avenge
2 uses
In the story, she wants to avenge the murder of her brother.
avenge = take revenge for
Definition
Generally avenge means:take revenge for a perceived wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
beckon
1 use
I should be studying, but television beckons me.
beckons = calls (in this case by being desirable and inviting)
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 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
content
2 uses
She grew more contented with age.
contented = satisfied
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 54 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
emerge
1 use
China recently emerged as a world power.
emerged = came out (became)
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
exasperated
1 use
She was exasperated by his teasing.
exasperated = greatly annoyed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
farce
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the meeting was a farce
The peace talks have become a farce.
farce = a situation that is so badly organized or going so poorly that it seems ridiculous
Definition
Generally this sense of farce means:a situation that is so badly organized or going so poorly that it seems ridiculous
or:
a situation that is made to look like one thing, but is really another
or more specifically:
a situation that is supposed to be fair, but is completely unfair
or:
a situation that is made to look like one thing, but is really another
or more specifically:
a situation that is supposed to be fair, but is completely unfair
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
flourish (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
the business is flourishing
The children are flourishing.
flourishing = growing or developing well
Definition
Generally this sense of flourish means:to thrive (grow or develop well)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
dismissed them with a flourish
She entered with a great flourish.
flourish = showy gesture
Definition
Generally this sense of flourish means:a showy gesture
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
glower
1 use
Shake hands and stop glowering at each other.
glowering = staring angrily
Definition
Generally glower means:to stare angrily
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
hypnotize
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
hypnotized to try to remember
I want to be hypnotized and given the suggestion that I don't like to snack on fattening foods.
hypnotized = put into a trance-like state of focused concentration and heightened suggestibility (a state of hypnosis)
Definition
Generally this sense of hypnotize means:to put someone into a state of hypnosis (a trance-like state of focused concentration and heightened suggestibility)
(Heightened suggestibility means that the hypnotized person is more inclined to accept and act on suggestions of the hypnotist.)
(Heightened suggestibility means that the hypnotized person is more inclined to accept and act on suggestions of the hypnotist.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
mock
1 use
I will not permit the defendant to make a mockery of this trial.
mockery = something that is ridiculous
Definition
Generally mock means:making fun of
or:
not real
or:
not real
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 31 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
poise
1 use
She has great charm and great poise.
poise = composure (calm confidence — even when under pressure)
Definition
Generally poise means:calm and in control — as in "shows poise under pressure"
and/or:
prepared for action — as in "poised for action" — (sometimes suspended or hovering as in "a finger poised over the mute button")
and/or:
confident and graceful in movement — as in "the poise and balance of a dancer"
and/or:
prepared for action — as in "poised for action" — (sometimes suspended or hovering as in "a finger poised over the mute button")
and/or:
confident and graceful in movement — as in "the poise and balance of a dancer"
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
preoccupied
1 use
The matter preoccupies her completely—she cannot think of anything else
preoccupies = takes up the attention of
Definition
Generally preoccupied means:busy thinking about or doing something so that other things are not noticed or done
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
pummel
1 use
The strikers plan to pummel anyone who tries to cross their picket line.
pummel = to hit repeatedly
Definition
Generally pummel means:to hit repeatedly — usually with fists
or:
to damage seriously
or:
to defeat decisively
or:
to damage seriously
or:
to defeat decisively
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
reminiscence
1 use
Her best-selling reminiscences of life in rural Mississippi.†
reminiscences = things remembered from the past
Definition
Generally reminiscence means:something remembered from the past; or the act of remembering it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 3 |
resurrection
2 uses
it produced a resurrection of hope†
resurrection = to rise again after failure, inactivity, or disuse
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
Shakespeare
2 uses
As Shakespeare said, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."
Shakespeare = author widely regarded as the greatest in the English language and whose works include Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet
Definition
Generally this sense of Shakespeare means:English dramatist and poet frequently cited as the greatest writer in the English language and who wrote such works as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1564-1616)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
sparse
1 use
Trees are sparse in that region.
sparse = not dense; or few in number and spread out
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
stifle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
stifling the urge
These excessive rules that stifle creativity.
stifle = suppress
Definition
Generally this sense of stifle means:to suppress (prevent something or decrease its development) — often political freedom
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
vertical
1 use
The architect used long vertical lines to pull the eye upward.
vertical = oriented straight up and down (90 degrees relative to the floor)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |