abstract
18 uses
1 —18 uses as in:
abstract thought
My notions on the subject were purely abstract, and I'd never given it serious thought.
abstract = a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:of a concept or idea not associated with any specific instance
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
apathy
3 uses
She was greatly struck by the apathy of his voice when, on her asking how he was feeling, he replied that he was in a bad way, he did not need a doctor, and all he wished was to be taken to the hospital, so as to comply with the regulations.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
benevolent
3 uses
...And it was this that put him in the bad books of his hostess. ... All his subsequent efforts to bring the good lady round to, anyhow, a state of benevolent neutrality came to nothing.
benevolent = kindly
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
capricious
2 uses
But from now on it was different; they seemed at the mercy of the sky's caprices-in other words, suffered and hoped irrationally.
caprices = instances of impulsiveness or unpredictability
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
It was the time when, acting under orders, café-proprietors deferred as long as possible turning on their lights.
deferred = postponed
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
And on that lofty plane all will fall into place, all discords be resolved, and truth flash forth from the dark cloud of seeming injustice.
discords = disagreements or conflicts
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
disdain
1 use
...the love of God is a hard love. It demands total self-surrender, disdain of our human personality.
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 4 |
disparage
1 use
...it sounded perhaps a little disparaging,
disparaging = criticizing or making seem less important
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
Thus it was only natural that old Dr. Castel should plod away with unshaken confidence, never sparing himself, at making anti-plague serum on the spot with the makeshift equipment at his disposal.†
disposal = command
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
(editor's note: When something is "at someone's disposal" it is "at their command," or "available for their use." They can use it as they please.)
Definition
Generally this sense of dispose means:the arrangement, positioning, or use of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
eccentric
4 uses
harmless eccentricities
eccentricities = unconventional or strange behaviors
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
epidemic
76 uses
Is the epidemic getting out of hand?
epidemic = a widespread outbreak of a disease that is passed from one person (or other organism) to another
Definition
Generally epidemic means:a widespread outbreak of a disease that is passed from one person (or other organism) to another
or more rarely: anything that spreads quickly — especially something bad
or more rarely: anything that spreads quickly — especially something bad
Word Statistics
| Book | 76 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
futile
6 uses
...a number of people were standing outside the main entrance, some of them hoping to be allowed to visit a patient—a futile hope, since such visits were strictly prohibited—...
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
incessant
9 uses
Rambert talked incessantly, as if his nerves were out of hand.
incessantly = continuously
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
obstinate
4 uses
Yes, I chose to be blindly obstinate, pending the day when I could see my way more clearly.
obstinate = stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
petulant
3 uses
Rambert tossed his head petulantly.
petulantly = with unreasonable anger or upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Part 2 |
phenomenon
4 uses
Hitherto people had merely grumbled at a stupid, rather obnoxious visitation; they now realized that this strange phenomenon, whose scope could not be measured and whose origins escaped detection, had something vaguely menacing about it.†
phenomenon = something considered extraordinary
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
prudent
1 use
While intensifying their desire to be set free, the terrible months they had lived through had taught them prudence, and they had come to count less and less on a speedy end of the epidemic.
prudence = good sense and caution
Definition
Generally prudent means:sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |
refute
1 use
No, all those horrors were not near enough as yet even to ruffle the equanimity of that spring afternoon. The clang of an unseen streetcar came through the window, briskly refuting cruelty and pain.
refuting = proving or arguing that something is false
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Part 1 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
... and poverty had taught her 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 | Part 4 |
virulent
3 uses
It seemed that, for obvious reasons, the plague launched its most virulent attacks on those who lived, by choice or by necessity, in groups:
virulent = harshest (worst)
Definition
Generally virulent means:of disease: very bad — perhaps very contagious
or
harsh or hateful
or
harsh or hateful
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Part 5 |