chronicle
2 uses
There is no prophet in the earth's long chronicle who's not honored here today.
chronicle = record of events
Definition
Generally chronicle means:a record of events; or the act of creating such a record or telling others of the events
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
cleave
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
cleave through
The flesh cloven along the bones, the ligaments dried to tug and taut as wires.
cloven = split
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to split something — especially with violent force
or:
to cut through something
or:
to cut through something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
conjure
1 use
He pressed his hand to his forehead, conjuring up a coolness that would not come.
conjuring = summoning into existence
Definition
Generally conjure means:summon into action or bring into existence — often as if by magic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
deliberate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a deliberate thinker
Always so deliberate, hardly surprised by the most outlandish advents.
deliberate = careful (and typically slow)
(editor's note: In this context, advents means "noteworthy events".)
(editor's note: In this context, advents means "noteworthy events".)
Definition
Generally this sense of deliberate means:done with great care — often slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
deranged
1 use
Within a year there were fires on the ridges and deranged chanting.
deranged = mentally imbalanced
Definition
Generally deranged means:mentally imbalanced — often temporarily due to anger
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
derelict
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
derelict ship
They walked out the long spit of tidal mud where a small boat lay half buried and stood there looking at it. It was altogether derelict.
derelict = in terrible condition (and abandoned)
Definition
Generally this sense of derelict means:in terrible condition and/or abandoned
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
The road descended through a jungle of...
descended = sloped downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
desolate
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a desolate place
The dead grass thrashed softly. Out there a gray desolation.
desolation = a state of emptiness that provides no shelter or sustenance
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally this sense of desolate means:empty, providing no shelter or sustenance
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
dogged
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dogged determination
They bore on south in the days and weeks to follow. Solitary and dogged.
dogged = continuing despite difficulties
Definition
Generally this sense of dogged means:continuing effort to achieve something despite difficulties (persistent)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
implement
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a small implement
Finally he rose and went to the table and hooked up the little two burner gas stove and lit it and got out a frying pan and a kettle and opened the plastic box of kitchen implements.
implements = small tools or other useful object
Definition
Generally this sense of implement means:a small tool or other useful object
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
ominous
1 use
The cans in the galley floor did not look in any way salvable and even in the locker there were some that were badly rusted and some that wore an ominous bulbed look.
ominous = threatening
(editor's note: If dangerous bacteria infects canned food, it may make the can expand which is described here as looking bubbled.)
(editor's note: If dangerous bacteria infects canned food, it may make the can expand which is described here as looking bubbled.)
Definition
Generally ominous means:threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
opaque
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
opaque shower door
He woke before dawn and watched the gray day break. Slow and half opaque.
opaque = unable to be seen through at all
Definition
Generally this sense of opaque means:not able to see through
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
penitent
1 use
Following a stone wall in the dark, wrapped in his blanket, kneeling in the ashes like a penitent.
penitent = someone expressing sorrow for having done wrong
(editor's note: The kneeling is in reference to a religious person who kneels while praying for forgiveness for their sins.)
(editor's note: The kneeling is in reference to a religious person who kneels while praying for forgiveness for their sins.)
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
perimeter
3 uses
He was standing there checking the perimeter when the boy turned and buried his face against him.
perimeter = the outer edge (in this case, of the area where they were)
Definition
Generally perimeter means:the outer edge
The exact meaning of perimeter can depend upon its context. For example:
- "Stay inside the defensive perimeter." — the outer edges of the area that is defended
- "It is common on the city's perimeter." — the outer edges of the city
- "What is the perimeter of the square?" — the sum of the length of the sides of a geometric shape
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
plunder
3 uses
He walked out through the woods to where they'd left the cart. It was still lying there but it had been plundered.
plundered = stolen from (things of value had been stolen from the cart)
Definition
Generally plunder means:to steal — often after conquering the location with the goods
or:
the goods stolen
or:
the goods stolen
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
remnant
3 uses
His feet were still wrapped in the remnants of the coat and the shreds of tarp and...
remnants = small amounts that remains after the rest is gone
Definition
Generally remnant means:a small amount that remains after the rest is gone — sometimes specifically of cloth
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
retract
1 use
He took out the old blade and laid it on the shelf and put in one of the new ones and screwed the handle back together and retracted the blade and put the cutter in his pocket.
retracted = slid back (in this case, back within the cutter's handle)
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
sullen
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
a sullen sky
Beyond the edge of the fields the sullen haze hung over earth and sky alike.
sullen = gloomy (dark and unpleasant looking)
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:darkened by clouds; or the color of a gloomy sky
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
sustain
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
sustained by her faith
The ashes of the late world carried on the bleak and temporal winds to and fro in the void. ... Unsupported in the ashen air. Sustained by a breath, trembling and brief.
sustained = held up (provided support)
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:provide support or necessities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
tentative
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
said it tentatively
He nodded and reached out with his cane and tapped tentatively at the road.
tentatively = in an unsure or hesitant manner
Definition
Generally this sense of tentative means:done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |