accord
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
Miss Katie said money was a bad thing, and according to the good book, it was the root of all evil.†
according to = as stated by; or in agreement with
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
afflict
1 use
How in the Lord's world did you come up with that affliction, Ruby Helen?†
affliction = something that causes ongoing suffering
(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 afflict means:cause suffering — such as illness, pain, or unhappiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
apparent
1 use
And then, for no apparent reason, start to limp.†
apparent = clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
apprentice
1 use
Afterwards I apprenticed for awhile, learning textile design, fabric, wallpaper, and such.†
apprenticed = one who works for an expert to learn a trade; or (as a verb) performance of that kind of work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
communal
1 use
For some school paper, my daddy once wrote, "Between farmers, there is that communality of souls.†
communality = related to a group rather than individuals
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
compel
1 use
He simply said, quietly, "There is something so awesome about death, baby girl, people feel compelled to address it in some way.†
compelled = forced; or (more rarely) convinced
Definition
Generally compel means:to force someone to do something
or more rarely:
to convince someone to do something
or more rarely:
to convince someone to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
constant
1 use
So are her parents/They are constantly on the move all the time, moving toward and away from each other, like the checkers move about a checkerboard.†
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 | Chapter 3 |
cultivate
1 use
They are neatly placed beside homemade ones, made from wild broomstraw gathered from open uncultivated farm land.†
uncultivated = not developed
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in uncultivated means not and reverses the meaning of cultivated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in uncultivated means not and reverses the meaning of cultivated. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
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 9 |
Denmark
3 uses
I went to Sweden, Norway, and Denmark last summer.†
Denmark = officially The Kingdom of Denmark; a constitutional monarchy in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe which was at one time the home of Viking raiding parties and is today a member of the EU and NATO
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
direct
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
He looked directly at Gaten.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
entwined
1 use
You see, there is a vine that often times grows in peach orchards, entwined into peach trees.†
entwined = interconnected (not easily separated) or twisted together
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
glimpse
2 uses
I keep cutting my eyes so sharp because sometimes it seems like I catch a glimpse of my daddy.†
glimpse = a quick look or partial understanding
Definition
Generally glimpse means:a quick look or partial understanding
The exact meaning of glimpse can depend upon its context. For example:
- "I caught a glimpse of her when I was walking to class." — a very quick look
- "I glimpsed at the headlines." — looked quickly
- "Reading the book gave me a glimpse of the life of a devout Muslim immigrant in America." — a quick, incomplete view
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 43 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
ligament
1 use
Your daughter likely tore a ligament in the beginning and doubtless kept hurting the same leg over and over.†
ligament = tough fibrous tissue that connects bones
Definition
Generally ligament means:a sheet or band of tough fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilages
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
migrant
1 use
Every summer if there's a big peach crop the migrant workers flood Round Hill.†
migrant = one who moves from one place to another
Definition
Generally migrant means:a person (or animal) that moves from one place to another — sometimes seasonally — sometimes for work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
monopoly
1 use
In a way it reminds me of a game of Monopoly.†
monopoly = the only supplier of a good or service; or a market with only one supplier
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
on the other hand
1 use
On the other hand, I'm sure there are things I can learn from Sara Kate.†
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
repentance
1 use
When Sara Kate told Everleen she'd made a dreadful mistake, Everleen said, "Repent, sinner and go thy way, and sin no more.†
repent = feel regret for having done wrong and resolve to be a better person in the future
Definition
Generally repentance means:the feeling or expression of regret for having done something wrong with a firm decision to be a better person in the future
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
tetanus
1 use
At the hospital they took out shotgun pellets from her hand, but missed one in her head, and gave her a tetanus shot and sent her back home.†
tetanus = bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object
Definition
Generally tetanus means:a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object; prevented by the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and by subsequent booster shots every 10 years
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
tinged
1 use
Even now, there is a little tinge of hurt or sadness when they talk so bad about her.†
tinge = a slight amount; or to contain a slight amount
Definition
Generally tinged means:with a slight amount
(If an amount of what is not clear from context, it is typically of color.)
(If an amount of what is not clear from context, it is typically of color.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
wretched
1 use
He said, according to legend, "Bruce, hiding from enemies in a wretched hut, watched a spider swinging by one of its threads.†
wretched = miserable or very bad
Definition
Generally wretched means:very bad
in various senses, including:
- unfortunate or miserable — as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor"
- of poor quality — as in "wretched roads"
- morally bad — as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |