aesthetic
1 use
in this attribute moral or aesthetic poverty contrasts plausibly with material, since those who suffer do not mind it, whilst those who mind it soon cease to suffer.
aesthetic = appreciation of beauty
(editor's note: Hardy is contrasting poverty with bad morals or bad taste. He says people who are poor are unhappy and cannot change their situation. But people with bad morals or bad taste either don't mind their situation, or change themselves.)
(editor's note: Hardy is contrasting poverty with bad morals or bad taste. He says people who are poor are unhappy and cannot change their situation. But people with bad morals or bad taste either don't mind their situation, or change themselves.)
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 25-27 |
anxiety
17 uses
Troy had laughed, but it was with some anxiety that he said...
anxiety = nervousness or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 46-48 |
apathy
1 use
However, one excellent result of her general apathy was the long-delayed installation of Oak as bailiff;
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 49-51 |
apparent
44 uses
Apparently there was to be a thunderstorm,
apparently = appearing clear or obvious though not necessarily so
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 44 uses |
| Library | 55 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
approach
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
approached the city
It appeared that there had been a previous call which they had not noticed, for on their close approach the door of the turnpike-house opened, and the keeper came out half-dressed, with a candle in his hand.†
approach = coming
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 88 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31-33 |
capricious
1 use
said Bathsheba, dropping from haughtiness to entreaty with capricious inconsequence.
capricious = impulsive
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28-30 |
cease
30 uses
Gabriel ceased his rustling.
ceased = stopped or discontinued
Definition
Generally cease means:to stop or discontinue
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
contempt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
In those earlier days she had always nourished a secret contempt for girls who were the slaves of the first good-looking young fellow who should choose to salute them.
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 34-36 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
The clash of discord between mood and matter here was forced painfully home to the heart;
discord = conflict (or argument)
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 34-36 |
earnest
23 uses
Can you jest when I am so wretchedly in earnest?
earnest = intensely serious
Definition
Generally earnest means:characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious
or:
intensely or excessively serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 23 uses |
| Library | 20 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-9 |
establish
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
establish a positive tone
The manners of the inn were of the old-established type.†
established = familiar
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1-3 |
exemplar
1 use
after having been pointed out for so many years as the perfect exemplar of thriving bachelorship
exemplar = ideal example
Definition
Generally exemplar means:an example — especially one that represents the ideal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22-24 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
And I'm inclined to think we'd better keep quiet.
inclined = tending (with tendency)
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency; in the mood; or an attitude that favors something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 52-54 |
2 —2 uses as in:
on an incline or incline his head
inclining her head as she spoke in the direction of the room where Fanny lay.
inclining = angling (or bending or leaning)
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22-24 |
incredulous
1 use
Gabriel looked incredulous and sad, but between his moments of incredulity, relieved.
incredulous = unbelieving; or having difficulty accepting something so unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 19-21 |
indifferent
23 uses
"No, indeed," said Bathsheba, with serene indifference.
indifference = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 23 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7-9 |
inquire
37 uses
He merely inquired if the work was done, and, on being assured that it was, passed on again.
inquired = asked
Definition
Generally inquire means:to ask about or look into something
Word Statistics
| Book | 37 uses |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4-6 |
reticent
2 uses
the reticence of her tongue only made the loquacity of her face the more noticeable.
reticence = reluctance
(editor's note: loquacity is to be talkative)
(editor's note: loquacity is to be talkative)
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19-21 |
revere
1 use
What Troy did was to sink upon his knees with an indefinable union of remorse and reverence upon his face,
reverence = feelings of deep respect and admiration
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 43-45 |
sufficient
18 uses
A few months were sufficient to give him a distaste for this kind of life.
sufficient = adequate without being abundant
Definition
Generally sufficient means:adequate (enough — often without being more than is needed)
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22-24 |