The Importance of Being Earnest — Vocabulary
Oscar Wilde
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	5	top 100
candidhonest and direct Don't worry about my feelings. I'd like your candid opinion.more Show sample from book Personally, darling, to speak quite candidly, I don't much care about the name of Ernest.4 more candid → candidly:with honesty and directness
	4	top 200
domesticrelated to the home or family The shelter helps victims of domestic violence find safe housing and support.more Show sample from book neglect his domestic duties3 more relating to the home or family Show general definition for domestic (as in: domestic happiness) relating to a home or family
	3	top 100
alludeallude → alluded:indirectly referenced He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.more Show sample from book Do you allude to me, Miss Cardew, as an entanglement?2 more to make 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.
	3	top 500
deceptiondeceiving or misleading The law is intended to defeat denial and deception strategies.more Show sample from book Disloyalty would be as impossible to him as deception.†2 more the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads Show general definition the act of lying to or misleading someone; or something that misleads
	3	top 1000
tediousboring I'll have to endure one of her tedious lectures.more Show sample from book A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.2 more Show general definition boring -- especially because something goes on too long or without variation
	3	top 1000
deceivemislead The plan was to deceive the Germans into believing the main attack would take place further north.more Show sample from book I can see no possible defence at all for your deceiving a brilliant, clever, thoroughly experienced young lady like Miss Fairfax.†2 more deceive → deceiving:lying or misleading Show general definition to lie to or mislead someone -- occasionally to lie to oneself by denying reality
	2	top 500
motivereason (for doing something) She believes the profit motive encourages people to satisfy other people's needs.more Show sample from book Cecily, who addresses me as her uncle from motives of respect that you could not possibly appreciate, lives at my place in the country under the charge of her admirable governess, Miss Prism.†1 more motive → motives:reasons for doing something Show general definition for motive (as in: What is her motive?) a reason for doing something
	4	top 2000
vulgarvulgar → vulgarity:crudeness (showing of bad taste) Her vulgarity was a turnoff.more Show sample from book It is very vulgar to talk about one's business.3 more in bad taste (unsophisticated or crude) Show general definition of bad taste -- often crude or offensive or: unsophisticated (or common) -- especially of taste
	2	top 500
inquiryinvestigation The school launched an official inquiry into the allegations of cheating.more Show sample from book While I am making these inquiries, you, Gwendolen, will wait for me below in the carriage.†1 more inquiry → inquiries:questions or investigations Show general definition a question or investigation -- especially one meant to gather information or find out the truth
	2	top 500
reconcilereconcile → reconciled:made peace or restored friendship After months of not speaking, the two friends finally reconciled over coffee.more Show sample from book It's pleasant, is it not, to see so perfect a reconciliation?1 more reconcile → reconciliation:two people making up (to bring into agreement) Show general definition for reconcile (as in: reconciled their differences) to make peace between people or bring different ideas into agreement
	3	top 1000
metaphormetaphor → metaphorically:with a figure of speech in which a similarity between two things is highlighted by using a word to refer to something that it does not literally denote He was speaking metaphorically when he referred to being mugged by reality.more Show sample from book I spoke metaphorically.2 more metaphor → metaphorically:using a figure of speech Show general definition a figure of speech in which a similarity between two things is implied by using a word to refer to something it does not literally mean—as in, "All the world’s a stage." Show editor's word notes When Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." he was not saying the world is really a stage and all people are actors. But he was pointing to the similarities he wants us to recognize. While metaphors and similes are both techniques of figurative language. The distinction is that a simile explicitly shows that a comparison is being made, by using words such as "like" or "as". A metaphor simply substitutes words assuming the reader will understand the meaning should not be take literally. "She is like a diamond in the rough" is a simile; while "She is a diamond in the rough" is a metaphor.
	2	top 1000
susceptibleeasily influenced or harmed I am more susceptible to colds than most.more Show sample from book I myself am peculiarly susceptible to draughts.†1 more easily influenced or harmed; OR capable of being treated in a particular way Show general definition easily influenced or harmed or: capable of being treated in a particular way
	3
manora large house that belongs to a wealthy person Bletchley Manor was converted into a home for code breakers during World War II.more Show sample from book The Manor House, Woolton, Hertfordshire.†2 more a large house of a wealthy person; OR historically:… Show general definition a large house of a wealthy person or historically: the main house of a lord and the land around it that was worked by tenant farmers
	3	top 2000
baptismbaptism → baptized:"spiritually renewed" in a Christian ceremony She was baptized at the same church as her grandmother.more Show context notes The suffix "-ize" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize. Show sample from book Algernon, I forbid you to be baptized.†2 more baptism → baptized:"spiritually renewed" in a Christian ceremony OR initiated or purified by a challenging experience Show context notes The suffix "-ize" converts a word to a verb. This is the same pattern you see in words like apologize, theorize, and dramatize. Show general definition a Christian ceremony signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth or: a challenging experience that initiates or purifies Show editor's word notes Most churches baptize infants, but some require an adult to request baptism, and a few (such as the Quakers) require no baptism at all. Typically, water is used as part of the ceremony, such as sprinkling a little water on a baby's head; though some churches use complete submersion in water.
	1	top 100
omitomit → omitted:left out She recounted the whole story except that she omitted names.more Show sample from book The chapter on the Fall of the Rupee you may omit.† to exclude or neglect something Show general definition to exclude or neglect something
	2
philanthropyhelping others Her primary interests are family and philanthropy.†more Show sample from book I don't quite like women who are interested in philanthropic work.1 more Show general definition helping others -- especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
	2
scoundrelsomeone without moral principles He's a scoundrel. Don't trust him.more Show sample from book You young scoundrel, Algy, you must get out of this place as soon as possible.†1 more Show general definition someone without moral principles
	1	top 500
refuterefute → refuted:argued against The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments.more Show sample from book They savour ... views that I have completely refuted in four of my unpublished sermons. refute → refuted:disproved or argued against Show general definition to disprove or argue against
	1	top 500
conducivehelpful The dorm room was not conducive to studying.more Show sample from book And as a high moral tone can hardly be said to conduce very much to either one's health or one's happiness, in order to get up to town I have always pretended to have a younger brother of the name of Ernest, who lives in the Albany, and gets into the most dreadful scrapes.† conducive → conduce:contribute (to a result) Show general definition helpful; or tending to contribute (to something)
	1	top 500
impetuousimpulsive (made suddenly without much thought) She regretted her impetuous promise.†more Show sample from book What an impetuous boy he is! impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) Show general definition for impetuous (as in: an impetuous decision) impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) -- often with an unfortunate consequence