agitate
26 uses
These last words were uttered in a tone of sorrowful agitation.
agitation = the act of stirring up (emotionally or physically); or emotional unrest
Definition
Generally agitate means:to stir up — emotionally (such as anxiety) or physically (such as shaking)
Word Statistics
| Book | 26 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.1 |
anxiety
24 uses
said Mrs. Moss, with some anxiety.
anxiety = nervousness or worry
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 22 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.9 |
apathy
1 use
Mr. Tulliver, even between the fits of spasmodic rigidity which had recurred at intervals ever since he had been found fallen from his horse, was usually in so apathetic a condition that the exits and entrances into his room were not felt to be of great importance.
apathetic = without interest or enthusiasm
Definition
Generally apathy means:lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.4 |
apparent
30 uses
Tom declined that pleasure apparently, for he tried to draw his hand away.
apparently = obviously
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 54 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
capricious
5 uses
if, on the reading of your will, you sank in the opinion of your fellow-men, either by turning out to be poorer than they expected, or by leaving your money in a capricious manner, without strict regard to degrees of kin.
capricious = impulsive
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
clergy
6 uses
"Ay, that's true," said Mr. Tulliver, almost convinced now that the clergy must be the best of schoolmasters.
clergy = formal religious leaders (typically in Christianity)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
complacent
8 uses
The poor wife, with her withered beauty, smiled complacently.
complacently = in a satisfied manner — without any concern
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.2 |
conciliatory
5 uses
And Maggie had forgotten even her hunger at that moment in the desire to conciliate gypsy opinion.
conciliate = attempt to end bad feelings or build trust
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6.4 |
contempt
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
Tom had a profound contempt for this nonsense of Maggie's,
contempt = disrespect and dislike
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
...slowly, as if he were trying to defer the moment of a painful parting.
defer = postpone
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.2 |
deride
2 uses
Maggie seemed to be listening to a chorus of reproach and derision.
derision = treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.7 |
endure
13 uses
1 —13 uses as in:
endured the pain
...felt it impossible that she should go down to dinner and endure the severe eyes and severe words of her aunts,
endure = suffer through (or put up with)
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.3 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish that there is a need
Now and then that sort of enthusiasm finds a far-echoing voice that comes from an experience springing out of the deepest need; and it was by being brought within the long lingering vibrations of such a voice that Maggie, with her girl's face and unnoted sorrows, found an effort and a hope that helped her through years of loneliness, making out a faith for herself without the aid of established authorities and appointed guides; for they were not at hand, and her need was pressing.†
established = proven
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.3 |
expedient
4 uses
At length, in a case of aberration such as this, comment presented itself as more expedient than any answer.
expedient = speedy or practical; or an action that is speedy or practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.1 |
hypothesis
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a study to test her hypothesis
There was something rather bold in Miss Tulliver's direct gaze, and something undefinably coarse in the style of her beauty, which placed her, in the opinion of all feminine judges, far below her cousin Miss Deane; for the ladies of St. Ogg's had now completely ceded to Lucy their hypothetic claims on the admiration of Mr. Stephen Guest.†
hypothetic = possibly real, but not known for sure to be real
Definition
Generally this sense of hypothesis means:seemingly reasonable, but unproven idea or explanation based upon known facts
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.7 |
imply
16 uses
His tone implied something more than mere hopefulness or resolution.
implied = suggested
Definition
Generally imply means:to suggest or say indirectly — possibly as a logical consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 10 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.2 |
indifferent
30 uses
But she was not looking indifferent now.
indifferent = without interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest — in various senses such as:
- unconcerned
- unsympathetic
- impartial
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context)
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.6 |
indignant
27 uses
The indignant fire in her eyes was quenched, and she began to look at him with timid distress.
indignant = angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 27 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
resignation
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
accepted it with resignation
...how could I be resigned to the loss of the one thing which had ever come to me on earth with the promise of such deep joy...
resigned = acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.3 |
resolute
13 uses
Poor Tom bore his severe pain heroically, and was resolute in not "telling" of Mr. Poulter more than was unavoidable;
resolute = firm in purpose
Definition
Generally resolute means:firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.5 |