abstract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
abstract art
She is an abstract painter.
abstract = not imitating objects of nature
Definition
Generally this sense of abstract means:not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
attribute
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
I attribute it to...
She attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.
attributed = credited (pointed to as the source of)
Definition
Generally this sense of attribute means:to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
- "I attribute it to her work." — to say who or what made something happen
- "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." — indicate the source of a quotation or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
beckon
7 uses
I should be studying, but television beckons me.
beckons = calls (in this case by being desirable and inviting)
Definition
Generally beckon means:to call — typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
bereft
1 use
She is bereft of hope.
bereft = lacking (something desired)
Definition
Generally bereft means:lacking something that is desired
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
depravity
1 use
It is a terrible story of an innocent who trusted a man who treated her with ruthless depravity.
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
deprecate
1 use
You should not deprecate her efforts.
deprecate = treat as unimportant
Definition
Generally deprecate means:to diminish or treat something as unimportant or of low quality; or to express disapproval
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 26 |
disdain
1 use
She tries to be polite, but cannot hide her disdain for authority.
disdain = lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
dissent
1 use
The Alien and Sedition Acts were attempts to silence early political dissent in America.
dissent = disagreement
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
duplicity
2 uses
I trust her. Duplicity isn't in her nature or her tool kit.
duplicity = deception
Definition
Generally duplicity means:deception (lying to or misleading others) — usually over an extended period
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
factor
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
factor it into your thinking
Did you factor maintenance costs into your budget?
factor = include consideration of
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
flippant
1 use
Her response is entertaining, but the question deserves a less flippant answer.
flippant = having an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Definition
Generally flippant means:showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
impact
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
at the moment of impact
The meteor impacted the moon.
impacted = collided with
Definition
Generally this sense of impact means:collision (when two objects collide or crash)
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
I'm inclined to believe him.
inclined = have a tendency; or an attitude or mood that favors something
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
I climbed down the incline.
incline = something that is at an angle (in this case, probably sloping land)
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
indulgent
4 uses
Indulgent parents risk spoiling their children.
indulgent = treating with extra kindness or leniency (in this case, not demanding enough of the children)
Definition
Generally indulgent means:to treat with extra kindness or tolerance
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
negative
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
had a negative effect
Higher interest rates negatively affected home sales.
negatively = in a bad or harmful manner
Definition
Generally this sense of negative means:bad or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
perplex
4 uses
She was perplexed by the rules of the game.
perplexed = confused
Definition
Generally perplex means:to confuse
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Look at it from her perspective
A child who was abused with have a different perspective of family life than one raised in a nurturing home.
perspective = way of seeing or thinking about things
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 37 |
placid
5 uses
The sky is clear and the lake placid.
placid = calm
Definition
Generally placid means:calm and not easily excited
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
supersede
1 use
Engineers used slide rules before they were superseded by calculators.
superseded = replaced
Definition
Generally supersede means:take the place of — especially replacing something old or inferior
or:
to cause to be set aside
or:
to cause to be set aside
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |