ailment
1 use
No ailment was found, and he investigated again.
ailment = illness
Definition
Generally ailment means:an illness
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 6 |
alacrity
2 uses
Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his heart.
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2 |
auspicious
1 use
Everything was auspicious.
auspicious = favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 28 |
deride
2 uses
Tom withered him with derision!
derision = by treating him as though he were inferior and unworthy of respect
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", 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 admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1 |
diffident
1 use
Speak out, my boy—don't be diffident.
diffident = hesitant and unassertive due to a lack of self-confidence
Definition
Generally diffident means:hesitant and unassertive — often due to a lack of self-confidence
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 23 |
diligent
3 uses
Diligence and attention soon gave him the knack of it,
diligence = hard work and care
Definition
Generally this sense of diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 4 |
disdain
1 use
His heart was heavy, and he said with a disdain which he did not feel that it wasn't anything to spit like Tom Sawyer;
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 6 |
eloquent
6 uses
The mayor of the village, in delivering the prize to the author of it, made a warm speech in which he said that it was by far the most "eloquent" thing he had ever listened to,
eloquent = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
Book | 6 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 16 |
forbearance
1 use
He believed he had taxed the forbearance of the powers above to the extremity
forbearance = tolerance
(editor's note: Tom is afraid that he has sinned more than God can forgive)
(editor's note: Tom is afraid that he has sinned more than God can forgive)
Definition
Generally forbearance means:refraining (holding back) from acting
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 22 |
guile
2 uses
Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile... for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments.
guile = cunning and deceit
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4 |
notorious
2 uses
Here was a gorgeous triumph; they were missed; they were mourned... the departed were the talk of the whole town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety was concerned.
notoriety = state of being known for something bad
Definition
Generally notorious means:well known for something bad
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 14 |
persistent
2 uses
As the service proceeded, the clergyman drew such pictures of the graces, the winning ways, and the rare promise of the lost lads that every soul there, thinking he recognized these pictures, felt a pang in remembering that he had persistently blinded himself to them always before, and had as persistently seen only faults and flaws in the poor boys.
persistently = always (in a continuing manner)
Definition
Generally persistent means:continuing — especially despite difficulties or opposition
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
1st use | Chapter 17 |
pervasive
3 uses
and this seemed to render the pervading silence and sense of loneliness the more profound.
pervading = filling
Definition
Generally pervasive means:existing throughout something; or generally widespread
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
you will find that the sermon of the most frivolous and the least religious girl in the school is always the longest and the most relentlessly pious.
pious = moral and religious
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 21 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
There was a long silence, profound and unbroken;
profound = of great intensity
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 14 |
relapse
3 uses
The next day the doctors were back; Tom had relapsed.
relapsed = returned to an undesirable previous condition
Definition
Generally relapse means:to return to an undesirable previous condition — especially illness, addiction, or bad behavior
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 22 |
sagacious
1 use
She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom had stumbled into obedient conduct for once.
sagacity = wisdom
Definition
Generally sagacious means:wise — especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1 |
succession
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a succession of events
He took a rest and then swelled himself up and fetched a succession of admirable groans.
succession = series (one after another)
Definition
Generally this sense of succession means:series or sequence (one after another)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 6 |
tedious
6 uses
Three dreadful days and nights dragged their tedious hours along,
tedious = boring
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
Book | 6 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 4 |
tranquil
5 uses
Huck's face lost its tranquil content, and took a melancholy cast.
tranquil = calm and undisturbed
Word Statistics
Book | 5 uses |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 2 |