apprehension
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
apprehension about finals
He whistled his new weapon through the air and struck the ground experimentally, while the dogs leaped aside and whined with apprehension.
apprehension = worry or concern about what will happen
Definition
Generally this sense of apprehension means:worry about what is to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
complacent
1 use
The bay mare Nellie quickly grew complacent.
complacent = contented (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 3 |
construe
1 use
It was impossible to know what action might later be construed as a crime.
construed = understood something to have a specific meaning
Definition
Generally construe means:to interpret (understand) something as have a specific meaning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
His father looked down at him contemptuously.
contemptuously = with disrespect
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 4 |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deliberate insult
He found a hard black clod on the floor and deliberately threw it.
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 1 |
despair
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
she felt despair
"And then it'll be about two years more before you can ride."
Jody cried out in despair, "I'll be grown up."
Jody cried out in despair, "I'll be grown up."
despair = distress (at inability to fix a bad situation)
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
detach
2 uses
The red fearless eyes still looked at him, impersonal and unafraid and detached.
detached = emotionally uninvolved (separated from emotions)
Definition
Generally detach means:to separate something from something else (physically or emotionally)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
diffident
1 use
Gitano laid his hat on the floor and diffidently sat down. He wouldn't reach for food. Carl had to pass it to him.
diffidently = with hesitancy and unassertiveness
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
disparage
1 use
"It's just a show saddle," Billy Buck said disparagingly.
disparagingly = with criticism or in a manner that makes something seem less important
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
grave
1 use
His big tail slapped the ground gravely.
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 1 |
induce
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
induce symptoms
And he had other delicious little self-induced pains. He thought how the rats had gnawed ragged holes in the red saddle, and how the mice had nibbled Gabilan's tail until it was stringy and thin. He usually ran the last little way to the barn.
induced = caused
Definition
Generally this sense of induce means:to cause something to arise or happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
infallible
2 uses
He had no right to be fallible, and he knew it.
fallible = not perfect (to make a mistake or to be wrong)
Definition
Generally infallible means:never wrong; or never failing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
judicious
1 use
Her lips pursed judiciously.
judiciously = in a manner that shows she was using good judgment (in this case, as she read a letter)
Definition
Generally judicious means:showing good judgment
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
listless
3 uses
Jody walked up to the house and took his place listlessly at the table.
listlessly = with a lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
Definition
Generally listless means:lacking energy and normal enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
mane
6 uses
Jody reached up a hand and took hold of Nellie's mane.
mane = long coarse hair growing on the back of the neck of a horse
Definition
Generally mane means:long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
retract
2 uses
It was a terrible thing to him to retract a word,
retract = take back something previously said
Definition
Generally retract means:to take back; or to move back or in
in various senses, including:
- to take back something previously said — such as a promise or opinion
- to move back or in — such as an airplane's landing gear, or pulling your hand back after being burned
- in surgery, the use of a medical instrument to draw skin or an organ back out of the way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
revere
1 use
Billy held Grandfather in reverence,
reverence = feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
salve
2 uses
He held up the head while Billy swabbed out the wound with weak carbolic acid salve.
salve = a cream or liquid put onto skin to make it feel better or heal
Definition
Generally salve means:a cream or liquid put onto skin to make it feel better or heal
or:
anything that eases pain or anxiety; or the act of doing such
or:
anything that eases pain or anxiety; or the act of doing such
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
saunter
4 uses
After a while the boy sauntered down the hill again.
sauntered = walked leisurely
Definition
Generally saunter means:to walk leisurely
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
unprecedented
1 use
He went to his work with unprecedented seriousness.
unprecedented = not having happened before
Definition
Generally unprecedented means:not having happened before; or nothing similar having happened before
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |