abstract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abstract thought
We all agree that we want what's "best for the country", but that is an abstract concept and we cannot agree on which specific laws should be passed.
abstract = of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
comprehend
3 uses
I don't think she comprehends how dangerous this has become.
comprehends = fully understands
Definition
Generally comprehend means:to understand something — especially to understand it completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
convey
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
convey her thoughts
She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.
convey = communicate or express
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
deliberate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
She didn't forget. She deliberately skipped the meeting.
deliberately = intentionally
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to do something intentionally (do it on purpose)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
2 —1 use as in:
a deliberate thinker
She is a deliberate thinker—not the fastest, but always thorough.
deliberate = careful and slow
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:done with great care — often slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
enigma
3 uses
As Churchill said about Russia, it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
enigma = something mysterious that seems unexplainable
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
inclined
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
I climbed down the incline.
incline = something that is at an angle (in this case, probably sloping land)
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
innocuous
1 use
She made some innocuous comments while being careful not to hurt anyone's feelings.
innocuous = unlikely to harm or disturb
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
She was being ironic when she said she couldn't wait to see you again.
ironic = saying one thing, while meaning the opposite
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
meticulous
2 uses
She is a meticulous researcher who takes pride in a thorough job.
meticulous = treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
monotonous
2 uses
We hope to replace people with robots for the most monotonous work.
monotonous = lacking variety and boring
Definition
Generally monotonous means:lacking in variety — typically boring
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
nocturnal
1 use
The mice are nocturnal, so we never see them, but we see their droppings.
nocturnal = active during the night
Definition
Generally nocturnal means:active during the night; or relating to night
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
prodigious
1 use
As a child, Mozart had a prodigious talent.
prodigious = enormous
Definition
Generally prodigious means:enormous; or far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
redundant
1 use
What is clarifying for one reader can be a redundant distraction for another.
redundant = more than is needed
Definition
Generally redundant means:more than is needed — often something that is unnecessarily repeated
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
It wasn't her first choice, but she accepted it with resignation.
resignation = (accepted) something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
reticent
1 use
She was reticent initially, but eventually she opened up.
reticent = reluctant to speak
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
scrutiny
1 use
She scrutinized her reflection in the mirror.
scrutinized = looked very carefully at
(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 7 |
transparent
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
transparent shower door
The transparent shower door shows water spots.
transparent = capable of being seen through with clarity
Definition
Generally this sense of transparent means:able to be seen through with clarity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
undulate
2 uses
A sidewinding snake uses less energy to cover the same distance as a laterally undulating snake uses.
undulating = moving with smooth wave-like movements
Definition
Generally undulate means:a smooth wave-like motion (physical or auditory)
or:
having a wavy or rippled form or surface
or:
having a wavy or rippled form or surface
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
unobtrusive
2 uses
The web site has a lot of ads, but they are unobtrusively placed on the far right of the screen.
unobtrusively = fitting in so as not to attract much attention or disturb
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |