alleviate
3 uses
My Son is at present making a tour of Private Mental Asylums and Clinics in Europe, an investigation very necessary to the work he is engaged upon - work of the utmost significance, which will alleviate human suffering,
alleviate = decrease (lessen something bad)
Definition
Generally alleviate means:to lessen something that is bad — especially to lessen pain
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
approach
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
On Friday he tried a more direct approach.†
approach = technique (way of doing something)
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
What she says has the ring of truth; her manner is candid and sincere; and yet I can't shake the suspicion that, in some way I cannot put my finger on, she is lying to me.
candid = honest and straightforward
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 12 |
complacent
2 uses
...and above all we should guard against complacency,
complacency = being too contented (too unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Simon feels a certain contempt for material self-indulgence;
contempt = lack of respect (perhaps with dislike or disgust)
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 4 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
Kinnear did not seem to notice the discord.
discord = conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
dispose
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
He's reviewed all the documents at his disposal — the accounts of the trial, the opinions of the newspapers, the Confessions, even Mrs. Moodie's overblown rendition.†
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 4 |
establish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
They were Church of England, as all the best people were in those days, and also those who wanted to be the best, as it was Established.†
established = created
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
I established the fact that Nancy had been in the habit of selling her employer's cast-off garments to the servants, with or without her master's permission; so McDermott could have come by his Shirt of Nessus honestly enough.†
established = demonstrated
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 12 |
furtive
7 uses
Grace Marks glances at you with a sidelong, stealthy look; her eye never meets yours, and after a furtive regard, it invariably bends its gaze upon the ground.
furtive = taking pains to avoid being observed
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
I'm inclined to
He always brings something with him; the first day it was a dried flower of some sort, blue it was, the second day a winter pear, the third an onion, you never know what he will bring, although he inclines to the fruits and vegetables;
inclines = has a tendency to favor
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
The fact is so obvious that Simon merely inclines his head.
inclines = bends (or angles) (like an affirmative nod)
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
indolent
1 use
indolent waves
indolent = lazy (not forceful)
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
indulgent
4 uses
Simon feels a certain contempt for material self-indulgence; and as a medical student he became habituated to a monkish austerity, and to working long hours under difficult conditions.
self-indulgence = being excessively kind to or undemanding of oneself
Definition
Generally indulgent means:to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
laconic
1 use
laconic farmers
laconic = using few words
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
notorious
6 uses
The man was notoriously corrupt, and most unfit for his position.
notoriously = well known for something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
penitent
2 uses
...brought here to be penitent, because this is a Penitentiary and you are supposed to repent while in it,
penitent = feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
phenomenon
4 uses
But if what we have witnessed is a natural phenomenon, who are we to question it?†
phenomenon = thing that exists
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
pious
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
... for a woman as pious as she was, she lied very well;
pious = religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
rectify
2 uses
But as you propose to establish a private institution, you will, I trust, incur fewer difficulties of this nature, and will suffer less from the irritating political interference that frequently prevents their rectification; and in this, as in general matters, I wish you every success in your endeavours.
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 4 |