belligerent
1 use
Old Stew might rant, he might take you by the collar, become belligerent, even stumble on the stairs when going to sleep, but none of it was a surprise.
belligerent = hostile (in a fighting mood)
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
bequeath
1 use
This despite the fact that everyone he met, each one of us he encountered inside and outside his office and circle, even and perhaps especially strangers, the curious citizenry of the streets, Kwang made feel as though he were bequeathing a significant part of himself.
bequeathing = giving or passing 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 |
conjecture
2 uses
Mostly they were focused on me, whispering, nodding, conjecturing on who I was.
conjecturing = forming conclusions (or guesses) based on inconclusive evidence
Definition
Generally conjecture means:a conclusion or opinion based on inconclusive evidence; or the act of forming of such a conclusion or opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
consummate
1 use
The mayor was a careerist, a consummate professional, and he knew how the game should be run against an ethnic challenger:
consummate = having a quality to an extreme degree
Definition
Generally this sense of consummate means:perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
deference
2 uses
with eyes cast at a deferential angle
deferential = politely respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
Lelia and I, despite our discord, were mutually grateful that the woman had been taking good care of him.
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 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
Dennis has other stations at his disposal, you know.†
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 |
diversity
1 use
But the more racial strife they can report, the more the public questions what good any of this diversity brings.
diversity = the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
engender
1 use
Reputation is always worth more than money. ... This the power lovely and terrible, what we try to engender in Kwang's giant money club,
engender = create (cause)
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
incredulous
1 use
"He was stealing," I say.
"What? Of course not!" he shouts, incredulous.
"What? Of course not!" he shouts, incredulous.
incredulous = unbelieving
Definition
Generally incredulous means:unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
Ironically, these were all the things that my father forever wanted me to consider, and to what as a teenager I had disingenuously cried, "What about love?"
ironically = 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 |
2 —2 uses as in:
verbal irony
When he left us she bid him goodbye using his surname, with neither irony nor derision.
irony = indicating one thing while meaning something else
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
mitigate
2 uses
In another time, if I felt it unavoidable, I would have presented the fact solely to mitigate the ill sweep of my own activities.
mitigate = make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
mollify
1 use
It was only after I had mollified a rowdy assemblage of twenty or so Peruvians who worked for Korean greengrocers (they were protesting low wages and poor working conditions) that Jenkins and some others identified me as being capable and motivated.
mollified = calmed
Definition
Generally mollify means:calm someone who is or may become angry or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
novel
1 use
This was all we could find in each other, this the novel language of our life.
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 |
redolent
2 uses
Peter and I possess a similar command of Korean, though perhaps his grasp is slightly better, his bah-rharn or accent, or, literally, "breeze," is more authentic, still deeply redolent of the old country.
redolent = serving to bring to mind
Definition
Generally redolent means:reminiscent (serving to bring to mind)
or:
or smelling like something; or having a sweet fragrance
or:
or smelling like something; or having a sweet fragrance
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
reproach
1 use
He looked impressive on television. Handsome, irreproachable.
irreproachable = beyond criticism
(Editor's note: The prefix ir- is often used in front of words that start with R to mean not. That reverses the meaning of the word as seen in words like irrational, irregular, and irresistible. The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
(Editor's note: The prefix ir- is often used in front of words that start with R to mean not. That reverses the meaning of the word as seen in words like irrational, irregular, and irresistible. The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
revere
1 use
"I don't know yet," she answered softly, almost reverently, as if in awe of an angle she might now have.
reverently = with feelings of awe and wonder (perhaps with respect for the idea)
(editor's note: This may be the most common standardized test vocabulary word. Generally, it used to express deep respect and admiration.)
(editor's note: This may be the most common standardized test vocabulary word. Generally, it used to express deep respect and admiration.)
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
scrupulous
2 uses
Jack calls it the Taxi Rule. This means that you can get drunk ... but still keep in mind that you haven't done right if you don't eventually bear him home. ... Tonight I was working unscrupulously.
unscrupulously = unethically (in a manner that is wrong morally)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulously means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulously. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulously means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulously. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
serene
5 uses
My mask of serenity and...
serenity = untroubled calmness
Definition
Generally serene means:calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |