austere
2 uses
He took a vow of silence and leads an austere life at the monastery.
austere = lacking luxury (and stern)
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 48 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 41 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Familiarity breeds contempt.
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 | Chapter 3 |
contentious
6 uses
We started with the most contentious item on the agenda.
contentious = likely to cause disagreement
Definition
Generally contentious means:causing or likely to cause disagreement; or argumentative
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
contract (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
legal contract
She signed the contract.
contract = a written agreement that is enforceable by law
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:an agreement - typically written and enforceable by law
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
2 —1 use as in:
contract the disease
She contracted an STD (sexually transmitted disease).
contracted = acquired (gotten; or picked up)
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:to get — especially in reference to a disease
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
3 —1 use as in:
the metal contracted
When it is cold, the metal in the bridge contracts and the joints are further apart.
contracts = gets shorter
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:when something gets shorter or smaller
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 54 |
deride
4 uses
She relentlessly mocks and derides the younger students.
derides = criticizes with strong disrespect
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend from royalty
She descended from an old Italian noble family.
descended = came from (had as an ancestor)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to have come down a path from the past; i.e., to originate or come from — such as in reference to ancestors or evolutionary origins
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
desolate
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
felt desolate
I heard a low desolate wail.
desolate = very sad
Definition
Generally this sense of desolate means:sad or miserable—and often lonely
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
Don't give in to despair.
despair = a feeling of hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 41 |
disparage
3 uses
She has a reputation for disparaging the efforts of her co-workers.
disparaging = criticizing or making seem less important
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
divine
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
Her pies are divine.
divine = wonderful
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
inhibit
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
inhibited the growth of...
The drug inhibits the spread of cancer.
inhibits = slows or prevents
Definition
Generally this sense of inhibit means:to limit the activity of someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
lilt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an Irish lilt
She has an appealing Irish lilt.
lilt = accent (or way of speaking)
Definition
Generally this sense of lilt means:a way of speaking, singing, or making music — typically cheerful, lively or pleasing — sometimes with the pitch of the voice rising and falling
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
philanthropy
2 uses
Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
refute
1 use
The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments.
refuted = argued against
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
I know you're unhappy there, but don't submit your resignation until you find a better job.
resignation = a document expressing that someone is quitting a 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 | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = (accepted) something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
taciturn
2 uses
She is taciturn by nature, but people like her once they get to know her.
taciturn = with a tendency to be reserved and not to talk
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |