—and leave the writing part on the outside for all to see!
perspective = sensible view
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
pious
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
This morning he was spinning the tale of Susanna, beautiful and pious wife of the rich man Joakim.
pious = highly religious and moral
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
positive
9 uses
1 —1 use as in:
had a positive effect
He views Leah's bow and arrows as a positive development in our household after so many other discouraging ones, such as the death, for all practical purposes, of Ruth May.†
positive = good
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
unquizzed meaning —8 uses
pragmatic
1 use
The Reverend failed to notice that every churchgoing family whose children were struck hard with the kakakaka quietly removed themselves back to ancestor worship, while a few of the heathen families that were hard hit quietly came and tried out Christianity. While it makes perfect sense to me, this pragmatic view of religion escapes the Reverend utterly.
pragmatic = concerned with practical matters
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
rectify
1 use
I always believed any sin was easily rectified if only you let Jesus Christ into your heart, but here it gets complicated.
rectified = made right
Definition
Generally this sense of rectify means:correct, fix, or make right
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
righteous
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
a righteous cause
Bravery and righteousness—those are two things that cannot go unrewarded in the sight of the Lord.
righteousness = morally correct behavior
Definition
Generally this sense of righteous means:morally correct; or morally justified
or:
acting or feeling morally superior — especially when it isn't true (this meaning is more typically seen as a compound word beginning with "self-")
or:
acting or feeling morally superior — especially when it isn't true (this meaning is more typically seen as a compound word beginning with "self-")
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
tedious
8 uses
The thought of spending the rest of the day copying out the tedious Book of Numbers sobered me deeply as I watched my father go.
tedious = boring or monotonous
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
yield
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
A jungle yields no abundance to feed the multitudes, and supports no leisure class.†
yields = gives
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |