baptism
1 use
She was baptized at the same church as her grandmother.
baptized = "spiritually renewed" in a Christian ceremony
(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 baptism means:a Christian ceremony signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth
or:
a challenging experience that initiates or purifies
or:
a challenging experience that initiates or purifies
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
chastise
3 uses
She said the United Nations resolution amounted to chastising Israel for wanting to exist.
chastising = criticizing
Definition
Generally chastise means:to scold or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
chattel
1 use
In that culture, family members were legally dependent upon the oldest male, but they were not chattel.
chattel = owned property
Definition
Generally chattel means:owned property (in law, tangible property other than real estate)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
condemn
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She condemned their plan
We condemn racism wherever it is found.
condemn = strongly criticize
Definition
Generally this sense of condemn means:express strong criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
congregation
1 use
It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.
congregation = people who worship together in the same building
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
cultivate
1 use
We encourage our representatives to cultivate a close relationship with their clients.
cultivate = develop or grow
Definition
Generally cultivate means:enhance growth or development
in various senses, including:
- to grow crops or prepare land for them
- enhance a relationship — especially for a purpose
- develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment
- to grow a culture in a petri dish
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
entrails
1 use
The mummification process included removal of the heart and entrails immediately upon death.
entrails = internal organs — especially the intestines
Definition
Generally entrails means:internal organs — especially the intestines
or more rarely:
the internal parts of anything
or more rarely:
the internal parts of anything
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
essence
1 use
She described the essence of chaos theory as "sensitive dependence on initial conditions."
essence = defining quality
Definition
Generally essence means:the defining or most important quality of something
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
or:
a extract that concentrates important qualities of something such as smell or taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
gospel (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
gospel of the Bible
The earliest surviving complete copy of the gospels dates back to the 4th century.
gospels = books in the New Testament that Christian's believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
Definition
Generally this sense of gospel means:the religious teachings of Jesus
or:
one of the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that Christian's believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
or:
one of the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that Christian's believe tell the story of Jesus Christ's life and teachings
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
they consider it gospel
I heard her story, but I don't take it as gospel.
gospel = an unquestionable truth
Definition
Generally this sense of gospel means:a set of beliefs firmly held by a group
or:
an unquestionable truth
or:
an unquestionable truth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
3 —1 use as in:
gospel music
She sings gospel music at church.
gospel = a type of vocal music that originated in African-American churches in the United States
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
heed
1 use
Heed the advice of the old women.
heed = pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested
Definition
Generally heed means:pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested — especially with regard to a warning or other advice
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
incredulous
1 use
I find it incredulous that you believe she is sincere.
incredulous = difficult to believe
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 | Intr. |
Martin Luther King Jr.
1 use
In 1986, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States.
Martin Luther King = In 1986, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a national holiday in the United States.
Definition
Generally Martin Luther King Jr. means:inspiring U.S. civil rights leader and Baptist minister who campaigned against the segregation of blacks; assassinated (1929-1968)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
narrative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Narrative of the Life of...
He titled his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
narrative = Story
Definition
Generally this sense of narrative means:a story
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Intr. |
oblige
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I obliged her every request.
She asked for help and we obliged her.
obliged = granted a favor to
Definition
Generally this sense of oblige means:grant a favor to someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
ravish
2 uses
The soldiers ravished the city.
ravished = overwhelmed, plundered, and raped
Definition
Generally this sense of ravish means:to rape, overwhelm or plunder
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
rein
4 uses
The court reined in agency power—describing it as out of control.
reined in = restrained
Definition
Generally this sense of rein means:to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
- "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" — to control or restrain
- "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" — do not restrain
- "the reins of government" — means of control
- "the reins of the horse" — leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
speculate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
don't know, but I'll speculate
philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
speculated = thought and guessed without certainty
Definition
Generally this sense of speculate means:to think about, wonder, guess or theorize with much uncertainty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
vulgar
1 use
Her vulgarity was a turnoff.
vulgarity = crudeness (showing of bad taste)
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |