assets
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it's one of her best assets
Her greatest asset was her determination.
asset = a positive trait or thing of value
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
I deliberately disobeyed her every command.
deliberately = intentionally
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:to do something intentionally (do it on purpose)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 6 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
depart directly
When the chores were finished, I went directly to the basement, where I stood until summoned to clean off the dinner table and wash the dishes.†
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —2 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
But my better senses returned, and I looked up and fixed my eyes directly on John's eyes and tried to hold my stare.†
directly = straight (exactly where stated; used for emphasis)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
Later that fall, Mother began directing her frustrations in more directions.†
directing = aiming
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
4 —1 use as in:
directed the movie
Glenn A. Goldberg - Former Executive Director of the California Consortium for the Prevention of Child Abuse.†
director = supervisor (person in charge)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-or" often converts a verb to a noun that means "a person who." This is the pattern you see in words like actor, editor, and visitor.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:supervise, control, or to be in charge of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | P |
elated
1 use
Elated, I ran to Mother's house faster than ever before.
elated = with feelings of happiness and excitement
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
focus (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —6 uses as in:
Turn your focus to question #2.
I focused all my attention on the thumb and first finger of my left hand, as I pinched the skin around my slit.†
focused = concentrated
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:verb: to concentrate, look at, or pay attention to
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
noun: the act of concentration, or the ability to concentrate
(to concentrate is to direct attention or effort towards a single thing)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 75 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
The camera focuses automatically
I strained to focus my eyes on Mother.†
focus = adjust (to see clearly)
Definition
Generally this sense of focus means:to adjust a lens to make an image clear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
futile
1 use
All my efforts for mere survival seemed futile.
futile = pointless because there was no chance of success
Definition
Generally futile means: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 6 |
meticulous
1 use
Outside, she would meticulously tend a small flower garden, which was the envy of the neighborhood.
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 2 |
mundane
1 use
One particular July day began like any other mundane day, in my now slave-like existence.
mundane = ordinary or lacking interest or excitement
Definition
Generally mundane means:ordinary or lacking interest or excitement — possibly to the point of being boring
or more rarely:
belonging to this earth or world; not ideal or heavenly
or more rarely:
belonging to this earth or world; not ideal or heavenly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
Pandora
1 use
They seem to believe that above all Pandora's Box must stay closed.
Pandora's box = Greek mythology: a box given to the first woman which when opened released all of humanities evils
(editor's note: In the original story, Pandora's container was actually a jar, but is referred to as a box in modern times. When Pandora closed the jar, the only thing that remained in it was hope; though some translate that pessimistically as "deceptive expectation".)
(editor's note: In the original story, Pandora's container was actually a jar, but is referred to as a box in modern times. When Pandora closed the jar, the only thing that remained in it was hope; though some translate that pessimistically as "deceptive expectation".)
Definition
Generally Pandora means:Greek mythology: the first woman; she was presented with a container which when opened released all of humanity's evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | P |
persist
1 use
It took me a few seconds to understand what she had said. "Go on, David. Go," she persisted.
persisted = continued
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
provoke
1 use
So I began to purposefully irritate her, hoping I could provoke her enough that she would end my misery.
provoke = get her angry
Definition
Generally provoke means:to cause a reaction — typically an emotional reaction such as anger; and sometimes caused intentionally
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
remorse
1 use
There was no remorse in her eyes.
remorse = feeling of regret for doing something that was wrong
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
serene
1 use
As I enter the serene city of Guerneville, the 4-Runner truck goes from a Mach-like speed to that of a snail.
serene = calm and untroubled
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Epil. |
turbulent
1 use
My beginning was extremely turbulent, being pushed and pulled in every direction.
turbulent = a state of disturbance and disorder
Definition
Generally turbulent means:a state of disturbance and disorder
or:
of liquid or gas: rough (rapid and irregular flow)
or:
of liquid or gas: rough (rapid and irregular flow)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Epil. |
volley
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a volley of...
I tensed myself for the volley of blows that I knew was coming, but nothing happened.
volley = a rapid series
Definition
Generally this sense of volley means:a rapid or simultaneous discharge of bullets or other projectiles
or:
a rapid or simultaneous series of similar (and usually antagonistic) events — such as protests or criticisms
or:
a rapid or simultaneous series of similar (and usually antagonistic) events — such as protests or criticisms
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
vulgar
1 use
By then they were both drunk, and I could hear Mother scream every vulgar phrase imaginable.
vulgar = crude or offensive
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |