apathy
2 uses
his present state of apathy and terror.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
capricious
3 uses
If any caprice of temper should induce him to cast aside this golden opportunity before he has brought it to perfection, I consider myself absolved from extending any assistance to his mother and sister.
caprice = impulsiveness
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
conciliatory
1 use
'He looks well, indeed,' returned Ralph, who, for some purposes of his own, seemed desirous to conciliate the schoolmaster.
conciliate = attempt to end bad feelings or build trust
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
I will not defer it for an hour.
defer = postpone (delay)
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 53 |
depravity
3 uses
Both utterly heartless, both men upon town, both thoroughly initiated in its worst vices, both deeply in debt, both fallen from some higher estate, both addicted to every depravity for which society can find some genteel name
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 50 |
deride
4 uses
He heard his sister's sufferings derided,
derided = disrespected (as though of no importance)
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 45 |
deter
4 uses
'I have considered others,' rejoined Nicholas; 'but as honesty and honour are both at issue, nothing shall deter me.'
deter = discourage an action
Definition
Generally deter means:try to prevent; or prevent
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
Spite is a little word; but it represents as strange a jumble of feelings, and compound of discords, as any polysyllable in the language.
discords = conflicts
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
disparage
1 use
It is no disparagement to Nicholas to say, that before he had been closeted with the two brothers ten minutes, he could only wave his hand at every fresh expression of kindness and sympathy, and sob like a little child.
disparagement = criticism
Definition
Generally disparage means:to criticize or make seem less important — especially in a disrespectful or contemptuous manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 35 |
expedient
8 uses
So many times did he peruse and re-peruse it, that Newman considered it expedient to remind him of his presence.
expedient = 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 | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
fastidious
5 uses
the fastidious lady, who seemed desperately apprehensive that he was going to relate something improper,
fastidious = excessively concerned with matters of taste
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
guile
3 uses
There was something so earnest and guileless in the way in which all this was said, and such a complete disregard of all conventional restraints and coldnesses, that Nicholas could not resist it.
guileless = innocent — without cunning (shrewdness, cleverness) or deceit
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
indolent
2 uses
He had had sufficient leisure to reflect upon these things, during their late retirement; and, at times, when his careless and indolent nature would permit, had availed himself of the opportunity.
indolent = lazy
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
lethargic
1 use
It was not a very easy matter to rouse him: so lethargic and heavy were his slumbers.
lethargic = lacking energy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 60 |
obscure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 7 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
knows the famous and the obscure
This wife died a year and a half ago ... in some obscure place, where she was housekeeper in a family.
obscure = not known to many people and undistinguished
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not known to many people; or unimportant or undistinguished
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 20 |
2 —1 use as in:
was obscure, but now bright
Newman followed—he would have followed head first, but for the timely assistance of Nicholas—and, taking his hand, led him through a stone passage, profoundly dark, into a back-kitchen or cellar, of the blackest and most pitchy obscurity, where they stopped.
obscurity = dark or dingy
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:dark or dingy; or inconspicuous (not very noticeable)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |
ostentatious
2 uses
We mustn't look ostentatious;
ostentatious = as though trying to attract notice and impress others
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 51 |
refute
2 uses
Newman pointed to the empty glass, as though it were a sufficient refutation of the charge,
refutation = evidence or argument that something is false
Definition
Generally refute means:to prove or argue that something is false
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
scrupulous
10 uses
I will perform the double duty that is imposed upon me most scrupulously and strictly.
scrupulously = carefully ethical and/or diligent
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
zeal
4 uses
nothing damped the zeal of Nicholas in the service of his kind patrons
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 40 |