condescending
1 use
Blessed be the moment when you condescend— Remembering that humbly I exist
condescend = to do something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
contempt
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
CYRANO(contemptuously):
contemptuously = disrespectfully
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
credulous
1 use
Ah, credulity of love!
credulity = gullibility (being too willing to believe)
Definition
Generally credulous means:gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
divine
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
Divinity in every careless gesture
divinity = something that is wonderful
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 |
eloquent
5 uses
He hath an eloquent tongue in telling his love?
eloquent = powerful use of language
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
engender
1 use
the grave emotion that a tear engenders
engenders = causes
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
expedient
2 uses
Here are six excellent expedients!
expedients = actions that are speedy or practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 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 |
haughty
6 uses
DE GUICHE (controlling himself, haughtily): Do you think I will eat your leavings?
haughtily = condescendingly (in a superior or self-important manner)
Definition
Generally haughty means:arrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 4 |
insolent
4 uses
The marquises in insolent attitudes seated on each side of the stage.
insolent = rudely disrespectful
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
Monsieur
24 uses
Monsieur de Bergerac.
Monsieur = Mr. (in French)
Definition
Generally this sense of Monsieur means:French equivalent to Mr. in English
or:
French equivalent to sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
or:
French equivalent to sir in English (a polite way to address a male)
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
novel
2 uses
CYRANO (coming nearer, passionately):
Ay, a new tone! In the tender, sheltering dusk
I dare to be myself for once,—at last!
(He stops, falters):
What say I? I know not!—Oh, pardon me—
It thrills me,—'tis so sweet, so novel. . .
Ay, a new tone! In the tender, sheltering dusk
I dare to be myself for once,—at last!
(He stops, falters):
What say I? I know not!—Oh, pardon me—
It thrills me,—'tis so sweet, so novel. . .
novel = pleasantly new and original
Definition
Generally this sense of novel means:new and original — typically something considered good
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
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 |
pedantic
1 use
You might have said at least a hundred things
By varying the tone. . .like this, suppose,. . .
Aggressive: 'Sir, if I had such a nose
I'd amputate it!' ...
Pedantic: 'That beast Aristophanes
Names Hippocamelelephantoles
Must have possessed just such a solid lump
Of flesh and bone, beneath his forehead's bump!'
...
Dramatic: 'When it bleeds, what a Red Sea!'
By varying the tone. . .like this, suppose,. . .
Aggressive: 'Sir, if I had such a nose
I'd amputate it!' ...
Pedantic: 'That beast Aristophanes
Names Hippocamelelephantoles
Must have possessed just such a solid lump
Of flesh and bone, beneath his forehead's bump!'
...
Dramatic: 'When it bleeds, what a Red Sea!'
pedantic = too concerned with book learning
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
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 |
prudent
3 uses
But swear he shall be prudent?
prudent = sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
resignation
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
accepted it with resignation
Resign yourself, and this obedience
Will be by Heaven well recompensed.
Will be by Heaven well recompensed.
resign = accept something undesired as unavoidable
(editor's note: In this case, Roxane is pretending that De Guiche's letter instructs her to accept Christian as her husband against her will.)
(editor's note: In this case, Roxane is pretending that De Guiche's letter instructs her to accept Christian as her husband against her will.)
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
A heart too deep for common minds to plumb, A spirit subtle, charming?
subtle = with fine distinctions that are not obvious
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 | Act 4 |