articulate
1 use
Yeah, I was so articulate.
articulate = clear in expressing (himself)
Definition
Generally this sense of articulate means:the act of or ability of clearly expressing with words; or to clearly express with words
The exact meaning of this sense of articulate depends upon its context. For example:
- "She is articulate and persuasive." — well-spoken (expresses her ideas clearly)
- "She articulated what everyone was thinking." — said aloud
- "After the stroke, she had to learn to articulate her consonants." — speak distinctly (so each word can be understood)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
cerebral
2 uses
But cerebral spinal fluid is just the doctors' fancy way of saying brain grease.
cerebral = relating to the brain
Definition
Generally cerebral means:relating to the brain — especially the cerebrum (front of the brain)
or:
involving careful thinking rather than emotions or instinct
or:
involving careful thinking rather than emotions or instinct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
It was a tricking awesome display of contempt.
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 20 |
delirium
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
delirious with joy
We should have all been delirious that she'd moved out of the basement.
delirious = happily excited
Definition
Generally this sense of delirium means:a state of having been taken over by excitement or emotion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
eccentric
3 uses
Sure, my dad has a drinking problem and my mom can be a little eccentric, but they make sacrifices for me.
eccentric = unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
ecstatic
1 use
Penelope was ecstatic about the idea.
ecstatic = felt intense happiness
Definition
Generally ecstatic means:feeling intense happiness and excitement (as when in a state of ecstasy)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
geology
2 uses
In geology class, the teacher, Mr. Dodge, was talking about the petrified wood forests near George, Washington, on the Columbia River, and how it was pretty amazing that wood could turn into rock.
geology = a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks
Definition
Generally geology means:a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks
or more rarely:
the rocks, minerals, and rock formations of an area
or more rarely:
the rocks, minerals, and rock formations of an area
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
hypnotize
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
hypnotized by her performance
Her eyes got this strange faraway look, like she'd been hypnotized.
hypnotized = so focused or fascinated that awareness of other surrounding things is lost
Definition
Generally this sense of hypnotize means:fascinate so much that awareness of other surrounding things is lost or too much trust is granted
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
illiterate
1 use
I couldn't ask Gordy because then he'd know I was an illiterate Indian idiot.
illiterate = unable to read or write (not literate)
or:
uninformed in a particular field or general subject area
or:
uninformed in a particular field or general subject area
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
impending
1 use
I couldn't sleep that night because I kept thinking about my impending doom.
impending = about to happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
metaphor
6 uses
And I don't mean "kill" as in "metaphor."
metaphor = a figure of speech in which a word is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity — as when Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage."
Definition
Generally metaphor means:a figure of speech in which a similarity between two things is highlighted by using a word to refer to something that it does not literally denote — as when Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage."
When Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." he was not saying the world is really a stage and all people are actors. But he was pointing to the similarities he wants us to recognize.
When Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." he was not saying the world is really a stage and all people are actors. But he was pointing to the similarities he wants us to recognize.
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
monotonous
1 use
But he was so boring and monotonous that he was only teaching us how to sleep with our eyes open.
monotonous = lacking in variety and/or boring
Definition
Generally monotonous means:lacking in variety — typically boring
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
plummet
1 use
I kept expecting one of them to snap and send me plummeting to my death.
plummeting = falling
Definition
Generally plummet means:fall or decrease suddenly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 30 |
redundant
2 uses
Oh, you mean, redundant, like saying the same thing over and over but in different ways?
redundant = more than is needed — especially repeating ideas
Definition
Generally redundant means:more than is needed — often something that is unnecessarily repeated
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
or in technical usage: a secondary component designed to work if the primary component fails; or of such a system
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
repress
2 uses
The Reardan kids were so worried about grades and sports and THEIR FUTURES that they sometimes acted like repressed middle-aged business dudes with cell phones stuck in their small intestines.
repressed = holding back (in this case from acting naturally)
Definition
Generally repress means:to hold something back
or:
to subjugate (oppress or hold others down)
or:
to subjugate (oppress or hold others down)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
rhetorical question
2 uses
But poor Miss Warren, she answered my rhetorical question.
rhetorical question = a question asked to emphasize a point or to generate interest rather than to get information
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 27 |
sober
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Talk to me when your sober.
In the middle of a crazy and drunk life, you have to hang on to the good and sober moments tightly.
sober = not under the influence of alcohol
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
spontaneous
1 use
A spontaneous demonstration.
spontaneous = happening or arising without plan
Definition
Generally spontaneous means:behaving in an instinctive, uninhibited manner
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 24 |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
I can pick up on subtle clues.
subtle = slightly noticeable or difficult to understand
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
susceptible
2 uses
I haven't had a seizure in seven years, but the doctors tell me that I am "susceptible to seizure activity."
susceptible = easily influenced or harmed by
Definition
Generally susceptible means:easily influenced or harmed
or:
capable of being treated in a particular way
or:
capable of being treated in a particular way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |