apathy
1 use
the apathy of the stars.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
arbitration
1 use
Struggle for life is the law of existence but human philirenists, notably the tsar and the king of England, have invented arbitration.
arbitration = an official process of solving a disagreement with the help of an impartial referee
Definition
Generally arbitration means:the process of solving a disagreement with the help of an impartial referee
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
buoyant
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
buoyant force or market
its buoyancy in the waters of the Dead Sea:
buoyancy = tendency to float
Definition
Generally this sense of buoyant means:tending to float or rise; or making other things float
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
capricious
1 use
The maids of honour ... wore very becoming costumes in the same tone, a dainty motif of plume rose being worked into the pleats in a pinstripe and repeated capriciously in the jadegreen toques in the form of heron feathers of paletinted coral.
capriciously = with impulsiveness or unpredictability
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
complacent
1 use
With these words he approached the goblet to his lips, took a complacent draught of the cordial,
complacent = contented (satisfied, unworried and happy)
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
credulous
1 use
...smiled credulously on the representative of His Majesty.
credulously = in a trusting manner (ready to believe what is said)
Definition
Generally credulous means:gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
depravity
1 use
There too, opposite to him, was Lynch whose countenance bore already the stigmata of early depravity and premature wisdom.
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
didactic
1 use
What additional didactic counsels did he similarly repress?
didactic = intended to instruct
Definition
Generally didactic means:describing something intended to instruct; or someone excessively inclined to instruct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
disparage
1 use
advising him to sever his connection with a certain budding practitioner who, he noticed, was prone to disparage and even to a slight extent ... deprecate him,
disparage = criticize or make seem less important
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 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
dissent
2 uses
Stephen dissented openly from Bloom's views on...
dissented = disagreed
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
efface
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
efface the memory
...the convivial atmosphere of Socratic discussion, while to right and left of him were accommodated the flippant prognosticator, fresh from the hippodrome, and that vigilant wanderer, soiled by the dust of travel and combat and stained by the mire of an indelible dishonour, but from whose steadfast and constant heart no lure or peril or threat or degradation could ever efface the image of that voluptuous loveliness which the inspired pencil of Lafayette has limned for ages yet to come.†
efface = remove completely from recognition or memory
Definition
Generally this sense of efface means:remove completely from recognition or memory — sometimes by erasing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
epiphany
1 use
Remember your epiphanies written on green oval leaves, deeply deep, copies to be sent if you died to all the great libraries of the world, including Alexandria?
epiphanies = sudden realizations
Definition
Generally epiphany means:a sudden realization — especially one of importance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
exemplar
4 uses
What future careers had been possible for Bloom in the past and with what exemplars?
exemplars = examples — especially those representing the ideal
Definition
Generally exemplar means:an example — especially one that represents the ideal
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
expedient
1 use
call wandering but a bit unsteady and on his expressed desire for some beverage to drink Mr Bloom, in view of the hour it was and there being no pump of Vartry water available for their ablutions, let alone drinking purposes hit upon an expedient by suggesting, off the reel, the propriety of the cabman s shelter, as it was called, hardly a stonesthrow away near butt bridge where they might hit upon some drinkables in the shape of a milk and soda or a mineral.
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
fawn
1 use
The dog yelped running to them, reared up and pawed them, dropping on all fours, again reared up at them with mute bearish fawning.
fawning = showing excessive affection
Definition
Generally this sense of fawn means:showing excessive flattery or affection
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
lockjaw
1 use
Mud head to foot. Cut your hand open. Lockjaw. They make
you kaputt, Leopoldleben.
you kaputt, Leopoldleben.
lockjaw = bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object
Definition
Generally lockjaw means:a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object; causes a spasm of the jaw muscles so that the jaw remains tightly closed; prevented by the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and by subsequent booster shots every 10 years
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
ostentatious
3 uses
in evening dress cut ostentatiously low for the occasion
ostentatiously = in a manner intended 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
rapt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
rapt attention
A bony form strode along the curbstone from the river staring with a rapt gaze into the sunlight through a heavystringed glass.
rapt = showing deep interest and focus
Definition
Generally this sense of rapt means:deeply interested and focused (on something) — often while admiring
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
refute
1 use
The bulldog of Aquin, with whom no word shall be impossible, refutes him.
refutes = proves or argues that something is false
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
scrupulous
3 uses
was scrupulously neat and clean
scrupulously = done with extreme care
Definition
Generally scrupulous means:careful to behave ethically and/or diligently (with great care and attention to detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |