benevolent
11 uses
I presume that you founded that belief upon your general knowledge of my being an orphan girl, indebted for everything to the benevolence of Mr. Jarndyce.
benevolence = kindness or generosity
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-9 |
capricious
7 uses
All this, instead of being as you now are, dependent on the mere caprice of Puffy!
caprice = impulsiveness or unpredictability
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 22-24 |
conciliatory
4 uses
She seemed to respect him and even to wish to conciliate him.
conciliate = build trust with
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-9 |
defer (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
things yet to come of those long-deferred hopes
deferred = postponed (put off)
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16-18 |
2 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
...he then defers to Miss Flite ... and at some length, she performs the courtly ceremony of presentation.
defers = submits or yields
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 46-48 |
deride
1 use
expressive of derision and contempt
derision = disrespect — typically while laughing at or making fun of
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34-36 |
diligent
7 uses
He was punctual and diligent;
diligent = characterized by hard work and care
Definition
Generally diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13-15 |
disparage
10 uses
Heaven forbid that I should disparage my dear child, but he has—no deportment.
disparage = criticize
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22-24 |
earnest
54 uses
He looked unprepared for my being so earnest, and even a little alarmed.
earnest = intensely or excessively serious
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 54 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
empower
2 uses
If you would empower me to do it, I would do it for you with the greatest satisfaction!
empower = give authority to
Definition
Generally empower means:give or delegate authority or power to
or:
give knowledge or confidence to someone that permits doing something
or:
give knowledge or confidence to someone that permits doing something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 55-57 |
expedient
4 uses
In consequence of Mrs. Snagsby looking deeply edified, Mr. Snagsby thinks it expedient on the whole to say amen, which is well received.
expedient = speedy or practical; or an action that is speedy or practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 6 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
I'm inclined to
As I approached the house, I was strongly inclined to turn back,
inclined = in the mood (had a desire to)
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency; in the mood; or an attitude that favors something
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16-18 |
2 —2 uses as in:
on an incline or incline his head
...inclined his head as if he did not wholly dispute even that.
inclined = bent
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10-12 |
indifferent
30 uses
He is indifferent to everything but his calling.
indifferent = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10-12 |
indignant
31 uses
The agitation and the indignation from which I have recently suffered have been too much for me.
indignation = anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 31 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
inquire
77 uses
Mr. Guppy lifts his eyebrows inquiringly and looks at Tony.
inquiringly = in a manner that seeks information
Definition
Generally inquire means:to ask about or look into something
Word Statistics
| Book | 77 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31-33 |
prudent
12 uses
All this time he was, in money affairs, what I have described him in a former illustration—generous, profuse, wildly careless, but fully persuaded that he was rather calculating and prudent.
prudent = sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-9 |
resumption
24 uses
The trooper retires to a distant part of the room and resumes his curious inspection of the boxes,
resumes = begins again
Definition
Generally resumption means:beginning again
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10-12 |
sufficient
45 uses
I am not sufficiently acquainted with such subjects to know whether it is at all remarkable
sufficiently = adequately
Definition
Generally sufficient means:adequate (enough — often without being more than is needed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 45 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10-12 |
venerate
4 uses
He is my husband's best and dearest friend, he is our children's darling, he is the object of our deepest love and veneration.
veneration = feelings of respect and reverence
Definition
Generally venerate means:regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10-12 |