abrupt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
an abrupt change
Melanie stopped speaking and abruptly the anger left her face and sorrow swamped it.
abruptly = suddenly and unexpectedly
Definition
Generally this sense of abrupt means:sudden and unexpected
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.55 |
bewilder
64 uses
She had set her feet upon that road a spoiled, selfish and untried girl, full of youth, warm of emotion, easily bewildered by life.
bewildered = very confused
Definition
Generally bewilder means:to confuse someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 64 uses |
| Library | 17 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2 |
censure
2 uses
And what fun to eat all you wanted without having censorious people say you weren't ladylike.
censorious = critical
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 5.48 |
clergy
1 use
They ran the three churches to which they belonged, the clergy, the choirs and the parishioners.
clergy = formal religious leaders (typically in Christianity)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
conciliatory
1 use
New Atlanta liked Rhett no better than old Atlanta had done and he made as little attempt to conciliate the one as he had the other.
conciliate = end bad feelings or build trust
Definition
Generally conciliatory means:intended to end bad feelings or build trust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.49 |
contempt
8 uses
1 —8 uses as in:
feels contempt towards her
Now he was gone and she was married to a man she not only did not love but for whom she had an active contempt.
contempt = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect — often accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 11 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
deride
1 use
smiling not in derision but in genuine amusement and kindness.
derision = disrespect — typically while laughing at or making fun of
Definition
Generally deride means:laugh at or make fun of—while showing a lack of respect
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.57 |
diligent
3 uses
where Ellen had labored so diligently
diligently = carefully and persistently
Definition
Generally diligent means:hard work and care in tasks — often continuing when others might quit because of difficulties
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
endure
10 uses
1 —10 uses as in:
endured the pain
Gradually, Scarlett drew courage from the brave faces of her friends and from the merciful adjustment which nature makes when what cannot be cured must be endured.
endured = suffered through (or put up with)
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
expedient
1 use
Surely they must know that she didn't like Governor Bullock any more than they did but that it was expedient to be nice to him.
expedient = 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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.49 |
heresy
4 uses
But at this moment, heresy though it was, she could not help thinking the Yankees were right on this one matter, even if wrong in all others.
heresy = an opinion most people consider immoral
Definition
Generally heresy means:opinions or actions most people consider immoral
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.13 |
indignant
97 uses
She only felt a furious surge of indignation that he should think her such a fool.
indignation = anger at being wronged
Definition
Generally indignant means:angered or annoyed at something unjust or wrong
Word Statistics
| Book | 97 uses |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1 |
indolent
4 uses
Where he had once been lounging and indolent, he was now as alert as a prowling cat,
indolent = lazy
Definition
Generally this sense of indolent means:lazy; disinclined to work
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.34 |
innumerable
1 use
She had fussed over him and planned special dishes for him and coddled him during his innumerable colds.
innumerable = too numerous to be counted
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.47 |
minuteness
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
minute size; or minute description
They had been hidden in his room in the cellar and he had examined them minutely.†
minutely = with careful attention to detail
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.22 |
mockery
45 uses
He stood aside and bowed her through the door with a mockery that made her wince.
mockery = ridicule
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 | 45 uses |
| Library | 29 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.23 |
ostentatious
4 uses
Women who had ostentatiously crossed the street when they saw Belle coming, wondered if she remembered and trembled for fear she did.
ostentatiously = in a showy way (in an attempt to attract notice)
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.46 |
remonstrate
1 use
But none of them had the courage to remonstrate with him.
remonstrate = argue in protest or opposition
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.42 |
reticent
3 uses
This was the answer to Ashley's reticence,
reticence = reluctance (in this case to declare love for her)
Definition
Generally reticent means:reluctant — especially to speak freely
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
zeal
2 uses
I'm afraid your Uncle Henry has a black eye due to Mr. Merriwether's zeal for his part.
zeal = enthusiasm
Definition
Generally zeal means:active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.25 |