bronze
33 uses
1 —33 uses as in:
bronze won't corrode in salt water
Underneath, bronze gears whirred.
bronze = made of a brownish metal
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Word Statistics
| Book | 33 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
cleave
7 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
cleave through
He stabbed his black blade into the floor, and it cleaved through the stone like butter.
cleaved = splitting or cutting through
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to split something — especially with violent force
or:
to cut through something
or:
to cut through something
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
dispose
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
disposed the troops along...
And use all the means at your disposal, however common they may seem.†
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 | Chapter 6 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
I averted my eyes as the goddess turned into her true divine form and disappeared in a blaze of light.
divine = god-like
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
factor
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
It was the deciding factor.
My fear factor wasn't going to last long.†
factor = thing that affects a result or outcome
Definition
Generally this sense of factor means:something that affects a result or outcome
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
grave
1 use
He nodded gravely, like we were sharing some dark secret.
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
impudent
1 use
"Impudence!" said the elder on the left.
impudence = improper boldness or disrespect— especially toward someone who is older or considered to be of higher status
Definition
Generally impudent means:improperly bold or disrespectful — especially toward someone who is older or considered to be of higher status
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
indignant
4 uses
He straightened up indignantly and yelled "HEY!"
indignantly = with anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
ingenious
3 uses
Let's see how ingenious you are.
ingenious = inventive and skillful
Definition
Generally ingenious means:showing cleverness and originality
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
lattice
1 use
Calypso had arbors covered with six different colors of roses, lattices filled with honeysuckle, rows of grapevines bursting with...
lattices = strips of wood crisscrossed and fastened together so they leave squares or diamond-shaped spaces where they do not overlap
Definition
Generally lattice means:an object or pattern made from crisscrossing two sets of lines — leaving diamond- or square-shaped spaces where they do not overlap
or:
an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern
or:
an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
malicious
1 use
A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death his eyes were alive with malice.
malice = the desire to hurt others or see them suffer
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
morose
1 use
He nodded morosely.
morosely = unhappily
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
mortal
17 uses
1 —17 uses as in:
mortal body
I had to stop her from hurting the mortals.
mortals = humans (especially merely humans)
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
parry
7 uses
We exchanged thrusts and parries, getting a feel for each other's fighting style.
parries = deflections of sword thrusts
Definition
Generally parry means:to avoid — especially to deflect (cause something to change direction)
in 2 primary senses:
- to avoid an attack — especially a physical attack as when deflecting the thrust of a sword
- to avoid answering a question with a clever response that directs attention elsewhere
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
primordial
1 use
Eventually-maybe weeks, months, or years from now-Kelli would re-form out of the primordial nastiness seething in the Underworld.
primordial = having existed from the beginning
or:
an early and essential aspect of something
or:
an early and essential aspect of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
sacrilege
2 uses
Sacrilege and lies!
sacrilege = disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
skeptical
2 uses
"Of course I'm coming back!"
Hephaestus studied me skeptically.
Hephaestus studied me skeptically.
skeptically = in a doubtful manner (regarding the truth or accuracy of the statement)
Definition
Generally skeptical means:doubtful (that something is true or worthwhile)
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
or more rarely:
generally tending to doubt what others believe
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
The cow mooed, put one hoof tentatively on the bars, then backed away.
tentatively = in an unsure or hesitant manner
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
treacherous
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the road is steep and treacherous
The Labyrinth is treacherous.
treacherous = dangerous
Definition
Generally this sense of treacherous means:dangerous — often in a non-obvious way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
usurp
2 uses
He helped a usurper make a fool of me in my own palace.
usurper = one who seizes or takes control without authority
Definition
Generally usurp means:seize or take control without authority
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |