agitate
1 use
The water was quiet, the color of pewter, marked with purple stobs, although where the sun shone right on it the lake seemed to be in violent agitation, almost boiling.†
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
beckon
1 use
Miss Lizzie beckoned, and she came.
beckoned = called (to come by using a hand gesture or a nod)
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
clamor
1 use
He ceased or exhausted study and came to the tent opening again and stood leaning on one raised arm, with his weight on one foot—just looking out into the night, which was clamorous.†
clamorous = loud noise and/or persistent demands — especially from human voice
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
cleave
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
cleave through
Nina went and stood under the big bosom that started down, at the neck of her dress, like a big cloven white hide.†
cloven = split (or divided in two)
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 |
concur
1 use
But however Nina and Jinny Love made faces at they knew not what, Easter concurred; she thoroughly agreed.†
concurred = agreed
Definition
Generally this sense of concur means:to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
despise
2 uses
He despised their predicaments, most of all their not being able to swim.†
despised = disliked strongly and looked down upon
Definition
Generally despise means:to dislike strongly and to look down upon with disrespect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
direct
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
They felt it directly behind them, the warmth flat as a hand.†
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
elated
1 use
It came to the Morgana girls with a feeling of elation: the ring was pure dirt.†
elation = intense feeling of happiness and excitement
(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 elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
endure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
endured the pain
Nina and Jinny Love lay speechless, doubling for themselves the already strong odor of Sweet Dreams Mosquito Oil, in a trance of endurance through the hour's siesta.†
endurance = the ability to suffer through (or put up with) something difficult or unpleasant
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
entwined
2 uses
Entwined, they stared—orphan-like themselves—past Easter's cot and through the tent opening as down a long telescope turned on an incandescent star, and saw the spiral of Elberta's hat return, and saw Exum jump over a stick and on the other side do a little dance in a puff of dust.†
entwined = interconnected (not easily separated) or twisted together
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
He pulled Easter his way, away from Miss Moody—who, however, had got Easter's sash ends wrung out—and then, with a turn, hid her from Mrs. Gruenwald.†
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 |
indifferent
1 use
Her indifference made Nina fall back and listen to the spring running with an endless sound and see how the July light like purple and yellow birds kept flickering under the trees when the wind blew.†
indifference = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
initiative
1 use
Nina, taking a strange and heady initiative, rose to her feet.†
initiative = the ability and tendency to determine what should be done and to start doing it without instruction; or to start something
Definition
Generally initiative means:the ability and tendency to determine what should be done and to start doing it without instruction
or:
to start something
or:
to start something
The exact meaning of starting something depends upon the context. For example:
- "She did it on her own initiative." — started it without anyone telling her to
- "She seized the initiative." — started actions that force others to react to her rather than her having to react to them
- "the peace initiative" — a plan or the start of actions to bring about something
- "a ballot initiative" — a proposed law that is started by citizen petition rather than by the legislature (applicable in many jurisdictions such as California)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
manifest
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
manifest destiny
That was Miss Moody in still a third manifestation.†
manifestation = demonstration (something made obvious or shown)
(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 this sense of manifest means:obvious; or to make obvious; or to show or demonstrate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
martyr
1 use
From the beginning his martyred presence seriously affected them.†
martyred = killed or suffered due to holding to principles
Definition
Generally martyr means:someone who dies or suffers to uphold principles — especially someone killed for refusing to renounce their religion, or someone who commits a suicide death in the name of their religion
or:
someone who suffers a great deal
or:
someone who suffers a great deal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
minute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
minute size
The sand was coarse like beads and full of minute shells, some shaped exactly like bugles.†
minute = small
Definition
Generally this sense of minute means:small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
nevertheless
1 use
Nevertheless, standing there with the tent slanting over him and his arm knobby as it reached up and his head bent a little, he looked rather at loose ends.†
nevertheless = in spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally nevertheless means:in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
persistent
1 use
It was Exum persistent as a little bug, inching along the foot of the swamp wall, carrying around a fishing cane and minnow can, fishing around the bend from their side of the lake, catching all kinds of things.†
persistent = continuing — especially despite difficulties or opposition
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
precarious
1 use
Looking out for an instant from precarious holds, they took in sharply for memory's sake that berated figure, the mask formed and set on the face, one hand displayed, one jealously clawed under the waist, as if a secret handful had been groveled for, the spread and spotted legs.†
precarious = unsafe or unsure
Definition
Generally precarious means:unsafe or in danger of getting worse — especially in danger of falling
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
recollect
1 use
In Nina's head, where the world was still partly leisurely, came a recollected scene: birds on a roof under a cherry tree; they were drunk.†
recollected = remembered
Definition
Generally recollect means:to remember — especially experiences from long ago
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |