ascetic
1 use
the asceticism that deadens the senses
asceticism = self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
blasphemy
1 use
This is blasphemy, Dorian!
blasphemy = 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 10 |
calumny
1 use
Of such insolences and attempted slights he, of course, took no notice, and in the opinion of most people his frank debonair manner, his charming boyish smile, and the infinite grace of that wonderful youth that seemed never to leave him, were in themselves a sufficient answer to the calumnies (for so they called them) that were circulated about him.
calumnies = false accusations against a person
Definition
Generally calumny means:false accusation against a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
censure
2 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
consummate
1 use
She has not merely art, consummate art-instinct, in her, but she has personality also; and you have often told me that it is personalities, not principles, that move the age.
consummate = outstanding (perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree)
Definition
Generally this sense of consummate means:perfect and complete in every respect; or having a quality to an extreme degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
doleful
1 use
...and a huge cylindrical drum, covered with the skins of great serpents, like the one that Bernal Diaz saw when he went with Cortes into the Mexican temple, and of whose doleful sound he has left us so vivid a description.
doleful = full of sadness
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
enmity
1 use
"You don't understand what friendship is, Harry," he murmured,—"or what enmity is, for that matter."
enmity = hatred between enemies
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
flaccid
1 use
The cheeks would become hollow or flaccid.
flaccid = lacking in firmness or strength
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
hedonist
2 uses
A new hedonism,—that is what our century wants.
hedonism = philosophy that people should be most motivated by sensual pleasures
Definition
Generally hedonist means:someone most motivated by pleasures — often sensual pleasures
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
illustrate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an illustrated children's book
So the lad was looking rather sulky, as with listless fingers he turned over the pages of an elaborately-illustrated edition of "Manon Lescaut" that he had found in one of the bookcases.†
illustrated = accompanied by pictures
Definition
Generally this sense of illustrate means:to draw pictures (or provide photographs) to accompany a book or other writing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
indifferent
11 uses
The next time he calls, you will be perfectly cold and indifferent.
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 | 11 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
infinite
12 uses
In Dorian's there was infinite pity.
infinite = unlimited (immeasurable)
Definition
Generally infinite means:unlimited; without boundaries; or too numerous to count
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
lethargic
1 use
What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or the lack of imagination.
lethargy = a state with a lack of energy
Definition
Generally lethargic means:lacking energy
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
minuteness
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
minute size; or minute description
He would examine with minute care, and often with a monstrous and terrible delight, the hideous lines that seared the wrinkling forehead or crawled around the heavy sensual mouth, wondering sometimes which were the more horrible, the signs of sin or the signs of age.†
minute = detailed
Definition
Generally this sense of minuteness means:very small
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
or:
detailed (including even small considerations); or careful (done with care)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
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 8 |
obsequious
1 use
The elaborate character of the frame had made the picture extremely bulky, and now and then, in spite of the obsequious protests of Mr. Ashton, who had a true tradesman's dislike of seeing a gentleman doing anything useful, Dorian put his hand to it so as to help them.
obsequious = excessively eager to serve
Definition
Generally obsequious means:excessively eager to flatter or serve
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
penitent
1 use
"I am in Lady Agatha's black books at present," answered Dorian, with a funny look of penitence.
penitence = sorrow for having done wrong
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
petulant
2 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
sanguine
1 use
to find his way through the sanguine labyrinth of passion through which he was wandering.
sanguine = optimistic and cheerful
Definition
Generally sanguine means:confidently optimistic and cheerful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
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 6 |