acquiesce
1 use
Poor old fellow, he had not uttered one word of surprise, complaint, fear, or even acquiescence from the very beginning of our troubles till now, when we had laid him down in the log-house to die.
acquiescence = reluctant compliance
Definition
Generally acquiesce means:reluctant or unenthusiastic compliance, consent, or agreement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
condescending
1 use
"Come in, Mr. Dance," says he, very stately and condescending.
condescending = treating others as inferior
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
"I thought you said you knowed the rules," returned Silver contemptuously.
contemptuously = with disrespect and dislike
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
deride
4 uses
asked Silver derisively.
derisively = with treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
diversity
1 use
It was a strange collection, like Billy Bones's hoard for the diversity of coinage, but so much larger and so much more varied that I think I never had more pleasure than in sorting them.
diversity = the condition of variety
Definition
Generally diversity means:the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 34 |
ebb
10 uses
By this time the tide was beginning to ebb, and the ship was swinging round to her anchor.
ebb = gradually fall
Definition
Generally ebb means:decline — typically gradually as with the height of the tide
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
elaborate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an elaborate wink
And with an elaborate sea-salute, this fellow ... stepped coolly towards the door and disappeared out of the house.
elaborate = exaggerated (possibly with much detail and complexity)
Definition
Generally this sense of elaborate means:to exaggerate an action
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
elated
1 use
I was greatly elated with my new command, and pleased with the bright, sunshiny weather
elated = had a feeling of happiness and excitement
Definition
Generally elated means:full of happiness and excitement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
extricate
1 use
Instantly I began to extricate myself and crawl back again, with what speed and silence I could manage, to the more open portion of the wood.
extricate = free or remove from constraint or difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
fawn
1 use
As soon as I was back again he returned to his former manner, half fawning, half sneering, patted me on the shoulder, told me I was a good boy and he had taken quite a fancy to me.
fawning = showing excessive flattery or affection
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
forage
1 use
Foraging about, I found a bottle with some brandy left, for Hands; and for myself I routed out some biscuit, some pickled fruits, a great bunch of raisins, and a piece of cheese.
foraging = searching for and gathering — often food and provisions
Definition
Generally forage means:to search for and gather — often food and provisions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
forbearance
1 use
His looks were not quite friendly, and I was so revolted at these constant changes that I could not forbear whispering, "So you've changed sides again."
forbear = refrain (hold back) from acting
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 33 |
furtive
1 use
Silver leant back against the wall, his arms crossed, his pipe in the corner of his mouth, as calm as though he had been in church; yet his eye kept wandering furtively
furtively = cautiously or suspiciously
Definition
Generally furtive means:taking pains to avoid being observed
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
or:
in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
obstinate
2 uses
But my mother, frightened as she was, would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less.
obstinately = stubbornly unyielding to other's wishes
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
pious
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
I've thought it all out in this here lonely island, and I'm back on piety. ... I'm bound I'll be good, and I see the way to.
piety = highly moral behavior
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
plateau
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
found on the plateau
...we began to ascend the slope towards the plateau.
plateau = high land that is reasonably flat
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 31 |
prodigious
3 uses
"Hawkins, I put prodigious faith in you," added the squire.
prodigious = far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
Definition
Generally prodigious means:enormous; or far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
submitted her resignation
...it shall be kept secret even from me and Mr. Arrow. Otherwise I would ask you to let me resign.
resign = quit (from his job)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:to quit — especially a job or position; or a document expressing such an act
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
revere
2 uses
came forward with another flag and reverently spread it on the body.
reverently = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally revere means:regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration — sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 32 |
yield
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
yield to pressure
It was something to see him wedge the foot of the crutch against a bulkhead, and propped against it, yielding to every movement of the ship, get on with his cooking like someone safe ashore.†
yielding = giving in, giving up, or giving way (easily moved or soft)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |