belligerent
2 uses
He was very happy, he wrote and in belligerently underlined words threatened that he intended to stay that way.
belligerently = with an attitude of one 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 38 |
complacent
1 use
"Not to be able to have children anymore ... Anyhow," she added complacently, "I'm nowhere near the change because I'm that way again."
complacently = with contentment (unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 47 |
contempt
7 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
But Ben was contemptuous of non-college lawyers
contemptuous = lacked 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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
disdain
2 uses
So in the warm summer days the lonesome child sat on her stoop and pretended disdain for the group of children playing on the sidewalk.
disdain = a lack of respect or interest (because they are not good enough)
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 38 |
dissent
1 use
They informed her of trouble-making office rumors, expecting that she would relay them to the readers and create dissension.
dissension = disagreement
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44 |
dubious
2 uses
"If that's what you want..." she began, dubiously.
dubiously = doubtfully
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 45 |
fastidious
1 use
Fastidious Johnny had bought his own cup, emulating men who were in better circumstances.
fastidious = excessively concerned 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 36 |
futile
6 uses
She stood in desperate futility, helplessly enduring the indignity.
futility = unable to do anything about it
Definition
Generally futile means:effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 44 |
midwife
18 uses
"It's time to get the midwife," Sissy said.
midwife = a woman skilled in aiding the delivery of babies
Definition
Generally midwife means:a non-doctor who practices the profession of assisting women in childbirth; or to assist in childbirth
or:
someone who helps bring something into existence; or the act of helping to bring something into existence
or:
someone who helps bring something into existence; or the act of helping to bring something into existence
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 50 |
muse
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
her musings
Everyone has a secret life, she mused.
mused = thought
Definition
Generally this sense of muse means:reflect (think) deeply on a subject — perhaps aloud
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
persist
5 uses
"I'd look just like Irene Castle if I had short hair," persisted Francie.
persisted = continued (despite opposition)
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
pneumonia
9 uses
It would mean a lot to me if I could tell them that their father died of pneumonia alone.
pneumonia = a lung disease
Definition
Generally pneumonia means:respiratory disease characterized by inflammation and accumulation of fluid in the lungs; caused by infectious agents (e.g., viruses or bacteria) or by inhalation of certain irritants
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 36 |
poignant
6 uses
With poignancy, Sissy realized that he was growing up.
poignancy = deeply felt emotion — perhaps sadness
Definition
Generally poignant means:sharp or intense — typically arousing deep emotion such as sadness, but possibly having or creating a sharp smell, taste, or insight
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 44 |
Protestant
11 uses
He knew that Sissy believed in the Church...any Church, Catholic, or Protestant;
Protestant = any of the Western churches that separated from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation
Definition
Generally Protestant means:a member of or relating to any of the Western churches that separated from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
resignation (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
all of whom expected the city reading job when and if Miss Armstrong resigned.
resigned = quit (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 44 |
2 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
There was resigned regret that the new flat was not as nice as their Lorimer Street home.
resigned = accepted 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 | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
revere
2 uses
She revered God and loved Jesus, but she understood why people often turned away from these Two.
revered = regarded with feelings of deep respect and awe
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
scrupulous
2 uses
The flat was scrupulously clean;
scrupulously = carefully and 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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
Shakespeare
21 uses
Before they went to bed, Francie and Neeley had to read a page of the Bible and a page from Shakespeare.
Shakespeare = author widely regarded as the greatest in the English language and whose works include Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet
Definition
Generally this sense of Shakespeare means:English dramatist and poet frequently cited as the greatest writer in the English language and who wrote such works as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1564-1616)
Word Statistics
| Book | 21 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
wither
7 uses
Her right arm had been horribly burned and she grew up with its skin withered and purple.
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |