bronze
7 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a bronze tan
Unlike Nick's coppery quills, the female's brightened from bronze at the base to silver at the tips.†
bronze = reddish-brown or yellowish-brown
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color like that of one of the metals with the same name — often used to refer to a suntan or a dark glowing complexion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 – |
unquizzed meaning —6 uses
complacent
1 use
The malakhim sat on either side of him, their hands clasped complacently on their black robes.
complacently = with contentment (unworried and satisfied)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 – |
daunt
4 uses
A sharp ridge of these quills lined its back, serving not only as a daunting defense, but also as a telltale indicator of mood.
daunting = discouraging or intimidating
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 – |
deride
1 use
His smile faded, and he made a derisive laugh.
derisive = contemptuous (treating as inferior and unworthy of respect)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 – |
diligent
1 use
...they shadowed him with the same watchful diligence as Hannah's goslings.
diligence = care and hard work
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 – |
discern
4 uses
Max swore he could discern faint faces from among the stars—hooded, sinister figures whose contours and features could be gleaned from the patterns of lights and swirling nebulae.
discern = noticed something that is not obvious
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 – |
haughty
6 uses
The footman—an imp in Elizabethan dress—was unmistakably haughty and superior.
haughty = arrogant
Definition
Generally haughty means:arrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 – |
innocuous
2 uses
Conscious of Astaroth's prohibitions, Max allowed himself no books but took one innocuous paper—a private note that...
innocuous = unlikely to harm or disturb
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 – |
insidious
4 uses
But Max knew something insidious was at work—a fading within the mind.
insidious = not appearing dangerous, but actually very harmful over time
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
or:
treacherous (dangerous due to trickery or from hidden or unpredictable risks)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 – |
lilt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an Irish lilt
Your greeting has a poetic lilt, the pleasing rhythm of spellwork.†
lilt = pleasing sound
Definition
Generally this sense of lilt means:a way of speaking, singing, or making music — typically cheerful, lively or pleasing — sometimes with the pitch of the voice rising and falling
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 – |
lucid
1 use
But Max still preferred the baka's whispers and the nightmares to those brief moments of real or imagined lucidity.
lucidity = clear thought
Definition
Generally lucid means:of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 – |
malevolent
4 uses
The demon offered a modest, understanding smile, but his eyes gleamed with a lingering malevolence.
malevolence = appearing to wish evil to others
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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 – |
meticulous
2 uses
Cooper unrolled an antique hand-drawn map of North America. While the eastern coast was meticulously detailed, the interior was nearly blank.
meticulously = in a manner treating 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 3 – |
petulant
1 use
Max scanned the row of hideous, petulant-looking creatures that were staring insolently at him from behind their muzzles.
petulant = unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 – |
pious
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
The hands were folded upon his broad chest in a gesture suggestive of modesty or piety or both.
piety = religious belief
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 – |
siege
19 uses
Hundreds of enemies had given way before Max during the Siege of Rowan.
siege = a military tactic in which a fortified place is surrounded and isolated while it is attacked over time
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
or:
any prolonged attack, effort, or period of trouble
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
somber
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a somber mood
Astaroth walked somberly to the pile of scarlet silk and thrust his hand within it.
somberly = solemnly (in a manner that is serious—not cheerful or lighthearted)
Definition
Generally this sense of somber means:serious and without humor or fun — perhaps sad
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 – |
strait
6 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
Strait of Hormuz
That's exactly what we're going to do... The party navigated the strait in identical fashion as before.†
strait = narrow water passage
Definition
Generally this sense of strait means:a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 – |
zeal
2 uses
He's no doubt in their midst, encouraging their zeal and showering the crowds with gold.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 – |
zenith
1 use
It had risen nearly to its zenith and seemed to hover directly above the campus, shining a spotlight on Rowan and its quaint little doings.
zenith = highest point
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |