ambivalent
1 use
I surrender to ambivalence, to happy contradictions and seeming inconsistencies in myself and almost everything else, including God.
ambivalence = mixed feelings
Definition
Generally ambivalent means:having mixed feelings about something — such as when part of you wants to do something and part of you does not
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 60 |
austere
1 use
The dispassionate mathematical laws of physics seem austere and impersonal, like a star or the moon.
austere = stern (strict — without consideration for human feelings)
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 53 |
benevolent
1 use
With each gift the threads of benevolence are knotted, snaring both giver and recipient.
benevolence = kindness and goodwill
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 41 |
convention (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
to convene
...public radio was created to be a commons, a place where citizens could convene to speak and listen in the common interest.
convene = come together (to meet)
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:a large conference or meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
2 —4 uses as in:
conventional behavior
I don't thoroughly understand the conventions of each tradition and...
conventions = things that are normal
Definition
Generally this sense of convention means:something regarded as normal or typical
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
We have remained close, however, and have even glimpsed islands of agreement as we navigate the rapids of 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 21 |
diversity
3 uses
Industrialization has turned life into an industry and systematically destroys the essential diversity that provides richness to the human experience.
diversity = variety
Definition
Generally diversity means:the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
incredulous
1 use
"..." I asked incredulously.
incredulously = with disbelief; or with difficulty accepting something so unexpected
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 39 |
innate
2 uses
I believe in our innate potential for brutality.
innate = of a quality: present at birth or existing as an inseparable part of something greater
Definition
Generally innate means:of a quality: present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 64 |
integrity
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a person of high integrity
They did it with rare courage and integrity.
integrity = strong moral principles — especially honesty
Definition
Generally this sense of integrity means:having strong moral principles — especially honesty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
In an age of irony, an earnest statement is a target.
irony = saying 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
2 —1 use as in:
dramatic irony
Well, I'm in the library parsing a Jane Austen novel looking for dramatic irony, while many of my old friends are dead or in jail.
dramatic irony = when the meaning of a situation is understood by one person, but not by another
Definition
Generally this sense of dramatic irony means:when the meaning of a situation is understood by one person, but not by another — especially when a reader or audience knows what characters of a story do not (such as in the play, Romeo and Juliet)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 54 |
novel
1 use
Later I realized what made the experience so novel: He was the first old person I'd spent time with who wasn't in my family.
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 28 |
positive
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a positive attitude
That was when I began to realize that I had been tyrannized by the idea that everyone must always have a positive attitude.†
positive = optimistic or agreeable
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
For me, it is profoundly humbling.
profoundly = with the greatest intensity or emotional depth
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44 |
relevant
1 use
I'm no Martin Luther King but his call to action is as relevant now as it was then,
relevant = meaningful
Definition
Generally relevant means:relating in a meaningful way to the issue in question
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
resilient
3 uses
I believe in the power of human resilience.
resilience = ability to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it
Definition
Generally resilient means:able to withstand strain and/or quickly recover from it — such as a person retaining a positive attitude, or a material returning to its shape after being bent, stretched, or pressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 63 |
revere
5 uses
As I grew older, I discovered that this reverence for life was not shared by all of humanity.
reverence = deep respect
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 | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
scrutiny
2 uses
...we are duty bound to confront moral dilemmas and scrutinize the implications of our actions.
scrutinize = look at very carefully
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
turbulent
4 uses
I was researching how fish swim in turbulent flow and discovered that they could surf on swirling eddies without using much muscle.
turbulent = rough (rapid and irregular flow) (or disturbed and disordered)
Definition
Generally turbulent means:a state of disturbance and disorder
or:
of liquid or gas: rough (rapid and irregular flow)
or:
of liquid or gas: rough (rapid and irregular flow)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 45 |