aggrieve
1 use
But his mother was to be punished still more for what she had done, as hardly had his sister arrived home in the evening than she noticed the change in Gregor's room and, highly aggrieved, ran back into the living room where, despite her mothers raised and imploring hands, she broke into convulsive tears.
aggrieved = upset (by bad treatment)
Definition
Generally aggrieve means:feeling harmed by unfair treatment; or (more rarely) harming someone unfairly
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 3 |
caustic
1 use
some kind of caustic medicine splashed all over him;
caustic = harsh feeling (burning or corrosive)
Definition
Generally caustic means:of a chemical substance: corrosive; capable of destroying or eating away such as a strong acid
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
or:
of a person: sarcastic, critical, or harsh
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Part 2 |
compelling
1 use
...sucking greedily at the cheese which had immediately, almost compellingly, attracted him much more than the other foods on the newspaper.
compellingly = in a manner that could not be resisted
Definition
Generally compelling means:very interesting; or convincing — possibly leading to action
or more rarely: a force for action
or more rarely: a force for action
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
conservatory
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
music conservatory
Unlike him, she was very fond of music and a gifted and expressive violinist, it was his secret plan to send her to the conservatory next year...
conservatory = school for music
Definition
Generally this sense of conservatory means:a school specializing in one of the fine arts — especially music, dance, or drama
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
construe
1 use
Gregor would sometimes catch a friendly comment, or at least a comment that could be construed as friendly.
construed = interpreted
Definition
Generally construe means:to interpret (understand) something as have a specific meaning
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
contract
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
legal contract
Maybe you haven't read the latest contracts I sent in.
contracts = legal agreements
Definition
Generally this sense of contract means:an agreement - typically written and enforceable by law
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Part 1 |
copious
1 use
his attention was suddenly caught by the picture ... of the lady dressed in copious fur.
copious = abundant (large)
Definition
Generally copious means:abundant (large in quantity or number)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
diligent
2 uses
once the difficulty has been removed, he will certainly work with all the more diligence and concentration.
diligence = hard work and care
Definition
Generally diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Part 2 |
disheveled
1 use
Gregor's mother, her hair still dishevelled from bed despite the chief clerk's being there, looked at his father.
dishevelled = messy
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use disheveled.)
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use disheveled.)
Definition
Generally disheveled means:messy (untidy or disordered) — especially of a person's clothes and hair
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 1 |
glower
1 use
"Gregor!" shouted his sister, glowering at him and shaking her fist.
glowering = staring angrily
Definition
Generally glower means:to stare angrily
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
importune
1 use
Then, however much mother and sister would importune him with little reproaches and warnings he would keep slowly shaking his head for a quarter of an hour with his eyes closed and refusing to get up.
importune = beg persistently and urgently
Definition
Generally importune means:beg insistently or urge repeatedly
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 3 |
insistent
2 uses
...the others were being so insistent, and he was curious to learn what they would say when they caught sight of him. If they were shocked then it would no longer be Gregor's responsibility and he could rest.
insistent = demanding
Definition
Generally insistent means:persistent or continuing or firm — especially in maintaining a view or demanding something
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 1 |
lethargic
1 use
Long after he had finished eating and lay lethargic in the same place, his sister...
lethargic = without energy
Definition
Generally lethargic means:lacking energy
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
monogram
1 use
He took his cap, with its gold monogram from, probably, some bank, and threw it in an arc right across the room onto the sofa,
monogram = design of alphabetic letters
Definition
Generally monogram means:a design based on alphabetic letters (usually a person's initials) — often printed on stationery or embroidered (made with sewing stiches) on clothing
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
protrude
3 uses
she probably even had to overcome the urge to flee when she saw the little bit of him that protruded from under the couch.
protruded = stuck out
Definition
Generally protrude means:to stick out from
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |
resolve
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
Her resolve weakened.
Gregor went and waited immediately by the door, resolved either to bring the timorous visitor into the room in some way or at least to find out who it was;
resolved = having firmly decided
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Part 2 |
ruminate
1 use
He remained in this state of empty and peaceful rumination until he heard the clock tower strike three in the morning.
rumination = thinking again and again about something
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally ruminate means:to think again and again about something
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 3 |
simultaneous
1 use
Mr. and Mrs. Samsa were struck, almost simultaneously, with the thought of how their daughter was blossoming into a well built and beautiful young lady.
simultaneously = at the same time
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Part 3 |
superfluous
1 use
For this reason, many things had become superfluous which, although they could not be sold, the family did not wish to discard.
superfluous = unnecessary
Definition
Generally superfluous means:more than is needed, desired, or required
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 3 |
timorous
1 use
Gregor went and waited immediately by the door, resolved either to bring the timorous visitor into the room in some way or at least to find out who it was;
timorous = timid
Definition
Generally timorous means:timid (fearful) or shy
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Part 2 |