balk
1 use
Papi wanted a negocio of his own, that was his dream, but he balked at starting at the bottom, selling hot dogs.
balked = refused to comply
Definition
Generally balk means:to refuse to comply
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
bellicose
1 use
He abstained from thoughts of home, from thoughts of his two bellicose sons and the wife he had nicknamed Melao.
bellicose = inclined to fight
(editor's note: In this context abstained from means "didn't permit himself to have".)
(editor's note: In this context abstained from means "didn't permit himself to have".)
Definition
Generally bellicose means:having or showing a tendency to fight
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
cajole
1 use
Neither Boca Chica nor Ocoa were far but I never wanted to go and it normally took hours of cajoling before I agreed to climb on the autobus.
cajoling = gentle persuasion
Definition
Generally cajole means:gently persuade
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 4 |
carouse
1 use
After work Papi and Chuito caroused in the bars on Smith and Elm Streets and every few nights Papi stayed over in Perth Amboy.†
caroused = having fun with others in a noisy manner while drinking alcohol
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
coherent
1 use
With the radio tuned in and incoherent, he trimmed his mustache.
incoherent = not understandable
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incoherent means not and reverses the meaning of coherent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in incoherent means not and reverses the meaning of coherent. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally coherent means:sensible and clear; or describing parts as fitting together in a consistent or pleasing manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
collateral
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
collateral damage in the battle
Collateral damage, Rafa had said.
collateral damage = unintentional damage to life or property — usually as a result of an act of war
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 2 |
cursory
1 use
Neither of the girls gave me more than a cursory one-two, which didn't bother me.
cursory = hasty (quick)
(editor's note: By "cursory one-two" the author is referring to a "quick look".)
(editor's note: By "cursory one-two" the author is referring to a "quick look".)
Definition
Generally cursory means:quick—not thorough (without attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 2 |
dispassionate
1 use
Mami seemed anxious, in her usual dispassionate way.
dispassionate = unaffected by strong emotion or prejudice
Definition
Generally dispassionate means:unaffected by strong emotion or bias
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 2 |
endure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
endured the pain
Mami acted as if he were a troublesome visitor who had to be endured.
endured = suffered through (or to 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 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
grave
1 use
More than once he fell asleep and woke up to find Nilda out, shopping for medicinal teas, and Milagros over him, a grave owl in her large glasses.†
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
immigrate
7 uses
It was the first time he had moved outside the umbra of his fellow immigrants.
immigrants = people who came from elsewhere to live in the country
Definition
Generally immigrate means:come to live in a new country
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Story 2 |
imminent
1 use
Chuito's imminent departure from the warehouse also emboldened Ramon to act.
imminent = about to occur
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
inevitable
2 uses
Papi began more and more to regard his departure as inevitable.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
inscrutable
1 use
At first he considered saving money by sleeping outside on a bench but he was without guides and the inscrutability of the nearby signs unnerved him.
inscrutability = state of not being understandable
Definition
Generally inscrutable means:impossible to understand — often when finding a person's facial expression or comments mysterious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
intuitive
1 use
Intuitively, I knew how easily distances could harden and become permanent.
intuitively = instinctively (known without having been taught or having needed to determine with logical reasoning)
Definition
Generally intuitive means:based on feeling or instinct rather than conscious reasoning
or:
easy to understand without training or study
or:
easy to understand without training or study
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Story 4 |
optimistic
2 uses
Nilda wasn't optimistic about his plan.
optimistic = expecting good results
Definition
Generally optimistic means:expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
patron
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a patron of the restaurant
...and working as a translator and letter-writer for a local patron.
patron = customer
Definition
Generally this sense of patron means:a customer — especially a regular one
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 10 |
penchant
1 use
Taa also had a penchant for uttering cryptic one-liners about my father, usually after she'd downed a couple of shots of Brugal.
penchant = tendency (something she often did)
Definition
Generally penchant means:a strong liking or tendency
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 4 |
peruse
1 use
The priest takes him to the bookseller and stands in the street, guarding him, while he peruses the shelves.
peruses = examines (looks through)
Definition
Generally peruse means:to read or examine
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Story 9 |
skeptical
1 use
He put his hands over his face but when he removed them she was still staring skeptically.
skeptically = in a doubtful manner (regarding the truth or accuracy of the something)
Definition
Generally skeptical means:doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Story 10 |