arbitrary
1 use
How shallow were the arbitrary definitions of ordinary psychologists! And yet how difficult to decide between the claims of the various schools!
arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
assume (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
She assumed power
...Pietro Barbi, the Venetian, known as Paul the Second, who sought in his vanity to assume the title of Formosus, and whose tiara, valued at two hundred thousand florins, was bought at the price of a terrible sin;
assume = take (power or responsibility)
Definition
Generally this sense of assume means:beginning to take power or responsibility
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 46 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 9 |
2 —2 uses as in:
She assumed a false identity
There were moments, indeed, at night, when, lying sleepless in his own delicately-scented chamber, or in the sordid room of the little ill-famed tavern near the Docks, which, under an assumed name, and in disguise, it was his habit to frequent, he would think of the ruin he had brought upon his soul, with a pity that was all the more poignant because it was purely selfish.
assumed = false (taken on or adopted)
Definition
Generally this sense of assume means:to take on (adopt, wear, strike a pose or appearance of) — often while pretending or disguising
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 33 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 10 |
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 |
dominate
8 uses
As long as I live, the personality of Dorian Gray will dominate me.
dominate = control or strongly influence
Definition
Generally dominate means:to control; or to be most influential, powerful, abundant, important, or conspicuous
Word Statistics
Book | 8 uses |
Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 5 |
enmity
1 use
"You don't understand what friendship is, Harry," he murmured,—"or what enmity is, for that matter."
enmity = hatred
Definition
Generally enmity means:hatred toward someone or between people — typically long-lasting
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 1 |
establish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
establish a positive tone
I believe he married Lady Ashton's maid, and has established her in Paris as an English dressmaker.†
established = settled
Definition
Generally this sense of establish means:create, start, or set in [a] place
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 25 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 100 |
1st use | Chapter 10 |
flaccid
1 use
The cheeks would become hollow or flaccid.
flaccid = lacking in firmness or strength
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 8 |
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 | 6 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, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
Book | 11 uses |
Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Chapter 7 |
inevitable
3 uses
It was simply inevitable.
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Chapter 1 |
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 | 14 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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 3 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 2000 |
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 |
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 |
servile
2 uses
It was like a placid mask of servility.
servility = an attitude of someone who is so excessively submissive that they seem to lack self-respect
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 3 |
stagnate
2 uses
And what an utter intellectual stagnation it reveals!
stagnation = lack of development
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", 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 action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally stagnate means:staying still or not developing
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Chapter 6 |