aghast
1 use
HALLY: ...Say you stumble or bump into somebody ... do they take off any points?
SAM: (aghast) Hally...!
HALLY: When you're dancing — if you and your partner collide into another couple.
(Hally can get no further. SAM has collapsed with laughter.)
SAM: (aghast) Hally...!
HALLY: When you're dancing — if you and your partner collide into another couple.
(Hally can get no further. SAM has collapsed with laughter.)
aghast = shocked and surprised
Definition
Generally aghast means:shocked with feelings of surprise and dismay (sadness, disappointment, or worry)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
ailment
1 use
Bloody depressing there with everybody going on about their ailments, hey!
ailments = illnesses
Definition
Generally ailment means:an illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
appalling
2 uses
(appalled) You mean don't dance?
appalled = shocked by how terrible or horrible something is
Definition
Generally appalling means:shockingly terrible or horrible
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
collide
6 uses
When you're dancing — if you and your partner collide into another couple.
collide = crash together with violent impact
Definition
Generally collide means:crash together with violent impact; or come into conflict
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
daunt
2 uses
An intrepid social reformer will not be daunted by the magnitude of the task he has undertaken.
daunted = discouraged or intimidated
(editor's note: Intrepid is a synonym for brave. Daunted is a synonym for discouraged.)
(editor's note: Intrepid is a synonym for brave. Daunted is a synonym for discouraged.)
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
There were occasions when we deliberately let you win a game so that you would stop sulking and go on playing with us.
deliberately = intentionally
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to do something intentionally (do it on purpose)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
desolate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
felt desolate
A desolate Hally doesn't move.
desolate = sad or miserable—and often lonely
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
despair (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
I oskillate (mispronounces oscillate) between hope and despair for this world as well, Sam.
despair = hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
do not despair
We mustn't despair.
despair = give up hope
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:to lose hope
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
edify
1 use
You're on your bed trimming your toenails with a knife — not a very edifying sight — and as for me....
edifying = instructive
Definition
Generally edify means:to instruct — morally or intellectually
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
flotsam
1 use
...the flotsam and jetsam that life washed up on our shores!
flotsam = things treated as of low value (originally floating debris — especially wreckage of a ship)
(editor's note: "Flotsam and jetsam" is an expression you'll hear once in a while. Most people don't distinguish between the two, but the difference is important in maritime law. Flotsam is debris from a shipwreck. Jetsam is specifically items intentionally thrown overboard to lighten the ship's load. While flotsam can be reclaimed by the original owner, jetsam of any value can enrich whoever finds it.)
(editor's note: "Flotsam and jetsam" is an expression you'll hear once in a while. Most people don't distinguish between the two, but the difference is important in maritime law. Flotsam is debris from a shipwreck. Jetsam is specifically items intentionally thrown overboard to lighten the ship's load. While flotsam can be reclaimed by the original owner, jetsam of any value can enrich whoever finds it.)
Definition
Generally flotsam means:floating debris — especially from a shipwreck
or:
anything or anyone treated as of low value such as discarded items or homeless people
or:
anything or anyone treated as of low value such as discarded items or homeless people
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
infuriate
2 uses
...it was infuriating! I could have brained you!
infuriating = causing much anger or annoyance
Definition
Generally infuriate means:to make very angry or annoyed
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
oppress
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
oppressive government
All vestiges of the feudal system with its oppression of the poor were abolished.
oppression = unfair treatment
(editor's notes: Vestiges means "traces of something that was previously there." Feudal system refers to a system of government in which a single leader gave land to nobility and people who lived on the land had to serve the land owner. And abolished is a synonym for eliminated or stopped.)
(editor's notes: Vestiges means "traces of something that was previously there." Feudal system refers to a system of government in which a single leader gave land to nobility and people who lived on the land had to serve the land owner. And abolished is a synonym for eliminated or stopped.)
Definition
Generally this sense of oppress means:to dominate harshly and unfairly; or to make suffer
The meaning of oppress depends upon its context. For example:
- "The authorities oppress political activists," or "The new nation oppressed Native Americans." — to dominate harshly and unfairly
- "She is oppressed by excessive debt." - made to suffer
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
oscillate
1 use
I oskillate (mispronounces oscillate) between hope and despair for this world as well, Sam.
oscillate = waver between conflicting emotions or opinions
Definition
Generally oscillate means:move or swing from side to side regularly
or:
waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
or:
waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
peasant
2 uses
Not many intellectuals are prepared to shovel manure with the peasants and then go home and write a "little book" called War and Peace.
peasants = used historically or possibly in relation to a very poor country: people of low income, education, and social standing — especially those who raise crops or livestock
Definition
Generally peasant means:used historically or possibly in relation to a very poor country: a person of low income, education, and social standing — especially one who raises crops or livestock
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
sheer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sheer fun
The sheer audacity of it took my breath away.
sheer = complete and without restriction
(editor's note: In this context, audacity is a synonym for boldness or daring.)
(editor's note: In this context, audacity is a synonym for boldness or daring.)
Definition
Generally this sense of sheer means:complete or pure — without restriction, qualification, or other elements (used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
thesis
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the thesis of her editorial
To put my thesis in a nutshell: the war-dance has been replaced by the waltz.
thesis = an unproved statement put forward as a premise for discussion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
tirade
1 use
He keeps up his tirade as... But what really makes me bitter is that I allow you chaps a little freedom in here — when business is bad and what do you do with it?
tirade = speech of angry criticism
Definition
Generally tirade means:a speech of angry criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
unobtrusive
1 use
(SAM and WILLIE work away as unobtrusively as possible.)
unobtrusively = in a manner that fits in so as not to attract much attention or disturb
Definition
Generally unobtrusive means:fitting in so as not to attract much attention or disturb
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
vestige
3 uses
All vestiges of the feudal system with its oppression of the poor were abolished.
vestiges = traces of something that was previously there
(editor's notes: Feudal system refers to a system of government in which a single ruler gave land to nobility and people who lived on the land had to serve the land owner. Oppression means unfair treatment. And abolished is a synonym for eliminated or stopped.)
(editor's notes: Feudal system refers to a system of government in which a single ruler gave land to nobility and people who lived on the land had to serve the land owner. Oppression means unfair treatment. And abolished is a synonym for eliminated or stopped.)
Definition
Generally vestige means:a remaining trace (little bit of something) that was previously abundant
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |