agitate
1 use
Agitated, Iona shoved at her hair with both hands.†
agitated = not calm; or stirred up (often emotionally)
From page 63.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally agitate means:to stir up or shake — emotionally (as when people are angered or upset) or physically (as when a washing machine cleans clothes)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.63.2 |
banish
4 uses
Deryla from the castle told me Cabhan was banished.†
banished = expelled or gotten 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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14, p.223.3 |
beckon
2 uses
Too often in that wind, in that fog, she'd heard her name called—a beckoning she refused to answer.
beckoning = call
Definition
Generally beckon means:to call — typically to ask or tell someone to come nearer by using a hand gesture or a nod of the head
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.2.1 |
bolster
1 use
He took her hand in his, gave it a bolstering squeeze.
bolstering = supporting
From page 270.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of bolster means:support or strengthen
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.270.5 |
conjure
4 uses
Iona fought to control what she'd conjured, felt it building beyond her.†
conjured = summoned into action or brought into existence
Definition
Generally conjure means:summon into action or bring into existence — often as if by magic
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12, p.192.6 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
there is a contrast
She wanted it for hers, this place of age and contrast and endurance.†
contrast = notable difference
From page 235.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:a difference — especially a notable difference; or the side-x-side arrangement of things that draws attention to an unmissable difference
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15, p.235.5 |
disconcerting
3 uses
It was .... disconcerting, to have his horse's thoughts translated to him, but he rose again, slid his hands along Darling's flank.†
disconcerting = disturbing or unsettling
Definition
Generally disconcerting means:disrupt composure — such as to confuse or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.140.4 |
endure
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
endured the pain
She wanted it for hers, this place of age and contrast and endurance.†
endurance = the ability to suffer through (or put up with) something difficult or unpleasant
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15, p.235.5 |
evoke
1 use
Belatedly she remembered the umbrella in her bag, dragged it out, pushing her way forward into the evocative gloom of the rain-struck woods.†
evocative = bringing strong feelings or memories to mind
(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.)
From page 39.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally evoke means:to call forth or cause — typically to arouse an emotion or bring a memory to mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3, p.39.9 |
however
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
However much she tried...
As for choice, there are times we do that as well, however well-intentioned.†
however = regardless of how
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13, p.205.4 |
indulge
3 uses
And it seems their way of compensating is to indulge her and her brother.†
indulge = enjoy to excess
Definition
Generally indulge means:to give into a desire or enjoy something — especially in excess of what is thought good—such as a desire to eat too much cake, or be too lazy
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15, p.237.8 |
mentor
1 use
She'd improved—Branna gave her frustratingly faint praise for that— but she'd yet to reach the skill her exacting mentor judged strong enough.†
mentor = someone who guides and advises another who is less experienced; or the act of providing such guidance
From page 152.2 Typical Usage
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.152.2 |
minute
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
keep the minutes
But I shouldn't have announced it like the minutes of the next meeting.†
minutes = formal notes (from a meeting)
Definition
Generally this sense of minutes means:a written record of what happened at a meeting
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14, p.224.1 |
positive
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
had a positive effect
"It's faith, and faith's a strong, positive thing."†
positive = good or beneficial
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.95.3 |
regal
5 uses
He stared down at her, golden eyes steady, unblinking, his wings regally folded.†
regally = so fine, magnificent, or dignified as to be suitable for royalty; or belonging to a king or queen
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.57.6 |
relentless
4 uses
BRANNA HARPED ON IT RELENTLESSLY IONA struggled to find it, then hold it.†
relentlessly = in an extreme manner that does not stop
Definition
Generally relentless means:to continue without stopping in an extreme manner — often of something that is harsh or oppressive
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10, p.152.1 |
revise
1 use
Boyle said nothing as Branna walked them through her plan, as that plan was revised, questioned, adjusted.†
revised = changed
From page 307.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally revise means:to change (and hopefully improve) — most frequently to improve a written document, but it can be any intentional change such as a change in an estimated amount, a plan, or a series of procedures
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20, p.307.3 |
sulk
3 uses
But my take is sulky baby because your hands hurt.†
sulky = overly unhappy and unsociable
Definition
Generally sulk means:to be overly unhappy and unsociable — often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.62 |
waver
3 uses
She showed him the knife, and his eyes never wavered.†
wavered = was unsure or weak; or moved back and forth
Definition
Generally waver means:to move back and forth (shake or quiver)
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
or:
to change, be unsure, or weak
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14, p.227.5 |
yearn
7 uses
There were things he wanted to say, yearned to say.†
yearned = strongly desired
Definition
Generally yearn means:have a strong desire — often for something difficult or impossible to have
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1, p.2.5 |