abhor
1 use
The child had to make up for her mother's abhorrence, to keep her mother as kind as she really was.†
abhorrence = disgust (feeling of complete dislike and revulsion)
Definition
Generally abhor means:to hate or detest something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
accord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
done of her own accord
All by itself, of its own accord, it might let fly its little door and start up.†
own accord = own mind — voluntarily (without anyone asking)
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
agitate
4 uses
Yet in the shade of the vacant house, though all looked still, there was agitation.†
agitation = the act of stirring up (emotionally or physically); or a state of emotional unrest
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
apprehensive
1 use
The quartet, with four dresses in view at one time and in close conjunction, pushing one another, made Miss Eckhart especially apprehensive.†
apprehensive = nervous or worried
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
arbitrary
1 use
Miss Eckhart tried all those things and was strict to the last in the way she gave all her love to Virgie Rainey and none to anybody else, the way she was strict in music; and for Miss Eckhart love was just as arbitrary and one-sided as music teaching.†
arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
beckon
2 uses
Ladies waved and beckoned with their fans, conversation opened up.
beckoned = called (to come nearer by using a hand gesture)
Definition
Generally beckon means:to call — typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
concerto
1 use
By now, it was not likely she could play the opening movement of her Liszt concerto.†
concerto = music written for orchestra and one (or more) solo instruments
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
crucial
1 use
But with Fir Elise the third time, her uncritical self of the crucial present, this Wednesday afternoon, slowly came forward—as if called on.†
crucial = very important
Definition
Generally crucial means:very important or necessary — often because it determines how something else will turn out
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
despise
4 uses
At last he sighed, stretched his toes—so clean he despised the very sight of his feet—and brought himself up on his elbow to the window.†
despised = disliked strongly and looked down upon
Definition
Generally despise means:to dislike strongly and to look down upon with disrespect
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
direct
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
Miss Eckhart, achieving silence, stood in the shadowy spot directly under the chandelier.†
directly = close, or in a straight line
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
distort
1 use
Tears ran down her bright, distorted cheeks every time one of the children coming into the studio picked the Billikin up.†
distorted = altered in an unnatural or untrue way
Definition
Generally distort means:to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
With her gaze at a judicious distance from the colors she dipped in, Cassie was now for a little time far away, perhaps up in September in college, where, however, tie-and-dye scarves would be out-of-uniform, though something to unfold and show.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
indignant
1 use
When he saw the door prized open—the stretched screen billowing from being too freely leaned against—and let the people in, Loch felt the old indignation rise up.†
indignation = anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
infernal
3 uses
It sounded worse than the infernal regions.†
infernal = very bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell or the underworld
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
persecution
1 use
She often took the very pose of that inventive and persecuted little heroine who coped with people she thought were witches and ogres (alasl they were not)—feet apart, head aslant, eyes glancing up sideways, ears cocked; but you could not tell whether Virgie would boldly interrupt her enemies or run off to her own devices with a forgetful smile on her lips.†
persecuted = treated very badly and unfairly
Definition
Generally persecution means:very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
persist
1 use
Loch lay back and let it persist.†
persist = continue
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
persistent
1 use
Virgie, her face hardening under the progress of her advancing piece, could manage the most oblivious look of all, though Miss Eckhart might strike harder and harder at the persistent flies.†
persistent = continuing — especially despite difficulties or opposition
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
tangible
1 use
Metallic and misty together, tangible and intangible, splendid and fairylike, the haze of his invisible wings mysterious, like the ring around the moon—had anyone ever tried to catch him?†
tangible = capable of being touched, or easily understood so there is no question of its value or reality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
torment
2 uses
You could see torment in her regard of the fly.†
torment = to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
yield
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
yield to pressure
It ran perfectly through her head, vanishing as it went, one line yielding to the next, like a torch race.†
yielding = giving way
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |