acquiesce
1 use
Xavier acquiesced.
acquiesced = reluctantly complied
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 | Chapter 3-4 |
aggravate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
she aggravates me
But the most aggravating aspect to it was that Gus always sounded cheerful, as if there was no trouble in the world that could catch him.
aggravating = annoying or irritating
Definition
Generally this sense of aggravate means:annoy or irritate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21-22 |
2 —1 use as in:
aggravated his illness
Gus always managed to aggravate whatever situation he was in with a woman.
aggravate = make worse
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34-35 |
apathy
1 use
Often she was tempted just to walk into a saloon where there was a girl or two she could might have talked to, but instead she had given way to apathy, spending whole days sitting on the edge of her sleeping loft, doing nothing.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26-27 |
contempt
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
He treated danger with light contempt or open scorn,
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-8 |
fastidious
3 uses
Xavier himself had a near-monopoly on fastidiousness in Lonesome Dove.
fastidiousness = excessive concern with cleanliness or matters of taste
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3-4 |
futile
2 uses
What he was doing—indeed, his whole life—now seemed to him completely futile.
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 91-92 |
incredulous
1 use
"Sing to Lorie?" Dish said, incredulous. "Why, I'd be so scared I'd choke."
incredulous = 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 | Chapter 72-73 |
insolent
14 uses
The fact that the bartender had been a little slow and insolent hadn't necessarily been a reason to break his nose.
insolent = rudely disrespectful
Word Statistics
| Book | 14 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44-45 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
situational irony
It was ironic that the shot which finally got him in trouble was as big an accident as the shot that had made his fame.
ironic = an entertaining coincidence when what happens is not what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5-6 |
2 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
"Feather beds ain't his style."
He had meant it as blatant irony, since of course feather beds were exactly Jake's style, but the discussion was so solemn that his flourish went unnoticed.
He had meant it as blatant irony, since of course feather beds were exactly Jake's style, but the discussion was so solemn that his flourish went unnoticed.
irony = saying one thing while meaning the opposite — as humor
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21-22 |
mitigate
1 use
"Because people are slow learners, like your sister," Clara said, grinning at Betsey to mitigate the criticism.
mitigate = make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 75-76 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
Instead of clarifying matters, that only made them more obscure, at least to Newt.
obscure = difficult to understand
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 85-86 |
prudent
2 uses
The deputy had nine children, and his death caused an uproar against whores and gamblers, so much so that Jake thought it prudent to leave town.
prudent = smart (to be cautious)
Definition
Generally prudent means:sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 42-43 |
rein
66 uses
Frog Lip reined in his horse
reined = restrained or controlled (by pulling on straps used to control a horse)
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
Word Statistics
| Book | 66 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 48-49 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
It was made even more interesting a few minutes later when Bolivar walked up and handed in his resignation.
resignation = a document expressing that he is quitting his job
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 40-41 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
And, as in the rainstorms, his misery increased to a pitch and then was gradually replaced by fatigue and resignation.
resignation = acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 66-67 |
reticent
3 uses
Jasper had never been reticent, but now it seemed he had to be talking every waking minute as a means of holding his own fears in balance.
reticent = reluctant to speak
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 36-37 |
scrupulous
2 uses
July took it as a criticism of his work, which he felt he had done scrupulously.
scrupulously = carefully with attention to detail
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13-14 |
speculate
15 uses
She heard the boys speculate that the branding would be done in another week, which meant they were close to starting the drive.
speculate = guess without certainty
Definition
Generally this sense of speculate means:to guess without certainty
or:
to think about or consider something
or (more rarely):
to risk money in a financial venture
or:
to think about or consider something
or (more rarely):
to risk money in a financial venture
Word Statistics
| Book | 15 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19-20 |