accord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 10 uses
1 —9 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
According to a park pamphlet, "During the peak of the Perseids, around August 12th, hundreds of 'shooting' or 'falling' stars streak the sky every hour."
according to = as stated by
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
2 —1 use as in:
done of her own accord
She stopped talking two days before her voice faded of its own accord.
own accord = own mind (in this case: as though her voice had a mind of it's own, and it decided on its own to fade without her having any influence in the decision)
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
aesthetic
1 use
Most people did not appreciate the aesthetics of turnips, Ruth thought as she chose five good ones, whereas she loved them, their crunchiness, the way they absorbed the flavor of whatever they were immersed in, gravy or pickling juice.
aesthetics = beautiful and tasteful qualities
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
capricious
1 use
The tip bent slightly downward, curtsied, and then, as if blown by capricious winds, swept to the right, paused, turned a half-step to the left and rose.
capricious = unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
contrite
1 use
Perhaps she too would have reacted like her mother, unable to restrain the impulse to scold until the child acted beaten and contrite.
contrite = sorry (feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense)
Definition
Generally contrite means:feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
diligent
1 use
Ruth thought she was being diligent by having her mother over for dinner and trying to hire a part-time housekeeper.
diligent = working hard with care
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
distend
1 use
...that's why she's distended like a summer gourd.
distended = extended or swollen
(editor's note: A gourd is a fruit with a thick hard skin. Usually it is large.)
(editor's note: A gourd is a fruit with a thick hard skin. Usually it is large.)
Definition
Generally distend means:to extend — especially the swelling outward of a part of the body; e.g., the stomach
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |
eccentric
1 use
Now that Ruth could no longer blame her mother's problems on the eccentricities of her personality, she saw the signs of dementia everywhere.
eccentricities = unconventional or strange behaviors
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
elated
2 uses
...she felt relieved and elated that she had not been caught.
elated = a feeling of happiness and excitement
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
frugal
2 uses
She was too frugal to take a rickshaw home to Lantern Market Street, only to have to turn around and come back.
frugal = careful not to waste money
Definition
Generally frugal means:avoiding waste — typically being careful not to spend much money
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
immortal
36 uses
And because the dead tree was no longer immortal, it was no longer famous, nor was our village.
immortal = living forever
Definition
Generally immortal means:living or existing forever
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
or:
someone famous throughout history
or:
someone who will never die — such as a mythological god
Word Statistics
| Book | 36 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
interloper
1 use
Even though she had met Art after the divorce was nearly final, Marty and Arlene probably saw her as the interloper, the reason Miriam and Art did not reconcile.
interloper = someone or something that, without invitation, inserts itself
Definition
Generally interloper means:someone or something that, without invitation, inserts itself — such as an uninvited guest at a party or a species that invades non-native territory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
listless
2 uses
In the late afternoon, we approached Peking. I instantly revived from the listlessness of the heat and my hunger.
listlessness = lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
(editor's note: Peking is the old name of Beijing — the capital of China.)
(editor's note: Peking is the old name of Beijing — the capital of China.)
Definition
Generally listless means:lacking energy and normal enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
nonchalant
3 uses
Ruth was shaking but shrugged as nonchalantly as she could.
nonchalantly = calmly (trying to appear unconcerned)
Definition
Generally nonchalant means:calm in manner — appearing unconcerned
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
perceptive
2 uses
Ruth was amazed that her mother was so perceptive.
perceptive = good at noticing things
Definition
Generally perceptive means:to be better at noticing or realizing things than most people
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
petulant
1 use
She heard LuLing call to her: "Why so late?" Seated in her brown vinyl easy chair, LuLing looked like a petulant child on a throne.
petulant = unreasonably annoyed or upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
British people were crazy for that kind of maid—pious, refined, and clean.
pious = highly religious and moral
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7 |
ravine
17 uses
The cliff broke off again last year during the rainstorms, a ledge the length of five men. Collapsed all at once and buried everything along that side of the ravine with rocks and dirt three stories deep.
ravine = a deep narrow steep-sided valley
Definition
Generally ravine means:a deep narrow steep-sided valley — especially one formed by running water
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.1 |
resolute
2 uses
At times, she became resolute in wanting to be exactly the opposite of her mother.
resolute = firm (in purpose or belief)
Definition
Generally resolute means:firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
scrutiny
1 use
Ruth turned and saw her mother scrutinizing her face.
scrutinizing = looking at very carefully
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize.)
Definition
Generally scrutiny means:careful examination of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |