accord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
according to, or in accord with
Had been a cowboy in Texas once-according to his story.
according to = as stated by
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
beckon
2 uses
I looked back over my shoulder, and there was Joe and Ned on the other bank beckoning for me to come back to them.
beckoning = calling (to come by using a hand gesture or a nod)
Definition
Generally beckon means:to call — typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
capitol
1 use
...a letter opener. The one Paul Samson had used at the capitol there in Baton Rouge.
capitol = the main building of government
(editor's note: DO NOT confuse this with the capital ("al" instead of "ol"). Capital references the city from which a nation is governed.)
(editor's note: DO NOT confuse this with the capital ("al" instead of "ol"). Capital references the city from which a nation is governed.)
Definition
Generally capitol means:the main building (or buildings) of government
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
conscience
2 uses
I had been fighting with my conscience ever since Ned was killed.†
conscience = feeling or appraisal of having personally behaved in a morally right or wrong manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
constant
1 use
Miss Jane was constantly turning to one of them for the answer.†
constantly = in a manner that is unchanging, continuous, or happens repeatedly
Definition
Generally constant means:unchanging, continuous, or happening repeatedly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 64 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
content
2 uses
But if you must die, let me ask you this: wouldn't you rather die saying I'm a man than to die saying I'm a contented slave?
contented = satisfied
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 54 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
contract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
legal contract
...just like you get contracts to cut wood.
contracts = written agreements that are enforceable by law
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:an agreement - typically written and enforceable by law
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
contradict
1 use
But if she did not agree, she would shake her head and say: "No, no, no, no, no." The other person would not contradict her, because, after all, this was her story.†
contradict = disagree
Definition
Generally contradict means:disagree
in various senses, including:
- to say something is not true — as in "She contradicted his testimony."
- to say something else is true when both can't be true — as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
- to be in conflict with — as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Intr. |
dictate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Hitler dictated that...
Nothing but a dictator who did this and that to the people.†
dictator = someone who issue commands or orders — especially someone who rules without concern for other people's opinions
Definition
Generally this sense of dictate means:issue commands or orders
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
Frederick Douglass
6 uses
Mr. Frederick Douglass said give the South a chance.
Frederick Douglass = U.S. abolitionist who escaped from slavery and became an influential writer and lecturer in the North (1817-1895)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
liable
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she is liable to
He told him shut up or cousin or no cousin he liable to shoot him himself.
liable = likely to; or maybe going to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
mane
1 use
I was holding pump, mane, and bridle.
mane = long coarse hair growing on the back of the neck of a horse
Definition
Generally mane means:long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
mock
1 use
"Who go'n protect you from the patrollers?"
"They got Yankees," I said.
"They got Yankees, they got Yankees," Unc Isom mocked me. "...soon as Old Mistress start beating on you, you can't find Yankee."
"They got Yankees," I said.
"They got Yankees, they got Yankees," Unc Isom mocked me. "...soon as Old Mistress start beating on you, you can't find Yankee."
mocked = imitating to make fun of
Definition
Generally mock means:making fun of
or:
not real
or:
not real
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
narrate
1 use
When she was tired, or when she just did not feel like talking any more, or when she had forgotten certain things, someone else would always pick up the narration.†
narration = the act, process, or instance of telling a story
(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 narrate means:to tell a story-possibly as the main voice in a documentary; or a character who speaks to the audience in a performance
The specific meaning of narrate depends on context. For example:
- "She narrated her story with tears in her eyes." — told a story
- "Her diary chillingly narrates her descent into madness." — tells a story in writing
- "Morgan Freeman narrated the documentary which features historic news reports and interviews." — was the voice that tells a story while tying the scenes of a documentary together
- "The character who plays the Stage Director in Our Town also narrates for the audience." — when an actor in a play, movie, or other performance helps to tell the story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
octave
1 use
Little farther up, Phillip, Unc Octave, and Aunt Nane.†
octave = an interval of tones with the pitch at the high end being twice that at the low end — 8 notes on the familiar diatonic scale
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
Old Testament
1 use
Go to the Old Testament; go to the New.
Old Testament = the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews (Jews) which is the first half of the Christian Bible
Definition
Generally Old Testament means:the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews which is the first half of the Christian Bible
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
on the other hand
2 uses
Then Guidry told Hardy he knowed all about him, and as a matter of fact he was thinking about talking to him one day himself He told Hardy he had no intention of'resting Marshall; on the other hand he was giving Hardy about one minute to get out his parish.†
on the other hand = from another point of view; or in a way that is different (a phrase used to introduce a different perspective or idea)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ration
1 use
I can't pay y'all till the end of the year, but you can draw rations and clothing from the store.
rations = a fixed portions of food
Definition
Generally ration means:verb: to restrict the amount of something each person can have — such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage, or when more is wanted than is available
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
recite
2 uses
When we found out he count to a hundred by ones, twos, fives, tens, and we found out he knowed all his ABCs, we used to make him recite for us any time we went down there.
recite = to say something aloud that was previously memorized
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
Sappho
18 uses
Sappho Brown rode through Creole Place and saw the mulattoes hanging lanterns and crepe paper up in the trees.†
Sappho = the Greek lyric poet of Lesbos; much admired although only fragments of her poetry have been preserved (6th century BC)
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |