arbitration
5 uses
Courts of arbitration—the very idea!
arbitration = an official process of solving a disagreement with the help of an impartial referee
Definition
Generally arbitration means:the process of solving a disagreement with the help of an impartial referee
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6.2 |
ascend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
in ascending order
"My being is yours," he sang in desperation, repeating the same anguished melodic phrase, which the orchestra also picked up again on its own, ascending two notes up from the dominant and with deepest fervor moving back to the fifth below.†
ascending = moving upward on a musical scale
Definition
Generally this sense of ascend means:move up a scale — as from smaller numbers to larger, or lower notes to higher
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7.7 |
consonant
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
consonant or vowel?
On the contrary, this slippery syllable with its lingual and labial consonants and scanty vowel in the middle really began to disgust him after a while, conjuring up for him somehow images of watery milk—something whitish-blue and insipid, particularly when compared with all the robust fodder that Dr. Krokowski was serving up.
consonants = speech sounds that are not vowels
Definition
Generally this sense of consonant means:a letter of the alphabet (or a speech sound) that is not a vowel
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.6 |
convoluted
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
convoluted thinking
"A convoluted process," the Italian said with a laugh.
convoluted = complex
Definition
Generally this sense of convoluted means:complex — often more complex than necessary
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.5 |
dispose
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
And there are situations where—antagonisms that... in short, I am at the gentleman's 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6.3 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
(accustomed as they were to equating patriotic feelings with preservation of the established order)†
established = long-existing
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.9 |
2 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
All those things you have established in regard to morality, you and your ailing compatriot—do you seriously suppose they surprise me?†
established = shown or proved
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.9 |
illustrate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
as illustrated by this example
Herr Settembrini coordinated head, shoulders, and hands in a serene, polite gesture to illustrate his question: Yes, well?†
illustrate = help make clear
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.8 |
2 —2 uses as in:
an illustrated children's book
But only later did this sort of art provide the illustrations for it.†
illustrations = drawings or photographs
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in actions, illustrations, and observations.)
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6.3 |
minute (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
minute size
There were twelve in all, in two different formats, twelve records to each; and since many of the circular disks were minutely etched on both sides—not simply because many pieces required two sides, but also because a good number of them offered two different selections—it was difficult at first to get an overview of this confusing world of beautiful possibilities waiting to be conquered.†
minutely = in a small way
Definition
Generally this sense of minute means:small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7.7 |
2 —1 use as in:
keep the minutes
Hans Castorp was not present at its various phases, but only learned about the complicated and dramatic course of events from documents, affidavits, and official minutes devoted to the affair, copies of which were circulated not only in the Berghof, not only in Davos, in the canton of Graubunden, in Switzerland, but also abroad, were sent as far as America, and were made available for study to persons who, one can be sure, would not and could not pay one whit of attention to the...†
minutes = formal notes (from a meeting)
Definition
Generally this sense of minutes means:a written record of what happened at a meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7.9 |
novel
1 use
Things might be different awake; maybe in looking for inner support he would do well to give Settembrini's novel nature a try—rebellious and critical, though sentimental and bombastic, too.†
novel = new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.9 |
olfactory
2 uses
What made it possible for certain olfactory nerves to be stimulated by various odors?
olfactory = related to the sense of smell
Definition
Generally olfactory means:relating to the sense of smell
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.7 |
pedantic
10 uses
She was probably not a dressmaker after all, because she spoke correctly, almost pedantically.
pedantically = with too much concern for formal rules or book learning
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.2 |
pithy
6 uses
Which he did, urging her on in pithy phrases.
pithy = concise (said in few words), but full of meaning
(editor's note: This book also uses pithy in a much less common sense—meaning "full of vigor" as when the author describes Dr. Krokowski's smile.)
(editor's note: This book also uses pithy in a much less common sense—meaning "full of vigor" as when the author describes Dr. Krokowski's smile.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.10 |
proclivity
4 uses
In addition there is apparently an active proclivity for catarrh in the upper respiratory system.
proclivity = tendency
Definition
Generally proclivity means:a tendency, inclination, preference, or strength
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.5 |
rectify
2 uses
At the time, many lodges went through a period of rectification and reform, in the spirit of the 'strict charges'—an explicitly irrational, mysterious, magical, alchemistic spirit, to which the higher degrees of the Scottish Rite owe their existence.†
rectification = correction
(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 rectify means:correct, fix, or make right
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6.8 |
recumbent
4 uses
Why, for the latter, of course, for a private discussion, the consul assured her from his recumbent position.
recumbent = lying down
Definition
Generally recumbent means:lying down; or horizontal
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.5 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 5 uses
1 —1 use as in:
will yield valuable data
What belongs to you is invested quite nicely and will yield a secure return.†
yield = produce or give
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
2 —4 uses as in:
yield to pressure
The Italian would not yield, but brandished the Word like a sword. triumphed with it.†
yield = give up, give in, or give way
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7.3 |