aesthetic
1 use
[of the cat, George] He isn't good company, he is not sympathetic, and he has little aesthetic value.
aesthetic = related to beauty or good taste
(editor's note: He is saying that the cat is not attractive.)
(editor's note: He is saying that the cat is not attractive.)
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
atrophy
2 uses
If this people has so atrophied its taste buds as to find tasteless food not only acceptable but desirable, what of the emotional life of the nation?
atrophied = withered or weakened
Definition
Generally atrophy means:to wither or weaken — especially from lack of use
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
cholesterol
1 use
When I came out of it I received the usual lecture about slowing up, losing weight, limiting the cholesterol intake.
cholesterol = a substance found in animal fat that when eaten or produced in large quantities increases the probability of getting heart disease
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
consonant
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
consonant or vowel?
He is the only dog I ever knew who could pronounce the consonant F. This is because his front teeth are crooked,
consonant = a letter of the alphabet that is not a vowel
Definition
Generally this sense of consonant means:a letter of the alphabet (or a speech sound) that is not a vowel
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
consummate
1 use
On the other hand, it might make of him a consummate bore.
consummate = having a quality to an extreme degree
Definition
Generally this sense of consummate means:perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
corpulent
1 use
But it is true that we have exchanged corpulence for starvation, and either one will kill us.
corpulence = having excessive body fat
Definition
Generally corpulent means:with excessive body fat
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
denounce
1 use
But I know that a dozen or half a hundred towns will rise up in injured wrath to denounce me with claims and figures for having much more dreadful weather than Fargo.
denounce = strongly criticize
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
despondent
1 use
I began to formulate a new law describing the relationship of protection to despondency. A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ.
despondency = depression
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
deter
1 use
And now submarines are armed with mass murder, our silly, only way of deterring mass murder.
deterring = trying to prevent
(editor's note: Steinbeck is referring to the strategy of "mutually assured destruction" whereby we hope a country won't attack us with nuclear weapons because if they do, they will not be able to find out submarines which will retaliate in kind.)
(editor's note: Steinbeck is referring to the strategy of "mutually assured destruction" whereby we hope a country won't attack us with nuclear weapons because if they do, they will not be able to find out submarines which will retaliate in kind.)
Definition
Generally deter means:try to prevent; or prevent
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
diligent
1 use
We would choose some article almost certain not to exist there and then diligently try to find it.
diligently = with hard work and care
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
discriminate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discriminating taste
Soon Charley moved downstream and found some discarded bags of garbage, which he went through with discrimination.
discrimination = the process of recognizing differences (in this case, recognizing which items were of interest and which were not)
(editor's note: Discrimination is more commonly seen with a sense that references unfair treatment to people who belong to a specific race, religion or gender.)
(editor's note: Discrimination is more commonly seen with a sense that references unfair treatment to people who belong to a specific race, religion or gender.)
Definition
Generally this sense of discriminate means:to recognize or perceive differences — especially fine distinctions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
distill
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
distill the whisky
The only part of his formula I know is that he uses distilled water for his ice and distills it himself to be sure.†
distills = purified
Definition
Generally this sense of distill means:to make a more pure or concentrated liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors (as is done when making whisky or some petroleum products)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
emerge
8 uses
From my reading, it seemed to me that Texas is emerging as a separate force and...
emerging = appearing; or coming out
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
expedient
2 uses
By the simple expedient of recruiting intelligent and educated men, paying them adequately, and setting them beyond political coercion, many states have succeeded in creating elite corps of men, secure in their dignity and proud of their service.
expedient = practical action
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
facetious
1 use
"You've got a good ear," I said, I thought facetiously.
facetiously = humorously
Definition
Generally facetious means:trivial humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
indicate
9 uses
I strove to look stern, thoughtful, and noncommittal all at once. I pulled at my beard, which is said to indicate concentration.
indicate = express or demonstrate
Definition
Generally indicate means:to show (point out, demonstrate, express, or suggest)
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 40 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
inevitable
7 uses
These stories have an inevitable pattern untroubled by the question, If none return, how is it known what is there?
inevitable = with certainty that it will be there
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
ostentatious
1 use
And the subtlety of their ostentation drew my attention. ... I was reminded of a time ... when I was painting the inside of a cottage... I said, "Neal, run up to Holman's and get a half-gallon of paint and a quart of thinner."
"I'll have to clean up and change my clothes," he said.
"Nuts! Go as you are."
"I can't do it."
"Why not? I would."
Then he said a wise and memorable thing. "You got to be awful rich to dress as bad as you do," he said.
"I'll have to clean up and change my clothes," he said.
"Nuts! Go as you are."
"I can't do it."
"Why not? I would."
Then he said a wise and memorable thing. "You got to be awful rich to dress as bad as you do," he said.
ostentation = display of wealth to impress others
(editor's note: The phrase "subtlety of their ostentation" is unusual since subtlety is normally thought of as the opposite of ostentatious. But Steinbeck explains what he means with the story that follows. This reader thinks Steinbeck is saying that their display of wealth was unintentional rather than intended to attract notice as we usually think of ostentation.)
(editor's note: The phrase "subtlety of their ostentation" is unusual since subtlety is normally thought of as the opposite of ostentatious. But Steinbeck explains what he means with the story that follows. This reader thinks Steinbeck is saying that their display of wealth was unintentional rather than intended to attract notice as we usually think of ostentation.)
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
pernicious
1 use
California searches vehicles for vegetables and fruits which might carry pernicious insects and diseases, and regulations of these are enforced with almost religious intensity.
pernicious = harmful or something spreading harm
Definition
Generally pernicious means:harmful or something spreading harm — especially in a gradual or subtle way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
zenith
2 uses
After the sun passes zenith it is afternoon and quickly evening with a whispering dusk as long as was the morning.
zenith = its highest point
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |