abstract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abstract thought
Beyond the glass, however, there is no scenery, only an uncolored space like a pure abstract idea.
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
Disoriented and confused though she may be, she is exerting all her strength to comprehend the logic underlying this place-the basis of its existence.
comprehend = understand
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
The camera draws back slowly to convey an image of the entire room.
convey = show
Definition
Generally this sense of convey means: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 felt that you had deliberately put a kind of distance between the two of you.
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
He performs each movement deliberately.
deliberately = slowly with great care
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
Could she have succeeded in escaping from that enigmatic room?
enigmatic = mysterious and seeming unexplainable
Definition
Generally enigma means: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
Now these were huge, heavy boulders, so rolling them was hard, and pushing them up an incline took an enormous effort.
incline = an angle
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
We are inside a Denny's. Unremarkable but adequate lighting; expressionless decor and dinnerware; floor plan designed to the last detail by management engineers; innocuous background music at low volume; staff meticulously trained to deal with customers by the book:
innocuous = unlikely to disturb
Definition
Generally innocuous means: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
...in Alphaville, you're not allowed to have deep feelings. So there's nothing like love. No contradictions, no irony. They do everything according to numerical formulas.
irony = saying one thing while meaning something else
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
...staff meticulously trained to deal with customers by the book:
meticulously = in a manner that treats details with great care
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
monotonous
2 uses
The only sound is the monotonous hum of the heater on the ceiling.
monotonous = lacking in variety
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
a cautious nocturnal creature that runs on electricity.
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
This is a gigantic city, after all, and it produces a prodigious volume of garbage.
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
Redundant though it may sound, we are sheer point of view. We cannot influence things in any way.
redundant = more than is needed (in this case, not necessary to repeat or say aloud)
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
Eventually she tires of directing her speech outward and closes her mouth in apparent resignation.
resignation = acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable
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
...whatever the differences in their situations, both types are equally reticent. Even the young couple who stop at a drink vending machine, tightly pressed against each other, have no more words for each other.
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
He puts it back and picks up another apple, subjecting it to the same kind of scrutiny.
scrutiny = careful look or inspection
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
But now it is impossible for her to pass through the transparent glass wall and return to this side.
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
The interference undulates and rises.
undulates = makes a smooth wave-like motion (physical or auditory)
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
...we attempt to watch it unobtrusively,
unobtrusively = in a manner that does not to attract much attention or disturb
Definition
Generally unobtrusive means: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 |