allegory
1 use
There was the allegory of my whole life: I, in the shadow, at the ladder's foot, While others lightly mount to Love and Fame!†
allegory = a fictional story whose characters, items, or events are symbolic to express a deeper meaning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 5 |
diminutive
1 use
fat cooks, and diminutive apprentices
diminutive = very small
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
eccentric
1 use
This wild eccentric becomes interesting!
eccentric = person who is unconventional or strange
Definition
Generally eccentric means:unconventional or strange; or a person with such traits
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
fastidious
1 use
I fear me she is coquettish, and over nice and fastidious!
fastidious = giving careful attention to proper manners and good taste
Definition
Generally fastidious means:giving careful attention to detail
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
or:
excessively concerned with cleanliness or matters of taste
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
futile
1 use
When feeling love exists in us, ennobling,
Each well-weighed word is futile and soul-saddening!
Each well-weighed word is futile and soul-saddening!
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
grandiloquent
2 uses
THE CADET (grandiloquently): —With the smell of powder!†
grandiloquently = lofty in style
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
grave
4 uses
I never will, while of myself I'm master,
let the divinity of tears—their beauty
Be wedded to such common ugly grossness.
Nothing more solemn than a tear—sublimer;
And I would not by weeping turn to laughter
The grave emotion that a tear engenders!
let the divinity of tears—their beauty
Be wedded to such common ugly grossness.
Nothing more solemn than a tear—sublimer;
And I would not by weeping turn to laughter
The grave emotion that a tear engenders!
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave is often subject to its context. For example:
The exact meaning of this sense of grave is often subject to its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad (with a heavy heart)
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — sincere and dignified without humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
indifferent
2 uses
ROXANE (indifferently): Bravo!
indifferently = without interest
(editor's note: Roxane is being ironic by using a word that typically expresses strong approval, but in a tone that demonstrates a lack of interest.)
(editor's note: Roxane is being ironic by using a word that typically expresses strong approval, but in a tone that demonstrates a lack of 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
inevitable
1 use
At last the moment comes, inevitable
inevitable = certain to happen
Definition
Generally inevitable means:certain to happen (even if one tried to prevent it)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 21 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
minuteness
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
minute size; or minute description
THE BORE (stammering): No, small, quite small—minute!†
minute = small, detailed, or careful
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 | Act 1 |
mockery
12 uses
He dares to mock my nose?
mock = making fun of
Definition
Generally mockery means:ridicule (to make fun of)
or:
something so inadequate it is ridiculous (silly)
or:
something so inadequate it is ridiculous (silly)
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
ostentatious
1 use
(Sniffing ostentatiously):
O heavens!. . .what a stink!. . .
(Going up to Cyrano):
You, sir, without a doubt have sniffed it up!
O heavens!. . .what a stink!. . .
(Going up to Cyrano):
You, sir, without a doubt have sniffed it up!
ostentatiously = in a manner intended to attract notice
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
perspective
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a perspective of the entire block
A perspective of little streets. On the right Roxane's house and the wall of her garden overhung with thick foliage.
perspective = view
Definition
Generally this sense of perspective means:a view — often stressing that the view is different from a view from another location
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
profuse
1 use
Bustle and hurry of scullions, fat cooks, and diminutive apprentices, their caps profusely decorated with cock's feathers and wings of guinea-fowl.
profusely = abundantly
Definition
Generally profuse means:abundant (a lot of something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
ratify
1 use
An oath that's ratified,—a sealed promise,
ratified = formally approved
Definition
Generally ratify means:to approve — typically the formal approval of an agreement by an organization
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
recite
6 uses
CYRANO (reciting, as if repeating a lesson):
reciting = saying aloud
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
resolute
1 use
They are a resolute troop.
resolute = firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
revere
1 use
THE CADET (with a low reverence): Madame. . .
reverence = respectfully
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
surreptitious
1 use
they surreptitiously wipe away their tears with their cuffs and the corner of their cloaks.
surreptitiously = secretly or in a manner not to be noticed
Definition
Generally surreptitious means:done secretly or in a manner that avoids notice
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
zeal
1 use
slow your zeal!
zeal = enthusiasm
Definition
Generally zeal means:active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |