advocate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
to advocate
Even a columnist, with a license to advocate for one thing or another, generally stops short of personal involvement in the life of a subject.
advocate = publicly support
Definition
Generally this sense of advocate means:to recommend or publicly support (someone or something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.21 |
2 —1 use as in:
an advocate supporting
Nathaniel, it seems, already has an advocate and trusted acquaintance, namely me.
advocate = public supporter (in this case, him)
Definition
Generally this sense of advocate means:a person who publicly supports and works to advance a cause
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
or more rarely:
someone acting in the role of a defense lawyer in England's past and in some jurisdictions today
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
belligerent
1 use
a belligerent argument
belligerent = hostile (with the attitude of people eager to fight)
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 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.24 |
contrite
1 use
Nathaniel finally brings his head up and there's a hint of contrition in his eye.
contrition = sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally contrite means:feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
cursory
1 use
Nathaniel gives the hall a cursory look, but his gaze is fixed on the stage, with the musicians filing back in from the dressing room.
cursory = hasty and without attention to detail
Definition
Generally cursory means:quick—not thorough (without attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
delude
7 uses
If the poor soul is that delusional, he's even sicker than I thought.
delusional = out of touch with reality (having false beliefs)
Definition
Generally delude means:deceive (convince to have a false belief)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
destitute
2 uses
I'm ashamed that in a region of unprecedented wealth, the destitute and the sick have been shoved into this human corral.
destitute = people who are extremely poor; or lacking the necessities of life such as food and shelter
Definition
Generally destitute means:extremely poor; or lacking the necessities of life such as food and shelter
The expression "destitute of" means: lacking
The expression "destitute of" means: lacking
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
diagnose
14 uses
The diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia, and his life, as he had lived it until then, was over.
diagnosis = the name of a disease that was determined to be the cause of an illness
(editor's note: People with paranoid schizophrenia have false beliefs that others are plotting against them or their family. As with other forms of schizophrenia, sufferers may hear things that are not real and have delusions of grandeur - a false belief that they are much greater and more powerful and influential than they really are. It is the most common type of schizophrenia and when treated properly people who have it have a very good chance of leading happy and productive lives.)
(editor's note: People with paranoid schizophrenia have false beliefs that others are plotting against them or their family. As with other forms of schizophrenia, sufferers may hear things that are not real and have delusions of grandeur - a false belief that they are much greater and more powerful and influential than they really are. It is the most common type of schizophrenia and when treated properly people who have it have a very good chance of leading happy and productive lives.)
Definition
Generally diagnose means:determine or identify the nature of a problem or an illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.18 |
diligent
1 use
Nathaniel sweeps the sidewalk with maniacal diligence, flicking dead cockroaches and cigarette butts into the gutter to clear a space for his bedding.
diligence = hard work and care
(editor's note: In this context, maniacal means obsessive; or with wild or excessive enthusiasm.)
(editor's note: In this context, maniacal means obsessive; or with wild or excessive enthusiasm.)
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
disdain
1 use
Murray, with straight reddish hair and a look of weary disdain, glares at me.
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.14 |
eccentric
1 use
He quickly makes himself at home, acting like an eccentric and gabby uncle who's dropped by after a long absence.
eccentric = unconventional or strange behaving
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.23 |
indifferent
4 uses
"I'll be back," I say. He nods indifferently.
indifferently = without interest (unconcerned)
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
meticulous
2 uses
Nathaniel's clothes are neater and cleaner this time, his grooming more meticulous.
meticulous = treating details with care
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
muse (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
her musings
I scribble Nathaniel's musings in my spiral notebook, trying to keep up with a running soliloquy that is somewhat reminiscent of Joseph Mitchell's Professor Sea Gull character.
musings = thoughts
Definition
Generally this sense of muse means:reflect (think) deeply on a subject — perhaps aloud
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
2 —2 uses as in:
She was his muse
Each is as true today as it will always be, and for Nathaniel the music is both medicine and muse, no less an inspiration now than it was before his fall.
muse = source of inspiration
Definition
Generally this sense of muse means:the source of an artist's inspiration - especially a person or mythological goddess
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.12 |
prescribe
6 uses
I'm curious to know her every thought, her diagnosis, her prognosis, her prescription.
prescription = medical recommendation
(editor's note: In this context, a diagnosis is the name of the disease found to cause an illness; and the prognosis is the expected outcome for the person with the disease.)
(editor's note: In this context, a diagnosis is the name of the disease found to cause an illness; and the prognosis is the expected outcome for the person with the disease.)
Definition
Generally prescribe means:to recommend or require what should be done
or more specifically:
of a medical doctor: to give medical instructions — such as writing that a patient should take antibiotics
or more specifically:
of a medical doctor: to give medical instructions — such as writing that a patient should take antibiotics
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
relevant
1 use
The question is whether newspapers will still be relevant at a time when readers are flocking to the Internet and our most solid core of subscribers is slowly dying off, with newsroom cutbacks keeping pace.
relevant = important or meaningful (in this case, with regard to spreading news and helping to inform and shape public opinion)
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 1.2 |
revere
2 uses
He holds the photo at arm's length, quietly reverent.
reverent = feeling or showing 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.20 |
symphony
18 uses
I know he's an excellent player, a magnificently accomplished professional musician, because I saw him playing Beethoven's Third Symphony.
symphony = a long and complex piece of music — typically for full orchestra in four parts
Definition
Generally symphony means:a long and complex piece of music — typically for full orchestra in four parts;
or: an orchestra that plays such; or such a performance
or: an orchestra that plays such; or such a performance
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
tirade
3 uses
She remembers too well her brother's tirades, which terrified her and were like a dagger through her mother's heart.
tirades = speeches of angry criticism
Definition
Generally tirade means:a speech of angry criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.15 |