apparent
13 uses
Apparently satisfied, he pressed a button and rolled down the window.
apparently = obviously or clearly
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
consummate
1 use
He is a consummate gentleman and the finest chef we've ever had at Rowan!
consummate = perfect (having a quality to an extreme degree)
Definition
Generally this sense of consummate means:perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Alex snorted with contempt and turned his attention to the hull.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
cursory
1 use
She gave a cursory nod to the group before her gaze fell on Max, sitting small and hunched at the table.
cursory = hasty and without much attention
Definition
Generally cursory means:quick—not thorough (without attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
despondent
1 use
With a few despondent slashes of his pencil, Max randomly assigned numbers to the blank spaces before surrendering his exam.
despondent = depressed
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
deter
1 use
I'm no great terrifying Mystic, but my presence should deter any trespassers until our specialists arrive.
deter = prevent
Definition
Generally deter means:try to prevent; or prevent
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
emerge
25 uses
For centuries, no great evil emerged, and we began to hope that we had finally succeeded!
emerged = appeared
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
emulate
1 use
As Max and the others seated themselves and struggled to emulate him, he abruptly stood and started walking around the room.
emulate = imitate (copy)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
futile
1 use
Max was hoisted off the ground again and held by a grip now so numbingly strong that any resistance was utterly futile.
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
gesticulate
1 use
Max nodded and said good-bye to the Lukenses, who promptly shrank before the wildly gesticulating form of Scott McDaniels.
gesticulating = making gestures (hand or body movements)
Definition
Generally gesticulate means:to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
heresy
1 use
Brilliant minds were imprisoned and tortured for heresy ...
heresy = opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
hideous
12 uses
I'm hideous, aren't I?
hideous = extremely ugly, offensive, and/or frightening
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
incessant
1 use
What he did encounter was incessant teasing at the hands of other students as tales of Kettlemouth's song flooded the campus.
incessant = continuous
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
inevitable
4 uses
He braced himself for the inevitable blow that caught him a nanosecond later.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
malevolent
1 use
He sensed that the world's troubles were stirred in secret by a greater mind and malevolence.
malevolence = the desire to exert evil or harmful influence
Definition
Generally malevolent means:evil
- of a person — wishing or appearing to wish evil to others
- of a thing — exerting an evil or harmful influence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
meticulous
1 use
meticulously cleaned his glasses
meticulously = in a manner treating details with great care
Definition
Generally meticulous means:treating details with great care
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
notorious
1 use
Max flushed with pride; Ms. Richter was notoriously spare with her compliments.
notoriously = well known for something bad
(editor's note: In this context, spare is a synonym for stingy meaning that she seldom gave compliments.)
(editor's note: In this context, spare is a synonym for stingy meaning that she seldom gave compliments.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it obscured my view
He squinted to see it more clearly, but the flickering flames and smoke obscured it.
obscured = made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
resume
10 uses
Peg started giggling and resumed her knitting.
resumed = began again
Definition
Generally resume means:begin or take on again
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
stoic
1 use
Renard walked over, looking him up and down with a stoic expression.
stoic = seemingly unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions
Definition
Generally stoic means:seeming unaffected by pleasure, pain, or emotions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |