agitate
1 use
They kept at it for a while, Peewee agitating until I felt that for him it was just some kind of sport. Find somebody big and mean-looking to mess with and then push your luck.
agitating = stirring up (in this case, emotionally)
Definition
Generally agitate means:to stir up or shake — emotionally (as when people are angered or upset) or physically (as when a washing machine cleans clothes)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
anguish
2 uses
There were tears in his eyes, but his mouth was twisted in hate and anguish and confusion.
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
contingent
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the Canadian contingent
They left a small headquarters contingent behind as they moved out.
contingent = a sub-group united by something in common
Definition
Generally this sense of contingent means:a sub-group united by something in common
in various senses, including:
- a squad of soldiers sent to do a job
- members of an association at a convention of many associations
- all the women at a meeting with women and men
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
dominate
1 use
She looked like a little doll with dark black eyes that dominated a round, brown face.
dominated = were most conspicuous (on)
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
hallowed
2 uses
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name ... I thought the words.
hallowed = widely respected and revered
Definition
Generally hallowed means:of something declared or believed to be holy
or:
widely respected and revered over time
or:
widely respected and revered over time
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
harass
2 uses
The harassment of the hamlets and villages is part of the whole movement.
harassment = persistently annoy
or:
repeatedly attack to weaken or hinder
or:
repeatedly attack to weaken or hinder
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
hippie
5 uses
"Yeah, but you said he was a white hippie before," Peewee said.
hippie = member of the counterculture that first became prevalent in the early 1960's in San Francisco — associated with long hair, illegal drugs, casual sex, and opposition to violence.
Definition
Generally hippie means:member of the counterculture that first became prevalent in the early 1960's in San Francisco — associated with long hair, illegal drugs, casual sex, and opposition to violence.
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
inclined
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
I felt around me to see if I was on an incline,
incline = to be at an angle
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
malaria
7 uses
A medic was handing out malaria pills.
malaria = a tropical disease spread by mosquitoes that, while nonexistent in wealthy nations, strikes hundreds of millions of people a year in developing nations — killing over a million each year
more technically: an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
more technically: an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
pacify
13 uses
These were the people we had come to save, to pacify.
pacify = calm someone who is angry; or establish peace
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
perimeter
9 uses
The perimeter of the camp was marked by intricate patterns of barbed wire barriers.
perimeter = the outer edge
Definition
Generally perimeter means:the outer edge
The exact meaning of perimeter can depend upon its context. For example:
- "Stay inside the defensive perimeter." — the outer edges of the area that is defended
- "It is common on the city's perimeter." — the outer edges of the city
- "What is the perimeter of the square?" — the sum of the length of the sides of a geometric shape
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
probe
2 uses
The Congs we were after had been probing along our defenses, looking for soft spots.
probing = investigating or exploring
Definition
Generally probe means:to investigate; or an investigation
or:
any of various instrument used for investigation
or:
any of various instrument used for investigation
instruments such as:
- an instrument to measure electronic voltage
- a surgical tool used for examination
- an unmanned spacecraft used for exploration
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
protrude
2 uses
There was a shard of metal protruding from Jenkins' chest.
protruding = sticking out
Definition
Generally protrude means:to stick out from
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
ration
5 uses
Peewee looked out over the trucks, which were mostly packed with crates of rations and supplies.
rations = fixed portions of food given as a share
Definition
Generally ration means:verb: to restrict the amount of something each person can have — such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage, or when more is wanted than is available
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
revere
1 use
The conversation was quiet, almost reverent.
reverent = with feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
salve
9 uses
Brew was putting salve on his feet.
salve = a 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 | 9 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
sullen
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sullen sky
A slight wind picked up and made the trees that grew in sullen clusters along the ridge sway menacingly.
sullen = dark (gloomy)
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:darkened by clouds; or the color of a gloomy sky
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
suppress
1 use
The first fire came from the flank. Two squads of ARVNs moved out to suppress it.
suppress = try to keep it under control
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control
The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example:
- "suppressed the revolution" — to stop others from doing something by force
- "suppressed a smile" — kept something from happening
- "suppressed the story" — kept news from spreading
- "suppressed her fear" — controlled an emotion
- "suppressed the memory" — avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
theology
2 uses
They said I can probably get into the theology school there
theology = the study of religion
Definition
Generally theology means:the study of religion; or a particular system or school of religious beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
wither
1 use
Small, withered women, skin creased over onto itself; dark, life-weary eyes that had seen everything.
withered = shriveled (wrinkled)
Definition
Generally wither means:to shrivel (wrinkle and contract — usually from lack of water)
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |