affectation
1 use
He hated his mother's affectations.
affectations = things done in an artificial way to make an impression
Definition
Generally affectation means:behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
blasphemy
1 use
This is blasphemy, Dorian!
blasphemy = something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred
Definition
Generally blasphemy means:something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
candid
2 uses
All the candour of youth was there, as well as all youth's passionate purity.
candour = honesty and directness
Definition
Generally candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
capricious
4 uses
retired from the Diplomatic Service in a capricious moment of annoyance at not being offered the Embassy at Paris, a post to which he considered that he was fully entitled by reason of ... and his inordinate passion for pleasure.
capricious = impulsive
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
censure
3 uses
Women who had wildly adored him, and for his sake had braved all social censure and set convention at defiance, were seen to grow pallid with shame or horror if Dorian Gray entered the room.
censure = criticism
Definition
Generally censure means:harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization — such as the U.S. Senate
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
discord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
—to observe where they met, and where they separated, at what point they were in unison, and at what point they were at discord,
discord = conflict (disagreement)
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 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
discordant music
Their voices were horribly shrill and discordant.
discordant = unpleasant sounding (especially in combination)
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
disdain
2 uses
She crouched on the floor like a wounded thing, and Dorian Gray, with his beautiful eyes, looked down at her, and his chiselled lips curled in exquisite disdain.
disdain = lack of respect (as though she was unworthy of him)
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
listless
11 uses
"I don't feel up to it," said Dorian, listlessly.
listlessly = with a lack of energy and normal enthusiasm
Definition
Generally listless means:lacking energy and normal enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
the view or directions are obscure
The style in which it was written was that curious jewelled style, vivid and obscure at once, full of argot and of archaisms, of technical expressions and of elaborate paraphrases, that characterises the work of some of the finest artists of the French school of Symbolistes.
obscure = difficult to understand
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
opera
13 uses
They ... used to be always seen together at the Opera, and wherever good music was going on.
opera = performances of classical music plays in which most of the dialogue is sung
Definition
Generally opera means:a musical play with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung — (typically associated with classical music and often in a language foreign to the audience)
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
or:
the art form (or describing something as related to it) that consists of musical plays with orchestra in which most dialogue is sung
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
petulant
3 uses
"I don't want a life-sized portrait of myself," answered the lad, swinging round on the music-stool, in a wilful, petulant manner.
petulant = unreasonably upset
Definition
Generally petulant means:unreasonably annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
or:
easily annoyed or upset
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
philanthropy
4 uses
Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity.
philanthropic = those who help others — especially by donating money
Definition
Generally philanthropy means:helping others — especially donating money to worthy causes; or an organization that does so
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
servile
2 uses
When his servant entered.... The man was quite impassive, and waited for his orders. Dorian ... could see the reflection of Victor's face perfectly. It was like a placid mask of servility.
servility = submissiveness
Definition
Generally servile means:submissive — typically excessively so (so submissive or eager to serve and please that one seems to have no self-respect)
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
or:
relating to the work that requires obeying demeaning commands
or:
slave-like or relating to slaves
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
stagnate
2 uses
And what an utter intellectual stagnation it reveals!
stagnation = lack of development
Definition
Generally stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
subtle (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle poison
There were poisons so subtle that to know their properties one had to sicken of them.
subtle = hidden in the way they work
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:working in an indirect or hidden way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
2 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
the loveliness and subtleties of certain colours
subtleties = slightly noticeable differences
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
tedious
12 uses
it was certainly a tedious party.
tedious = boring
Definition
Generally tedious means:boring — especially because something goes on too long or without variation
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
tremulous
9 uses
In the grass, white daisies were tremulous.
tremulous = quivering (shaky)
Definition
Generally tremulous means:quivering (shaky) — usually from weakness or fear — especially of the voice
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
vulgar
18 uses
There was something so crude and vulgar about everything of the kind.
vulgar = of bad taste
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |