coalesce
1 use
He liked sleep, and he liked the way his thoughts seemed to coalesce while he was dreaming.
coalesce = come together
Definition
Generally coalesce means:to merge or bring different things together
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
contrite
2 uses
Clayton shuffled his feet, trying to look contrite.
contrite = sorry and full of regret for a fault or offense
Definition
Generally contrite means:feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
direct (5 meanings)
5 meanings, 16 uses
1 —1 use as in:
depart directly
Despite the rain, he stepped out of the car and headed directly for Thigh-bolt.†
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
2 —6 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
He looked directly at her.†
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 | 6 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
3 —3 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
Instead of answering directly, he reached for another handful of sand.†
directly = in a straightforward manner (open and uncomplicated)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
4 —4 uses as in:
directed her question to
He directed cruise missiles with pinpoint accuracy, all geared toward the destruction of Clayton's life.†
directed = aimed
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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
5 —2 uses as in:
directed the movie
I already told the music director I'd be visiting my sister, and she says there's no problem.†
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
dominate
3 uses
She took a left at the major intersection, heading toward an older neighborhood, one dominated by Craftsman-style homes and large, spacious porches.
dominated = where the most noticeable thing is
Editor's notes:
Editor's notes:
- This is a less common sense of dominated which usually means "to be most influential or powerful."
- The expression "dominated by whatever" indicates that whatever is the most conspicuous or noticeable thing.
- If architecture interests you, you might like to know that Craftsman-style homes are known for front porches that are under an extension of the main roof which is supported by square columns, and by handcrafted stone and/or woodwork. You can see pictures at Google images of Craftsman homes.
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
elaborate (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
elaborate on your plan
When he spoke, his voice was steady, like a professor elaborating on a subject he taught.
elaborating = explaining in detail
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:add details or explain in detail
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
2 —1 use as in:
an elaborate design
There was just something exciting about maintaining the pretense that nothing had changed between them; it gave the relationship an illicit feeling, almost like an affair. ... Every now and then while Beth and Logan were engaged in keeping up their elaborate facade, Nana would mutter something nonsensical like "camels in the Sahara" or "it's like hair and slippers."
elaborate = complicated
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:having details and complexity — sometimes fancy or ornate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
hippie
7 uses
He followed the sound toward the logging road and saw the stranger with a dog, walking slowly up the road, looking like some kind of hippie from the sixties.
hippie = member of the counterculture that first became prevalent in the early 1960's in San Francisco — associated with long hair, illegal drugs, casual sex, and opposition to violence.
Definition
Generally hippie means:member of the counterculture that first became prevalent in the early 1960's in San Francisco — associated with long hair, illegal drugs, casual sex, and opposition to violence.
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
interpret
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
her interpretation of the data
He could see why she interpreted his actions as those of an obsessed madman.†
interpreted = understood (in a particular way)
Definition
Generally this sense of interpret means:to understand or explain something in a particular way — often the meaning or significance of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
liberal arts
2 uses
Selective, challenging, with an emphasis on liberal arts.
liberal arts = studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills
Definition
Generally liberal arts means:studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
negative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
had a negative effect
Gramps had a way of dwelling on the negative.†
negative = bad or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
passage
1 use
From her spot, she could see him read along with the Bible passages, take notes, and listen intently to everything the pastor said.†
passages = short parts of longer written works
Definition
Generally this sense of passage means:a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
perspective
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
Look at it from her perspective
If you look at this from my perspective, this is what I see: an intelligent, charming, beautiful woman, not yet thirty, witty, and passionate.†
perspective = way of seeing and thinking about things
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
positive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
I'm absolutely positive!
Are you positive you didn't mess around with anyone else back then?†
positive = certain
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:certain (having no doubt; or used for emphasis)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
a positive attitude
Power of positive thinking and all that.†
positive = optimistic (focusing on good things)
Definition
Generally this sense of positive means:optimistic (expecting or focusing good things); or agreeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
reticent
3 uses
"Tell me in ten words or less," she suggested, sensing his reticence.
reticence = reluctance to speak freely
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
yield
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
will yield valuable data
His search yielded zippo, which only infuriated him further, since he realized that it meant Thigh-bolt had lied to his face and Clayton hadn't picked up on it.†
yielded = produced
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |