abrupt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an abrupt change
An abrupt sound startled him.
abrupt = sudden and unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
agile
1 use
Even as he touched it, the general sensed his danger and leaped back with the agility of an ape.
agility = ability to move well quickly and easily
Definition
Generally agile means:able to move well quickly and easily
or:
able to think well quickly and easily
or:
able to think well quickly and easily
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
anguish
1 use
It came out of the darkness, a high, screaming sound, the sound of an animal in an extremity of anguish and terror.
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
apprehensive
1 use
An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake, and sleep did not visit Rainsford, although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle.
apprehensive = full of worry over possible misfortune
Definition
Generally apprehensive means:worried over possible misfortune
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
condone
1 use
"I refuse to believe that so modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life. Surely your experiences in the war —" He stopped.
"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder," finished Rainsford stiffly.
"Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder," finished Rainsford stiffly.
condone = accept without criticism; or approve of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
cunning
1 use
I started for the Amazon to hunt jaguars, for I had heard they were unusually cunning.
cunning = cleverness and deceptive
Definition
Generally this sense of cunning means:being good at achieving goals through cleverness — and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a deliberate thinker
...he swam in that direction, swimming with slow, deliberate strokes, conserving his strength.
deliberate = done with care — often slowly
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 |
elude
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she eluded the police
If my quarry eludes me for three whole days, he wins the game.
eludes = avoids (gets away from)
Definition
Generally this sense of elude means:to avoid, or get away from, or remain out of reach
in various senses, including:
- "She eluded the police."
- "She eluded danger and finally arrived safely at home."
- "Success has eluded me."
- "She always messes up, but some how eludes taking responsibility."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
grave
1 use
All I could get out of him was: 'This place has an evil name among seafaring men, sir.' Then he said to me, very gravely: 'Don't you feel anything?'
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 |
indolent
1 use
Rainsford, reclining in a steamer chair, indolently puffed on his favorite brier.
indolently = lazily
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
invariably
2 uses
...invariably they choose the hunt.
invariably = always
Definition
Generally invariably means:never changing; or always the same
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
nevertheless
1 use
The bed was good and the pajamas of the softest silk, and he was tired in every fiber of his being, but nevertheless Rainsford could not quiet his brain with the opiate of sleep.
nevertheless = in spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally nevertheless means:in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
opaque
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
opaque shower door
He was almost on the rocks before he saw them; on a night less calm he would have been shattered against them. With his remaining strength he dragged himself from the swirling waters. Jagged crags appeared to jut up into the opaqueness;
opaqueness = the quality of being impossible to see through (a sky so black it hung like a black blanket that blocked vision of anything beyond it)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally this sense of opaque means:not able to see through
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
providence
2 uses
Sometimes, when Providence is not so kind, I...
providence = luck; or God's plan
Definition
Generally this sense of providence means:resulting from God's intervention or plan; or lucky — especially with regard to when something happened
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
solicitous
2 uses
He was solicitous about the state of Rainsford's health.
solicitous = showing care or concern for someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
specimen
2 uses
About the hall were the mounted heads of many animals — lions, tigers, elephants, moose, bears; larger or more perfect specimens Rainsford had never seen.
specimens = samples representative of their class (in this case, representative of their species)
Definition
Generally specimen means:a sample regarded as typical of its class; or a bit of tissue, blood, or urine that is taken for diagnostic purposes
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
tangible
2 uses
Sometimes I think evil is a tangible thing — with wave lengths, just as sound and light have.
tangible = a physical presence
Definition
Generally tangible means:capable of being touched, or easily understood so there is no question of its value or reality
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
trace (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
found a trace of
A trace of anger was in the general's black eyes, but it was there for but a second, and he said, in his most pleasant manner: "Dear me, what a righteous young man you are! I assure you I do not do the thing you suggest."
trace = small quantity or indication
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
- a small indication that something was present — as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
- a very small amount of something — as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
- any evidence of something — as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
trace the origin or development
Even so zealous a hunter as General Zaroff could not trace him there, he told himself; only the devil himself could follow that complicated trail through the jungle after dark.
trace = find (by following indications of where he had been)
Definition
Generally this sense of trace means:to find, search, research, or keep track of
This sense of trace usually has to do with information. It's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
to find or search for something through investigation — often the origin of something:
- "The police traced the call." — found out where it originated
- "We are tracing the lost luggage" — searching for
- "Can you trace the problem to its source?" — find through investigation
- "She traced her family history to discover that her great-grandmother came to the United States from Lithuania when the Nazis occupied it." — discovered something through investigation
to research or report on the development of something
- "She traced the history of the automobile in her paper." — researched the development of something
- "Her presentation traced recent progress in alternative energy solutions." — reported on
to monitor or keep track of the progress or development of something
- "She traces the progress of at-risk students." — monitors information
- "I used binoculars to trace her progress up the mountain." — monitor, follow, or track
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
venerable
1 use
He filled Rainsford's glass with venerable Chablis from a dusty bottle.
venerable = excellent (worthy of respect and admiration)
Definition
Generally venerable means:respected (worthy of respect) — typically because of age or position
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |