bona fide
1 use
Members pledge not to willfully disclose magic secrets to anyone who is not a bona fide student of magic.
bona fide = genuine
Definition
Generally bona fide means:real (genuine, true, or sincere)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.16 |
civil rights movement
1 use
The civil rights movement was too diverse and fragmented to be credited to any one person, but Martin Luther King Jr. is most commonly associated with it.
civil rights movement = popular effort to establish political and social equality for African Americans in the USA (1954-1968)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
contempt = lack of respect
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 3.27 |
daunt
1 use
It is a challenge that would daunt a lesser diplomat.
daunt = discourage or intimidate
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.26 |
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 1.3 |
despondent
1 use
When her mother died, she was so despondent it was hard for her to get out of bed.
despondent = emotionally depressed
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.28 |
devious
1 use
It is a devious plan.
devious = deceitful and clever
Definition
Generally this sense of devious means:deceitful (not honest and straightforward) — often in a complicated, clever manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
dispassionate
1 use
She has a reputation as a dispassionate judge.
dispassionate = unaffected by strong emotion or bias
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
epiphany
1 use
The struggle led to an epiphany.
epiphany = sudden realization
Definition
Generally epiphany means:a sudden realization — especially one of importance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6 |
fastidious
1 use
She is fastidious in her work.
fastidious = careful and attentive to detail
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
highlight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
highlights of the year
Did you watch the video highlights?
highlights = best parts
Definition
Generally this sense of highlight means:something that stands out
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.22 |
incessant
1 use
She grew annoyed by the child's incessant questions.
incessant = continuous
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
inevitable
1 use
It is as inevitable as death and taxes.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.28 |
intractable
1 use
What do you think is the most intractable issue of our era?
intractable = difficult
Definition
Generally intractable means:difficult
in various senses, including:
- of problems or disease — difficult to solve or cure
- of people or animals — difficult to manage or control
- of materials — difficult to manipulate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.22 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
She didn't see the irony in acting like the mother she detested.
irony = 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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.17 |
morose
1 use
She drank alone in the corner, looking morose.
morose = unhappy
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.10 |
notorious
1 use
He was a notorious drug dealer.
notorious = well known for something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.13 |
philanthropy
1 use
Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
I know you're unhappy there, but don't submit your resignation until you find a better job.
resignation = a document expressing that someone is quitting a job
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.11 |
trepidation
1 use
She began her first day at the new school with some trepidation.
trepidation = nervousness
Definition
Generally trepidation means:nervousness (fear or anxiety about what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pref. |