accord
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
according to, or in accord with
According to her calculations, we have $12.†
according to = as stated by; or in agreement with
Definition
Generally this sense of accord means:in keeping with; or in agreement/harmony/unity with
This sense of accord is often seen in the form according to or accordingly where it can take on more specific meanings. For example:
- "According to Kim, ..." — as stated by
- "To each according to her ability." — based upon
- "Points are scored according to how well they perform." — depending upon
- "The dose is calculated according to body weight." — in proportion to
- "We got a flat tire. Accordingly, I pulled to the side of the road." — because of what was just said; or as a result
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 53 uses in 10 avg bks |
accumulate
1 use
But one way and another we do each year accumulate Christmas savings, a Fruitcake Fund.†
accumulate = collect or gradually increase
Definition
Generally accumulate means:to collect or gradually increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
cavort
1 use
Satisfied, sun-warmed, we sprawl in the grass and peel Satsumas and watch our kites cavort.†
cavort = play in a lively, unrestrained manner
Definition
Generally cavort means:to play in a lively, unrestrained manner — typically with someone — sometimes implying sexual play
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
chastise
1 use
A mile more: of chastising thorns, burrs and briers that catch at our clothes; of rusty pine needles brilliant with gaudy fungus and molted feathers.†
chastising = scolding or criticizing
Definition
Generally chastise means:to scold or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
confound
1 use
It's bad enough in life to do without something you want; but confound it, what gets my goat is not being able to give somebody something you want them to have.†
confound = confuse or frustrate
Definition
Generally confound means:to confuse, prove wrong, frustrate, or express frustration
in various senses, including:
confuse or surprise — sometimes specifically to confuse one thing with another
- "confounded by the puzzle" — confused or perplexed
- "Test results confounded the experts." — surprised and confused
- "Do not confound confidence with correctness." — mistake one thing for another
prove wrong, defeat, or frustrate
- "The test results confounded my theory." — proved wrong
- "Their defense confounded our offense." — defeated or frustrated
make worse
- "She confounded the problem by painting without sanding." — made worse
- "The task is complicated by other confounding factors." — making worse
an exclamation expressing anger or frustration
- "Confound it! Will I ever get this thing to work?"
- "I don't understand the confounded directions!"
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
conspiracy
1 use
Silently, wallowing in the pleasures of conspiracy, we take the bead purse from its secret place and spill its contents on the scrap quilt.
conspiracy = a secret agreement or plot
Definition
Generally conspiracy means:a secret agreement or plot — especially to do something illegal or harmful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
deceive
1 use
Our backs hurt from gathering them: how hard they were to find (the main crop having been shaken off the trees and sold by the orchard's owners, who are not us) among the concealing leaves, the frosted, deceiving grass.†
deceiving = lying or misleading
Definition
Generally deceive means:to lie to or mislead someone — occasionally to lie to oneself by denying reality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
emerge
1 use
One by one the household emerges, looking as though they'd like to kill us both; but it's Christmas, so they can't.†
emerges = comes out of, or appears
Definition
Generally emerge means:to come out, or to appear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 58 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
She is proudest, however, of a white wool shawl knitted by her married sister.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
moreover
1 use
And it is very beautiful; though not as beautiful as the one she made me, which is blue and scattered with gold and green Good Conduct stars; moreover, my name is painted on it, "Buddy."†
moreover = in addition to what has just been said
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
nevertheless
1 use
Nevertheless, he retreats into the shadowed cafe and seconds later appears carrying a bottle of daisy-yellow unlabeled liquor.†
nevertheless = in spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally nevertheless means:in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
opera
1 use
A trunk in the attic contains: a shoebox of ermine tails (off the opera cape of a curious lady who once rented a room in the house), coils of frazzled tinsel gone gold with age, one silver star, a brief rope of dilapidated, undoubtedly dangerous candylike light bulbs.†
opera = a musical play with orchestra in which most of the dialogue is sung (or the art form that consists of such musicals; or describing something as related to that art form)
Definition
Generally opera means:a musical play with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung — (typically associated with classical music and often in a language foreign to the audience)
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
paralysis
1 use
For a moment we are too paralyzed to tell.†
paralyzed = made unable to move or make a decision
Definition
Generally paralysis means:loss of the ability to move the body or a part of it
or:
inability to act or make a decision
or:
inability to act or make a decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
persist
1 use
The mill owner's wife persists.†
persists = continues
Definition
Generally persist means:to continue — often despite difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
sacrilege
1 use
It's just that we enter any contest we hear about: at the moment our hopes are centered on the fifty-thousand-dollar Grand Prize being offered to name a new brand of coffee (we suggested "A.M."; and, after some hesitation, for my friend thought it perhaps sacrilegious, the slogan "A.M.!†
sacrilegious = disrespectful of something others consider important — especially something sacred
Definition
Generally sacrilege means:disrespect of something others consider important or sacred
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
simultaneous
1 use
But by and by we begin to sing, the two of us singing different songs simultaneously.†
simultaneously = at the same time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
squander
1 use
Besides, a person my age shouldn't squander their eyes.†
squander = waste
Definition
Generally squander means:to waste — money, resources, or opportunities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
stationery
1 use
Also, the scrapbooks we keep of thank-you's on White House stationery, time-to-time communications from California and Borneo, the knife grinder's penny post cards, make us feel connected to eventful worlds beyond the kitchen with its view of a sky that stops.†
stationery = paper and envelopes for writing letters
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
stoke
1 use
The black stove, stoked with coal and firewood, glows like a lighted pumpkin.†
stoked = added fuel or stirred a fire to make it burn hotter; or made feelings stronger
Definition
Generally stoke means:to add fuel or stir a fire to make it burn hotter; or to make feelings stronger
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
wrath
1 use
Listen to what they have to say, the words tumbling together into a wrathful tune: "A child of seven! whiskey on his breath! are you out of your mind? feeding a child of seven! must be loony! road to ruination! remember Cousin Kate?†
wrathful = full of extreme anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |