abundant
5 uses
What triggered my fascination wasn't the sheer majesty of the librarian's nose, but her abundant confidence.†
abundant = present in great quantity
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.45.9 |
alliance
4 uses
I would pick up the receiver to find somebody from the Alliance Francaise with a piddling question or comment.†
alliance = association formed to support common interests
Definition
Generally alliance means:an association formed to support common interests
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16, p.103.2 |
anomaly
1 use
This may not seem like such a big deal in other families, but my parents, both of whom are painfully shy, looked upon their outgoing anomaly just as Native Americans regard an albino buffalo—he was a miracle.†
anomaly = something outside of the range of what is normally expected
From page 43.1 Typical Usage
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 8, p.43.1 |
beckon
3 uses
"Let's get there and see which island beckons us" was our motto.†
beckons = calls (figuratively by being desirable)
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12, p.72.1 |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
In contrast to Francois's family, mine were busy making plans for a joyous occasion.†
in contrast = in a comparison that shows differences
From page 145.3 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22, p.145.3 |
dubious
1 use
My brother Farshid, with his schedule full of soccer, wrestling, and karate, was too busy to be recruited for this dubious honor.†
dubious = doubtful; or suspicious; or full of uncertainty — sometimes to indicate that something described as good is actually bad
From page 10.8 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.10.8 |
elaborate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
elaborate on your plan
During my years as a French student, every textbook I had ever read had elaborated upon the unforgettable jubilance known as Bastille Day, the parade down the Champs-Elysées, the fireworks, the general merriment, and the cherished memories born only of this event.†
elaborated = added details or explained in detail
From page 135.2 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:add details or explain in detail
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21, p.135.2 |
enable
3 uses
Mine is the kind of nose that enabled me to impress fellow high school students with my ability to balance a pencil and eraser between my nose and mouth.†
enabled = made possible
Definition
Generally enable means:to make possible
in various senses, including:
- to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something — as in "The study will enable an informed discussion."
- to activate a computer system for use — as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page."
- to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern — as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16, p.101.5 |
foreshadow
2 uses
I wondered if the summer somehow foreshadowed the rest of my life.†
foreshadowed = was a sign of
Definition
Generally foreshadow means:to be a sign of future events
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6, p.33.9 |
imam
1 use
We learned about the Prophet Muhammad and the imams.
imams = Islamic religious leaders
From page 86.5 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally imam means:Islam: the person who leads prayers in a mosque
or for Shiites: a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law, and a spiritual guide
or for Shiites: a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law, and a spiritual guide
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14, p.86.5 |
impending
4 uses
More important, this job meant that Aunt Sedigeh had the scoop on every impending marriage for miles around.†
impending = about to happen
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5, p.30.7 |
irrelevant
1 use
We decided to ignore the swimsuit competition, calling it irrelevant.†
irrelevant = not relevant (not related to the subject being considered, or not important enough to want to consider)
From page 177.9 Typical Usage
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25, p.177.9 |
linguistic
3 uses
Fluent in Arabic, he had a particular interest in linguistic roots.†
linguistic = related to language
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2, p.11.6 |
lucrative
2 uses
I didn't want to get on her bad side early on in this lucrative job so I smiled as I tried to untangle her arms.†
lucrative = profitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20, p.123.7 |
maternal
5 uses
The noses in my maternal lineage are all large and hooked.†
maternal = relating to a mother; or characteristic of parents — such as to care for and help to develop
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22, p.144.7 |
nonetheless
5 uses
My goldfish had never done that, but I was nonetheless able to understand the international symbol for "I'm going to scratch out your eyeballs."†
nonetheless = in spite of that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
Definition
Generally nonetheless means:in spite of that (Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nevertheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4, p.18.9 |
phenomenon
1 use
The all-you-can-eat buffet, that American phenomenon, represented the only endurance exercise at which my family excelled.†
phenomenon = something that exists or happened — often of special interest
From page 52.9 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally phenomenon means:something that exists or happened — especially something of special interest — sometimes someone or something that is extraordinary
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9, p.52.9 |
precede
1 use
The festivities are preceded by weeks of preparation.†
preceded = went or was before
From page 106 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally precede means:to go or do before
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17, p.106 |
subsequent
2 uses
After his return to Iran and subsequent marriage, he had convinced my mother to make Jell-O on a fairly regular basis.†
subsequent = following something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13, p.74.5 |
theme
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
theme of the novel
If you were to design a theme park around the crashed drug plane, what would you call it?†
theme park = an amusement park with one or more basic underlying ideas — such as the Magic Kingdom
From page 177.4 Typical Usage
Definition
Generally this sense of theme means:a basic idea that underlies what is being said or done — especially in a literary or artistic work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25, p.177.4 |