Moby Dick — Vocabulary
Herman Melville
(Auto-generated)

Word Set

Samples

Sort By

Further limit words

by chapter of first use

to Show all

by difficulty

to (9 is most difficult)

by interest

underline any show only

Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	2	top 10
contrastpoint to differences between Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.more Show sample from book The more so, I say, because truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast.23 more contrast → by contrast:in a comparison that shows differences Show general definition for contrast (as in: contrast their writing styles) point to differences between; or compare to show differences
	22	top 10
contrast#2notable difference The contrast in their leadership styles is striking. Olivia motivated people with fear. Isabella motivated them with praise.more Show sample from book The schools composing none but young and vigorous males, previously mentioned, offer a strong contrast to the harem schools.23 more something notably different compared (to something) Show general definition for contrast (as in: there is a contrast) a difference -- especially a notable difference; or the side-x-side arrangement of things that draws attention to an unmissable difference
	14	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book How many barrels will thy vengeance yield thee even if thou gettest it, Captain Ahab? it will not fetch thee much in our Nantucket market.23 more provide or give Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	10	top 100
yield#2give in The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more Show sample from book ...his two comrades would not yield, the one to the other, in the matter; and both of them could not be first, for the ladder would but admit one man at a time.23 more Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
	8	top 1000
profounddeep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence She shared a profound way of thinking about the problem.more Show sample from book ...many profound thoughts were incidentally suggested to me, capable of a transcendental and Platonic application;29 more deep and far-reaching
	22	top 500
profound#2intense (of great emotional depth) Her apology was heartfelt--expressing profound sorrow and regret.more Show sample from book ...a profound desire to learn...29 more intense Show general definition for profound (as in: profound sadness) of greatest intensity or emotional depth
	22	top 100
alludeallude → alluded:indirectly referenced He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.more Show sample from book By some tacit consent, throughout the voyage little or no allusion was made to it, especially by the mates.†21 more allude → allusion:an indirect reference Show general definition to make an indirect reference Show editor's word notes The expression, no allusion can mean "not even an indirect reference"; i.e., neither a direct nor an indirect reference to something.
	10	top 100
conveycommunicate or express She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more Show sample from book Of the Right Whale, the best outline pictures are in Scoresby; but they are drawn on too small a scale to convey a desirable impression.10 more Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her thoughts) communicate or express
	1	top 2000
convey#2transport I was ordered to convey her to London.more Show sample from book Now, the spouting canal of the Sperm Whale, chiefly intended as it is for the conveyance of air, and for several feet laid along, horizontally, just beneath the upper surface of his head, and a little to one side; this curious canal is very much like a gas-pipe laid down in a city on one side of a street.10 more Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her safely to) transport Show editor's word notes Today, this sense of convey is seldom seen outside of historic literature.
	2
straita narrow water way that joins two larger bodies of water The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.more Show sample from book Alone in his canoe, he paddled off to a distant strait, which he knew the ship must pass through when she quitted the island.18 more narrow water passage Show general definition for strait (as in: Strait of Hormuz) a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
	22	top 200
malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more Show sample from book I cherished no malice towards him, though he had been skylarking with me not a little in the matter of my bedfellow.†21 more the desire to hurt others or see them suffer Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
	14	top 1000
endureendure → endured:suffered through I endured insult and injury without complaint.more Show sample from book Mad with the agonies he endures from these fresh attacks, the infuriated Sperm Whale rolls over and over;14 more endure → endures:suffers through Show general definition for endure (as in: endured the pain) to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
	1	top 1000
endure#2continue to exist She is gone, but her teachings endure through the ages.more Show sample from book ...this Starbuck seemed prepared to endure for long ages to come,14 more survive or continue to exist Show general definition for endure (as in: endure through the ages) to continue to exist
	26
evinceshow She displays little knowledge of the political realities, nor does she evince any awareness of underlying economic forces.more Show sample from book It may seem unwarrantable to couple in any respect the mast-head standers of the land with those of the sea; but that in truth it is not so, is plainly evinced by an item for which Obed Macy, the sole historian of Nantucket, stands accountable.†25 more evince → evinced:showed Show general definition to show
	1
yokeoppressive burden They threw off the yoke of slavery.more Show sample from book It was the whaleman who first broke through the jealous policy of the Spanish crown, touching those colonies; and, if space permitted, it might be distinctly shown how from those whalemen at last eventuated the liberation of Peru, Chili, and Bolivia from the yoke of Old Spain, and the establishment of the eternal democracy in those parts.7 more oppressive control Show general definition for yoke (as in: the yoke of bondage) an oppressive burden or something that limits freedom
	7
yoke#2a wooden frame to join beasts of burden so they pull together The farmer used a yoke to harness his oxen together to plow the field.more Show sample from book Think you not then that brains, like yoked cattle, should be put to this leviathan, to make him at all budge to any landsman's imagination?7 more yoke → yoked:connected by a wooden framework to pull together Show general definition for yoke (as in: oxen yoke) a wooden frame used to join beasts of burden so they pull together, or a connected pair, or the connecting of a pair
	9	top 1000
sagaciouswise She is a smart and sagacious statesman.more Show sample from book But if these suspicions were really his, he sagaciously refrained from verbally expressing them,8 more sagacious → sagaciously:wisely Show general definition wise -- especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
	7	top 500
aggregatecombined Aggregate expenses include expenses of all the divisions of our company for the entire year.more Show sample from book To this aggregation of the Sperm Whale into such immense caravans, may be imputed the circumstance that even in the best cruising grounds, you may now sometimes sail for weeks and months together, without being greeted by a single spout; and then be suddenly saluted by what sometimes seems thousands on thousands.†6 more aggregate → aggregation:a combination of different, but related quantities or things Show general definition a whole formed by combining several parts or amounts; or the act of bringing things together into a whole
	9
longitudea measure of east/west (relative to the Prime Meridian) on the earth Just put the latitude and longitude into the navigation system and it will tell us how to get there.more Show sample from book At one time the greatest whaling people in the world, the Dutch and Germans are now among the least; but here and there at very wide intervals of latitude and longitude, you still occasionally meet with their flag in the Pacific.†8 more Show general definition a measure of east/west (relative to the Prime Meridian) on the earth Show editor's word notes Lines of longitude are the imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. They are sometimes called meridians. Unlike latitude, which measures north–south, longitude measures how far east or west a place is on Earth. By international agreement, the zero line of longitude (0°) is the prime meridian, which passes through Greenwich, England. Longitudes go up to 180° east and 180° west. Used together with latitude, longitude lets you give an exact position for any point on Earth.
	8
portentousimportant It is a portentous day for the space program.more Show sample from book Such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity.†7 more very important; OR indicating something important in the future Show general definition very important; or indicating something important in the future -- often something that is threatening or: acting overly important or serious