acquiesce
1 use
Miro acquiesced, saw the reasonableness of the move.
acquiesced = reluctantly complied (did what someone else wanted him to do)
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
cacophony
2 uses
His howl touched off a chorus of screams and cries chat rivaled the cacophony outside the bus.
cacophony = loud confusing disagreeable sounds
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
clandestine
1 use
The school itself was a secret place; while the authorities allowed the refugees to live citizenless in the camps, they forbade them to conduct schools, making education clandestine, carried out under guard.
clandestine = secret
Definition
Generally clandestine means:secret; or conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
He felt contempt for the boy.
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 | Part 10 |
corroborate
1 use
But she felt it was her responsibility to see him, to corroborate the fact of his death.
corroborate = confirm with additional evidence (in this case, as an eye witness)
Definition
Generally corroborate means:to support an opinion — typically with additional evidence or testimony
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
depravity
1 use
Turning and turning, a dance of depraved delight.
depraved = completely immoral or evil
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
despondent
2 uses
She felt despondent suddenly,
despondent = depressed
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
discern
2 uses
...after a while, Kate discerned a pattern in their arrivals and departures.
discerned = to notice something that is not obvious
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 8 |
divert
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
divert the traffic or funds
We merely want to divert the bus from its course for a few minutes.
divert = change the direction
Definition
Generally this sense of divert means:to change the direction of something, or the purpose for which it is used
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
forage
1 use
He stared at them a long time from across the street one morning as they prepared for another day of foraging for food or whatever they could turn to food.
foraging = searching for and gathering — often food and provisions
Definition
Generally forage means:to search for and gather — often food and provisions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
futile
7 uses
I knew a phone call would be useless, a futile gesture.
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 8 |
incredulous
2 uses
"You believe them?" Miro asked, incredulous.
incredulous = unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
indifferent
4 uses
His eyes were half closed as he sprawled in the seat, pretending indifference.
indifference = lack of interest
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 | Part 8 |
languid
4 uses
Most of the children were still in a land of half stupor, languid, like limp rags.
languid = having little energy and moving slowly
Definition
Generally languid means:lacking energy or relaxed or moving slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
obscure
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
it obscured my view
The snow obscured the footpaths,
obscured = made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
pathetic (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
Her pathetic look saddened us.
He had seduced her with his pathetic tale of wandering through the camps as a child and had somehow enlisted her sympathy.
pathetic = pitiful (arousing pity)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
2 —1 use as in:
a pathetic attempt to insult me
Maybe she had another weapon in her small pathetic arsenal.
pathetic = very bad — possibly so bad it is laughable (possibly mixed with some feeling of pity)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 6 |
persist
6 uses
But she had to persist.
persist = continue — often despite difficulty
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
ponder
17 uses
She caught her breath, pondering a new thought:
pondering = thinking deeply or carefully
Definition
Generally ponder means:to think deeply or carefully about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
She rose to her feet and stood tentatively near the doorway.
tentatively = in an unsure or hesitant manner
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 8 |