Great Expectations
Vocabulary

Wemmick explained to me ... that this was according to custom, and...

according to = in agreement with

He further gave me leave to accompany the prisoner to London; but declined to accord that grace to my two friends.

accord = give special treatment

But, it was only the pleasanter to turn to Biddy and to Joe, whose great forbearance shone more brightly than before, if that could be, contrasted with this brazen pretender.

contrasted = compared to show differences

The air of completeness and superiority with which she walked at my side, and the air of youthfulness and submission with which I walked at hers, made a contrast that I strongly felt.

contrast = notable difference

I deferred asking him about Miss Havisham until next day.

deferred = postponed or delayed

I silently deferred to his experience.

deferred = submitted or yielded

His expression was, 'a round score o' year ago, and a'most directly after I took up wi' Compeyson.'†

directly = immediately

It lay directly in my way, and had been worked that day, as I saw by the tools and barrows that were lying about.†

directly = exactly where stated (used for emphasis)

Am I right in so understanding what you have told me, as that he never referred to her, directly or indirectly, in any way?†

indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious manner

(editor's note:  The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like incomplete, independent, and inexpensive.)

We found that a steamer for Hamburg was likely to suit our purpose best, and we directed our thoughts chiefly to that vessel.†

directed = focused

I think it will be conceded by my most disputatious reader, that she could hardly have directed an unfortunate boy to do anything in the wide world more difficult to be done under the circumstances.†

directed = instructed

He advised my attending certain places in London, for the acquisition of such mere rudiments as I wanted, and my investing him with the functions of explainer and director of all my studies.†

director = supervisor (person in charge)

It was an odd sensation to see his very familiar face established quite at home in that very unfamiliar room and region;†

established = settled

So convinced I was of that woman's being her mother, that I wanted no evidence to establish the fact in my own mind.†

establish = prove

I was obliged to admit that I did know it for a certainty,

obliged = required (obligated) to do something

Biddy, who was the most obliging of girls, immediately said she would, and indeed began to carry out her promise within five minutes.

obliging = helpful

Never had I breathed, and never would I breathe—or so I resolved —a word of Estella to Provis.

resolved = decided