appalling
1 use
Outside, in the hall, with the door slammed he was laughing and she was crying, and they both stood appalled at the other's reaction.†
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 |
conjure
1 use
Oh, so now you admit you have been conjuring up Africa, do you?†
conjuring = summoning into action or bringing 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 |
constant
1 use
Can't say I did; the usual violences, a tendency toward a slight paranoia here or there, usual in children because they feel persecuted by parents constantly, but, oh, really nothing.†
constantly = in a manner that is unchanging, continuous, or happens repeatedly
Definition
Generally constant means:unchanging, continuous, or happening repeatedly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 64 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
Denmark
1 use
If you intersperse this Africa with a little variety — oh, Sweden perhaps, or Denmark or China —†
Denmark = officially The Kingdom of Denmark; a constitutional monarchy in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe which was at one time the home of Viking raiding parties and is today a member of the EU and NATO
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
In this case, however, the room has become a channel toward-destructive thoughts, instead of a release away from them.†
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 |
indicate
1 use
And it was clearly indicated that the children had been spending a little too much time on Africa.†
indicated = showed
Definition
Generally indicate means:to show (point out, demonstrate, express, or suggest)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 40 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
jovial
1 use
"All about Africa and everything," said the father with false joviality.
joviality = cheerfulness and friendliness
Definition
Generally jovial means:cheerful and friendly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
neurotic
2 uses
If children are neurotic at all, a room like that —†
neurotic = mildly mentally disturbed — usually worrying too much about something; or someone with such symptoms
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
nevertheless
3 uses
Nevertheless, I've noticed they've been decidedly cool toward us since.†
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
ozone
1 use
Wendy and Peter were coming in the front door, cheeks like peppermint candy, eyes like bright blue agate marbles, a smell of ozone on their jumpers from their trip in the helicopter.†
ozone = a colorless gas (O3)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
Pegasus
1 use
How often had he seen Pegasus flying in the sky ceiling, or seen fountains of red fireworks, or heard angel voices singing.†
Pegasus = Greek mythology: the immortal winged horse; as the flying horse of the Muses it is a symbol of highflying imagination
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
persecution
2 uses
Can't say I did; the usual violences, a tendency toward a slight paranoia here or there, usual in children because they feel persecuted by parents constantly, but, oh, really nothing.†
persecuted = treated very badly and unfairly
Definition
Generally persecution means:very bad and unfair treatment of others — usually because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
reactionary
1 use
Oh, they look real, I must admit — Africa in your parlor — but it's all dimensional, superreactionary, supersensitive color film and mental tape film behind glass screens.†
superreactionary = someone who is extremely opposed to change; or relating to such a viewpoint
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
sedative
1 use
You smoke a little more every morning and drink a little more every afternoon and need a little more sedative every night.†
sedative = a drug that calms or puts to sleep; or describing something as calming
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
telepathy
1 use
Remarkable how the nursery caught the telepathic emanations of the children's minds and created life to fill their every desire.†
telepathic = the magical ability to talk and/or listen mind-to-mind without the need to speak out loud or hear with the ears
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
twinge
1 use
Oh, occasionally they frightened you with their clinical accuracy, they startled you, gave you a twinge, but most of the time what fun for everyone, not only your own son and daughter, but for yourself when you felt like a quick jaunt to a foreign land, a quick change of scenery.
twinge = a sudden, short-lived feeling of emotion (in this case, fear)
Definition
Generally twinge means:a sudden, short-lived feeling of pain or emotion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |