9/11
1 use
Both 110-story buildings of the World Trade Center collapsed from the 9/11 attacks.
9/11 = September 11, 2001; when suicide bombers hijacked US airliners and used them as missiles to kill about 3,000 people
Definition
Generally 9/11 means:September 11, 2001; when Al Qaeda suicide bombers hijacked United States airliners and used them as bombs to destroy the World Trade Center in New York City and to attack the Pentagon; about 3,000 innocents (mostly civilians) were killed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
abridge
2 uses
The first commercially available audiobook was a 1981 abridged version of the Doctor Who story, State of Decay.
abridged = shortened
Definition
Generally abridge means:reduce in scope while retaining essential elements — especially to a book
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 43 |
ambiguous
2 uses
Her answer was ambiguous.
ambiguous = unclear — because there could be two or more interpretations
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 60 |
Asperger's
2 uses
He does an excellent job in the back office despite suffering from Asperger's syndrome.
Asperger's = a mental disorder most commonly associated with undeveloped social abilities — often associated with an abnormally strong interest in one particular area
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 75 |
debut
1 use
The band debuts a new song or two every month.
debuts = introduces (or presents for the first time)
Definition
Generally debut means:a first presentation
in various senses, including:
- the first performance of a new play
- the introduction of a new product
- the introduction of a young woman to society at a social event held in her honor (a debutante ball)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Aft. |
denounce
1 use
She denounced him as a liar.
denounced = strongly criticized or accused publicly
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 73 |
detrimental
2 uses
Publicity about the crime has been detrimental to tourism.
detrimental = harmful
Definition
Generally detrimental means:causing harm or damage
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
diagnose
6 uses
She diagnosed the disease as type 2 diabetes.
diagnosed = identified
Definition
Generally diagnose means:determine or identify the nature of a problem or an illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 43 |
discern
1 use
The second picture has more pixels, but the human eye can't discern the difference.
discern = notice or see (something that is not obvious)
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
discriminate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
suffered discrimination
We do not discriminate based on race, nationality, social status, age, gender, religion, or sexual preference.
discriminate = unfairly treat of different groups of people differently
Definition
Generally this sense of discriminate means:to treat people of different groups differently — especially unfair treatment due to race, religion or gender
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
divisive
2 uses
The Iraq war was divisive here at home, and has also divided the world community.
Adam B. Schiff
divisive = caused disagreement and ill-will between people
Definition
Generally divisive means:causing disagreement and often ill-will between people
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
emulate
1 use
It wasn't just that she copied her older sister's hairstyle. She tried to emulate her in every way.
emulate = imitate (copy)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
ineffable
2 uses
Such a spiritual experience has ineffable qualities that cannot be entirely shared.
ineffable = indescribable (impossible to put into words)
Definition
Generally ineffable means:something that cannot be put into words
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
insipid
1 use
I don't care for the author. I think her novels are insipid.
insipid = dull (uninteresting and unimpactful)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 50 |
insurgent
4 uses
The insurgents in Iraq are fighting against the new Iraqi government.
insurgents = members of an irregular armed force that fight a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
Definition
Generally insurgent means:a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
optimistic
6 uses
I'm optimistic that I'll get into a good college.
optimistic = expecting the best
Definition
Generally optimistic means:expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 67 |
prescient
2 uses
She is prescient in her political predictions.
prescient = knowing what will happen before it happens
Definition
Generally prescient means:knowing (or at least expecting) what will happen before it happens
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 68 |
reconcile (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
She reconciled her checking account statement.
reconciled = brought into agreement (in this case, the statement from the bank with the record she kept in her check register)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
2 —1 use as in:
reconciled herself to
After the accident, she had to reconcile herself to life without loving parents.
reconcile = to come to terms with
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 44 |
zeal
1 use
She attacks each challenge with zeal.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |