acquit
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
she acquitted herself well
Osmond at present acquitted himself very honourably.†
acquitted = handled (conducted or behaved)
Definition
Generally this sense of acquit means:to handle oneself in a specified way — which is typically in a positive way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
acrimony
1 use
But it is by no means certain that she did not feel it to be wrong that so little notice was taken of them and that her failure (really very gratuitous) to make herself important in the neighbourhood had not much to do with the acrimony of her allusions to her husband's adopted country.
acrimony = anger and bitterness
Definition
Generally acrimony means:anger—often accompanied by bitterness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
allude
35 uses
Lord Warburton was at a loss; he had not been made acquainted with Miss Stackpole's professional character and failed to catch her allusion.†
allusion = an indirect reference
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 35 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
attribute (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
It is an attribute of...
By what process of logical accretion was this slight "personality," the mere slim shade of an intelligent but presumptuous girl, to find itself endowed with the high attributes of a Subject?†
attributes = characteristics (of something or someone)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:a characteristic (of something or someone)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Pref. |
2 —4 uses as in:
I attribute it to...
His friends at present judged him more cheerful, and attributed it to a theory, over which they shook their heads knowingly, that he would recover his health.†
attributed = credited (pointed to a source for something)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
candid
12 uses
1 —12 uses as in:
your candid opinion
"I don't know whether you'd try to, but you certainly would: that I must in candour admit!" he exclaimed with an anxious laugh.†
candour = honesty and directness
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use candor.)
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use candor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
contrary
16 uses
1 —16 uses as in:
on the contrary
It was on the contrary because she felt too wide-eyed and wished to check the sense of seeing too many things at once.†
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
dispose
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
disposed the troops along...
One of the humble archeologists who hover about the place had put himself at the disposal of the two, and repeated his lesson with a fluency which the decline of the season had done nothing to impair.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
establish
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
As regards her relations with Mr. Osmond, however, she hinted at nothing but a long-established calm friendship.†
established = set in place
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
grave
31 uses
But all the same I can't help feeling that you're running a grave risk.†
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 31 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
as illustrated by this example
Pansy was already dressed; she was always in advance of the time: it seemed to illustrate her pretty patience and the graceful stillness with which she could sit and wait.†
illustrate = help make clear
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to help make clear — typically by example
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 45 |
indulge
14 uses
They turned over their schemes together and indulged in visions of romantic hours.†
indulged = enjoyed to excess
Definition
Generally indulge means:to give into a desire or enjoy something — especially in excess of what is thought good—such as a desire to eat too much cake, or be too lazy
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ingenious
19 uses
"That's ingenious rather than candid," said Ralph.†
ingenious = showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
intellectual
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
intellectual stimulation
Intellectually, doubtless, she had made immense strides; but she appeared to have achieved few of those social conquests of which Mrs. Ludlow had expected to admire the trophies.†
intellectually = in a manner that relates to intelligence
Definition
Generally this sense of intellectual means:related to intelligence — such as requiring, appealing to, or possessing intelligence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
moreover
37 uses
It must be added moreover that an incident had occurred which might have seemed to put her good-humour to the test.†
moreover = in addition to what has just been said
Word Statistics
| Book | 37 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
pedantic
2 uses
He was a bright, free, generous spirit, he had all the illumination of wisdom and none of its pedantry, and yet he was distressfully dying.
pedantry = excessive concern for details or book learning
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
proportion
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
respond in proportion
The importance of what had happened was out of proportion to its appearance; there had really been a change in her life.†
out of proportion = not appropriate in size, amount, or degree
Definition
Generally this sense of proportion means:appropriate in size, amount, or degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
specimen
15 uses
Mrs. Touchett was certainly a person of many oddities, of which her behaviour on returning to her husband's house after many months was a noticeable specimen.†
specimen = a sample regarded as typical of its class; or a bit of tissue, blood, or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
superficial
20 uses
He was about to take a step which would astonish all his friends and displease a great many of them, and which had superficially nothing to recommend it.†
superficially = relating to a surface rather than to anything deep or penetrating (often of injuries or thinking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 20 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
vulgar
36 uses
The first on the list was a conviction of the vulgarity of thinking too much of it.†
vulgarity = bad taste (crude, offensive, or unsophisticated)
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 | 36 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |