alacrity
1 use
...and came with unusual alacrity towards the door;
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
apathy
1 use
He waited apathetically, and the roof dripped behind him.
apathetically = without interest or enthusiasm
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.4 |
appalling
11 uses
It was appallingly complicated.
appallingly = terribly
Definition
Generally appalling means:shockingly terrible or horrible
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
blasphemy
1 use
Old staid members of the congregation had sometimes raised objections: it was blasphemous, they said, to make this guy out of Our Lord's betrayer; but he had said nothing and let the practice continue - it seemed to him a good thing that the world's traitor should be made a figure of fun.
blasphemous = disrespectful of something considered sacred
Definition
Generally blasphemy means:something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
your candid opinion
Her candour made allowances for nobody:
candour = honesty and directness
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use candor.)
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use candor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
complacent
7 uses
He had done nothing to shake her complacency.
complacency = contentedness (satisfied and unworried)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.3 |
contempt
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
The voice said with contempt, "You believers are all the same."
contempt = lack of 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
contrite
12 uses
I shall feel contrition and be forgiven:
contrition = sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
(editor's note: This book also often uses the phrase "Act of Contrition", referring to a Catholic prayer expressing sorrow or regret for having sinned.)
(editor's note: This book also often uses the phrase "Act of Contrition", referring to a Catholic prayer expressing sorrow or regret for having sinned.)
Definition
Generally contrite means:feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
despair
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
do not despair
He knew he was in the grip of the unforgivable sin, despair.
despair = giving up hope
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:to lose hope
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
diffident
1 use
They had something in common - a kind of diffidence.
diffidence = hesitancy and unassertiveness
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
disdain
1 use
He stood above her disdainfully with...
disdainfully = with a lack of respect; or with a sense of superiority
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
malicious
8 uses
Three of four faces looked at him with malicious amusement:
malicious = wanting to see others suffer
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.3 |
martyr
24 uses
He was one of the martyrs of the Church.
martyrs = people who suffer for the sake of principle
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 | 24 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
obstinate
3 uses
It said roughly and obstinately, "A man isn't afraid of a thing like that."
obstinately = stubbornly unyielding to the wishes of others
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
penitent
4 uses
penitence was the fruit of long training and discipline:
penitence = feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
pious
24 uses
1 —24 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
"Young Juan," the mother read, "from his earliest years was noted for his humility and piety."
piety = highly religious and moral behavior
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
plateau
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
found on the plateau
There was no shelter anywhere on this plateau.
plateau = high land that is reasonably flat
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.4 |
repentance
11 uses
He needed a confessor to draw his mind slowly down the drab passages which led to grief and repentance.
repentance = to feel regret for having done wrong and to desire to be a better person in the future
Definition
Generally repentance means:the feeling or expression of regret for having done something wrong with a firm decision to be a better person in the future
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.3 |
resolve
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
I hereby resolve never more to offend Thee ...
resolve = firmly decide
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
sullen
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sullen mood
The heavy brown eyes stared sullenly back at him.
sullenly = in a gloomy manner; or showing a bad mood
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:being unhappy and withdrawn
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |