belligerent
1 use
He strutted around with a belligerent and tough attitude.
belligerent = hostile (as though eager to fight)
Definition
Generally belligerent means:hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
bewilder
2 uses
He was bewildered and mad.
bewildered = confused
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
cleave
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
cleave through
The keen edge cleaved through the tough skin.
cleaved = cut through
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to split something — especially with violent force
or:
to cut through something
or:
to cut through something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
commotion
4 uses
Just then I heard growling, and a commotion off to one side.
commotion = noisy disturbance
Definition
Generally commotion means:a disturbance — typically noisy
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
I was firmly convinced that a smart old coon had deliberately poked that stick in my trap.
deliberately = intentionally
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to do something intentionally (do it on purpose)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
dumfounded
2 uses
Grandpa was dumbfounded. He tried to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
dumbfounded = so surprised he was made temporarily speechless
Definition
Generally dumfounded means:very surprised - often too surprised to know what to say or do
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
entangled
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
entangled in the branches
One could see that the rope had been gnawed in two. The frayed end had become entangled in a fair-sized dead limb.
entangled = caught in
Definition
Generally this sense of entangled means:caught in
or:
twisted together into a confusing mass
or:
twisted together into a confusing mass
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
fidget
2 uses
Hearing the word beat, Grandpa began to fidget.
fidget = make small restless movements
Definition
Generally fidget means:to make small restless movements
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
foliage
3 uses
Then I saw them—two burning, yellow eyes—staring at me from the shadowy foliage of the tree.
foliage = plant leaves
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
heed
1 use
Little Ann would jump and bounce and try to get Old Dan to play, but the solemn old boy just jogged along, heedless of everything.
heedless = ignoring (not paying attention)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in heedless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in heedless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
Definition
Generally heed means:pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested — especially with regard to a warning or other advice
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
limber
4 uses
He just lay there in the sunshine, all stretched out and limber as a rag.
limber = flexible (capable of moving, bending, and stretching easily)
Definition
Generally this sense of limber means:of a person's body: flexible (capable of moving, bending, and stretching easily)
or:
readily adaptable — especially of someone's mind
or:
readily adaptable — especially of someone's mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
lithe
1 use
The long, lithe body dipped low to the ground.
lithe = thin with flexibility and grace of movement
Definition
Generally lithe means:a graceful, flexible body — often implying thinness
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
or:
graceful, flexible body movement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
paralysis
5 uses
She made an effort to stand but couldn't. Her muscles were paralyzed and the blood had long since ceased to flow.
paralyzed = unable to move
Definition
Generally paralysis means:loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
or:
inability to act or make a decision
or:
inability to act or make a decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
passage
1 use
I remembered a passage from the Bible my mother had read to us: "God helps those who help themselves."†
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
salve
1 use
With a bottle of peroxide and a can of salve I would doctor their wounds.
salve = cream or liquid that is put onto skin to make it feel better or heal
Definition
Generally salve means:a cream or liquid put onto skin to make it feel better or heal
or:
anything that eases pain or anxiety; or the act of doing such
or:
anything that eases pain or anxiety; or the act of doing such
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
sober
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sobering thought
In a sober voice my father said, "Some day you may have to live in town."
sober = serious
Definition
Generally this sense of sobering means:serious; or making one serious or calm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
solemn
2 uses
In a solemn voice, he said, "We won't talk about this again."
solemn = very serious
Definition
Generally solemn means:in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
sprain
4 uses
I don't think it's broken, but it sure is a bad sprain.
sprain = injury to the ligaments of a joint caused by stretching them too far
Definition
Generally sprain means:injury to the ligaments of a joint caused by stretching them too far — most commonly injuring the ankle
(ligaments are the tough, fibrous bands that connect bones across joints)
(ligaments are the tough, fibrous bands that connect bones across joints)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
twilight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
pink clouds in a twilight sky
I was a proud boy as I walked along in the twilight of the evening.
twilight = the time of day between daylight and darkness (in this case, just after sunset; but in other usage, it could be just before sunrise)
Definition
Generally this sense of twilight means:the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
waver
3 uses
The red fern wavered and danced to the music of the hills.
wavered = moved back and forth
Definition
Generally waver means:to move back and forth (shake or quiver)
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |