affectation
3 uses
I hate this affectation of youth, sir.
affectation = behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
allude
2 uses
The affair to which you allude was no more than a speculation.
allude = to make an indirect reference
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
Sir Robert Chiltern is on the brink of accepting the Prime Minister's offer, when he sees [his] wife looking at him with her clear, candid eyes.
candid = honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
contempt
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
She would have turned from me ... in contempt.
contempt = disrespect and dislike
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
desecrate
1 use
you whose lips desecrated the word love,
desecrated = violate the sacred character of
Definition
Generally desecrate means:violate the sacred nature of something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
discretion
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Parental discretion advised.
Has she never in her life done some folly—some indiscretion—that she should not forgive your sin?
indiscretion = behavior that displays a lack of good judgment
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indiscretion means not and reverses the meaning of discretion. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indiscretion means not and reverses the meaning of discretion. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of discretion means:good judgment or good taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
eloquent
2 uses
Not a subject on which much eloquence is possible.
eloquence = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
fraudulent
6 uses
It is because your husband is himself fraudulent and dishonest that we pair so well together.
fraudulent = intentionally dishonest to trick people
Definition
Generally fraudulent means:intentional deception — usually for financial gain or ego
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
grave
7 uses
It is a matter of the gravest importance, Phipps.
gravest = most serious
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
indignant
5 uses
with mock indignation
indignation = anger or annoyance at something unjust or wrong
(editor's note: mock means pretending)
(editor's note: mock means pretending)
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
infamous
5 uses
She is a vile, an infamous thing!
infamous = having an exceedingly bad reputation
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
invariably
3 uses
She invariably finds it out.
invariably = always
Definition
Generally invariably means:never changing; or always the same
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
loathe
3 uses
Think of their loathsome joy, of the delight they would have in dragging you down,
loathsome = disgusting or very bad
Definition
Generally loathe means:hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
morbid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a morbid curiosity
that is morbid of you
morbid = showing an unhealthy interest
Definition
Generally this sense of morbid means:suggesting death and decay; or an unhealthy interest in disturbing thoughts — such as of death or cruelty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
opera
5 uses
I hear she went to the Opera on Monday night,
opera = a classical music play in which most of the dialogue is sung
Definition
Generally opera means:a musical play with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung — (typically associated with classical music and often in a language foreign to the audience)
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
philanthropy
2 uses
And philanthropy seems to me to have become simply the refuge of people who wish to annoy their fellow-creatures.
philanthropy = helping others
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
remorse
2 uses
I don't say that I suffered any remorse.
remorse = regret for doing something that was wrong
Definition
Generally remorse means:a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
scrupulous
3 uses
Years ago you did a clever, unscrupulous thing; it turned out a great success.
unscrupulous = unethical
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulous means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulous. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unscrupulous means not and reverses the meaning of scrupulous. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
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 | Act 1 |
tedious
7 uses
What I don't like are tedious, practical people.
tedious = boring
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
yield
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
yield to pressure
I had no idea that you, of all men in the world, could have been so weak, Robert, as to yield to such a temptation as Baron Arnheim held out to you.†
yield = give in, give way, or give up
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |