allude
1 use
Sometimes on these occasions his speech would be made up of some weird jargon of Biblical phrases and quotations and allusions, of which he seemed to have hundreds, and which he wove together in the strange pattern of his emotion in a sequence that was meaningless to them but to which he himself had the coherent clue.†
allusions = indirect references
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sions", converts a verb into a plural noun that denotes results of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in discussions from discuss, explosions from explode, and revisions from revise.)
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
appalling
1 use
And both of them still stared at him with an expression of appalled and fascinated interest.†
appalled = shocked by how terrible or horrible something is
Definition
Generally appalling means:shockingly terrible or horrible
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
austere
1 use
But even the very bare austerity of that little room now seemed terribly alive with the presence of its recent black 524 tenant.†
austerity = a government policy in which significantly less money is spent than normal; or any notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
bewilder
2 uses
For the boys, it was a troubling and bewildering experience.†
bewildering = confusing
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
brusque
1 use
He nodded and passed her brusquely, going towards the phone.†
brusquely = abruptly (suddenly and quickly — without taking the time to be friendly)
Definition
Generally brusque means:abrupt (sudden and quick — without taking the time to be friendly)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
chronicle
1 use
And swiftly, like a flash, running from group to group, like a powder train of fire, the full detail of that bloody chronicle of night was pieced together.†
chronicle = a record of events; or the act of creating such a record or telling others of the events
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
clamor
2 uses
His words cut out above the shouts and clamor of the mob like an electric spark.†
clamor = loud noise and/or persistent demands
Definition
Generally clamor means:loud noise and/or persistent demands — especially from human voice
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
contempt
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
And Nebraska, fearless, blunt, outspoken, as he always was, turned abruptly, put two fingers to his lips and spat between them, widely and 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
deride
1 use
They tried to drown him out with an angry and derisive roar.†
derisive = contemptuous (treating as inferior and unworthy of respect)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-ive" converts a word into an adjective; though over time, what was originally an adjective often comes to be used as a noun. The adjective pattern means tending to and is seen in words like attractive, impressive, and supportive. Examples of the noun include narrative, alternative, and detective.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
earnest
1 use
They promised earnestly that they would keep his secret as if it were their own.†
earnestly = sincerely or seriously
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
eloquent
3 uses
Now cose," he went on quietly, with a shade of resignation, "if you want to tell on me you can — but" — here his voice fell again, with just the faintest yet most eloquent shade of sorrowful regret — "Ole Dick was lookin' fahwad to this.†
eloquent = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
entreat
1 use
In response to all entreaties, all efforts to find the reason for her sudden and unreasonable decision.†
entreaties = earnest requests
Definition
Generally entreat means:to ask — especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
erratic
1 use
It hit the street and bounded back and forth with that peculiarly erratic bounce a football has.†
erratic = irregular or unpredictable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
gesticulate
1 use
At this moment there was a flurry in the crowd and Uncle Morris Teitlebaum, the pawnbroker, appeared, gesticulating volubly, clinging to a policeman.†
gesticulating = making gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Definition
Generally gesticulate means:to make gestures (hand or body movements) while speaking or to express something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
loathe
2 uses
It was a kind of shadow, a poisonous blackness filled with bewildered loathing.†
loathing = disgust or intense dislike
Definition
Generally loathe means:hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
magistrate
1 use
The call was for Wilson Redmond, the police court magistrate.†
magistrate = judicial official
Definition
Generally magistrate means:a judge or judicial official
The exact meaning of magistrate varies widely depending upon the context. For example:
- in the U.S. federal court: assists district court judges by handling minor offenses or administrative tasks such as preliminary hearings (often referred to as a magistrate judge rather than just a magistrate)
- in some U.S. states: a judge in the state court
- in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and other civil law countries: a sitting magistrate is a judge and a standing magistrate is a prosecutor
- in England: may be a volunteer without formal legal training who performs a judicial role with regard to minor matters
- in ancient Rome: a powerful officer with both judicial and executive power
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
morose
1 use
Then, putting on her hat and coat, and taking the paper bag of "leavings" she was allowed to take home with her at night, she went out the kitchen door and made her sullen and morose departure.†
morose = unhappy
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
plaintive
1 use
His moaney vas goodl" he said plaintively, lifting his hands and looking around with an expression of finality.†
plaintively = in a sad manner
Definition
Generally plaintive means:expressing sadness — sometimes with a plea for help
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
tact
1 use
But Dick, with his quick watchfulness, his gentle and persuasive tact, was careful to see this did not happen.†
tact = the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
yield
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
yield to pressure
And the reason for this is that it comes to people in the South not as the grim, unyielding tenant of the Winter's keep, but as a strange and wild visitor from the secret North.†
unyielding = strict, firm, or hard (not giving in, not giving way, or not giving up)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unyielding means not and reverses the meaning of yielding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unyielding means not and reverses the meaning of yielding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |