allude
1 use
The rest of the note went on to talk about Wells's frustrations with officer training, then ended with a few cryptic allusions to something about Clarke.†
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.)
From page 237.6 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally allude means:to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | All, p.237.6 |
anguish
7 uses
She remembered the anguished look Wells had given her as the guards were escorting her out of the Council chambers.†
anguished = extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.6.8 |
approach
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
use the best approach
He has a very different approach to .... governing.†
approach = way of doing something
From page 92.7 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | All, p.92.7 |
banish
6 uses
A few months of military rations weren't enough to banish the specter of malnutrition that haunted the Colony's poor outer ships, Walden and Arcadia.†
banish = expel or get rid of
Definition
Generally banish means:to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
- to force someone to leave a country as punishment
- to push an idea from the mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.251.4 |
brusque
2 uses
"Good luck, son," Wells's father said, assuming his trademark brusqueness.†
brusqueness = abruptness (quickness without taking the time to be friendly)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.)
Definition
Generally brusque means:abrupt (sudden and quick — without taking the time to be friendly)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.19.7 |
conscious
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
environmentally conscious
Glass brought her hand up self-consciously, grimacing slightly when she realized that her hair had fallen out of her hat.†
self-consciously = with nervousness or discomfort felt by someone due to concern about what others will think of them
Definition
Generally this sense of conscious means:aware or concerned about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 24 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.84.2 |
contradict
1 use
Her voice was firm, and there was a fire in her eyes that made him hesitate to contradict her.†
contradict = disagree
From page 304.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally contradict means:disagree
in various senses, including:
- to say something is not true — as in "She contradicted his testimony."
- to say something else is true when both can't be true — as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
- to be in conflict with — as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | All, p.304.8 |
curt
2 uses
"I spend most of the day in the infirmary tent, anyway," she said curtly.†
curtly = in a manner that uses few words or is abrupt and perhaps discourteous or rude
Definition
Generally curt means:brief to the point of rudeness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.198.3 |
dispute
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She disputes his claim.
He'd been the undisputed champion of the hand-to-hand combat course during officer training.†
undisputed = not challenged, argued about, or fought over
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in undisputed means not and reverses the meaning of disputed. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in undisputed means not and reverses the meaning of disputed. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
From page 57.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of dispute means:challenge, argue about, or fight over
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | All, p.57.2 |
evaluate
2 uses
After that Clarke girl had finished evaluating Octavia and determined she only had a sprained ankle, Bellamy had carried her over toward the trees where they'd spent the night.†
evaluating = thinking carefully and making a judgment about
Definition
Generally evaluate means:to think carefully and make a judgment about something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | All, p.118.7 |
grave
3 uses
"A chastity belt," Luke said gravely.†
gravely = in a serious and solemn manner
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | All, p.125 |
indignant
8 uses
"No, sir," Wells said, biting back his indignation.†
indignation = anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
(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 indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | All, p.11.2 |
infirmary
19 uses
Clarke slipped through the flap of the designated infirmary tent and stepped into the clearing.†
infirmary = a small facility where patients receive treatment
Definition
Generally infirmary means:a small facility where patients receive treatment — such as a room or two at a school as contrasted to a busy hospital or medical clinic
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.95.1 |
mitigate
1 use
But even the truth would do little to mitigate his father's confusion.†
mitigate = make less harmful or unpleasant
From page 11.4 Typical Usage
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | All, p.11.4 |
quell
2 uses
"Then what are you doing here?" she asked, unable to quell the panic creeping into her voice.†
quell = suppress or stop completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.5.7 |
ration
13 uses
A few months of military rations weren't enough to banish the specter of malnutrition that haunted the Colony's poor outer ships, Walden and Arcadia.†
rations = fixed portions of something that is allotted — especially food for military personnel
Definition
Generally ration means:verb: to restrict the amount of something each person can have — such as food or gasoline when there is a shortage, or when more is wanted than is available
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
or:
noun: a fixed portion of something that is given as a person's share — such as goods of which there is a shortage, or food for soldiers in the field
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.253.9 |
revoke
2 uses
If he wakes up and has any reason, any reason at all, to revoke your pardon, he will.†
revoke = void, cancel, or take back
Definition
Generally this sense of revoke means:to void, cancel, or take back — especially to do so in an official manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.234.3 |
suppress
7 uses
Bellamy barely suppressed a snort.†
suppressed = kept or tried to keep under control
Definition
Generally suppress means:trying to keep under control
The exact meaning of suppress can depend upon its context. For example:
- "suppressed the revolution" — to stop others from doing something by force
- "suppressed a smile" — kept something from happening
- "suppressed the story" — kept news from spreading
- "suppressed her fear" — controlled an emotion
- "suppressed the memory" — avoided thinking about (perhaps even removed from conscious memory)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.23.5 |
twinge
5 uses
He felt a twinge of guilt for being such a jerk to her the night before.†
twinge = a sudden, short-lived feeling of pain or emotion
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | All, p.76.7 |
utter
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
utter stupidity
It felt utterly worthless without Luke there to see her in it.†
utterly = completely or totally
Definition
Generally this sense of utter means:complete or total (used as an intensifier—typically when stressing how bad something is)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | All, p.35.9 |