acrimony
3 uses
The mockingbirds and the jays, engaged in their old feud for possession of the magnolia tree beneath her window, were bickering, the jays strident, acrimonious, the mockers sweet voiced and plaintive.
acrimonious = angry
Definition
Generally acrimony means:anger—often accompanied by bitterness
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.5 |
apathy
6 uses
Love can't change to apathy in a minute.
apathy = lack of interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3.24 |
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 |
complacent
4 uses
Scarlett seemed demure and sweet enough these days, but there was a pleased complacency in her eyes which annoyed people...
complacency = excess of self-satisfaction
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.10 |
consonant
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
consonant or vowel?
She spoke in the soft slurring voice of the coastal Georgian, liquid of vowels, kind to consonants and with the barest trace of French accent.
consonants = speech sounds that are not vowels
Definition
Generally this sense of consonant means:a letter of the alphabet (or a speech sound) that is not a vowel
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
defer
2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
Here, excitement never entered in, voices were never raised, everyone deferred gently to the opinions of others...
deferred = submitted or yielded (in this case, to listening politely)
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
diligent
3 uses
where Ellen had labored so diligently
diligently = carefully and persistently
Definition
Generally this sense of 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 |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
guile
5 uses
Mammy's victories over Scarlett were hard-won and represented guile unknown to the white mind.
guile = cunning (shrewdness, cleverness)
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.13 |
immaterial
2 uses
My pet, as I told you before Bonnie was born, it is immaterial to me whether you have one child or twenty.
immaterial = unimportant
Definition
Generally this sense of immaterial means:not important, or not relevant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.51 |
impetuous
3 uses
But Atlanta was ... as headstrong and impetuous as herself.
impetuous = impulsive
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.47 |
nominal
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a nominal fee
Their power was nominal but they had at least been able to keep the state government in the hands of native Georgians.†
nominal = small
Definition
Generally this sense of nominal means:insignificantly small
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.47 |
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 | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.46 |
quibble
2 uses
Why quibble about the Yankees earning an honest penny selling out the Union?
quibble = argue (about something unimportant)
Definition
Generally quibble means:to argue about unimportant things; or an argument or complaint about something unimportant
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9 |
ratify
5 uses
As Ashley had prophesied, there had been hell to pay since the legislature refused to ratify the amendment. [giving all races the right to vote]
ratify = approve or accept
Definition
Generally ratify means:to approve — typically the formal approval of an agreement by an organization
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4.42 |
rectify
1 use
Everyone thought she had neglected her boy's religious education and thought more of Rhett for trying to rectify the matter, even if he did take the boy to the Episcopal Church instead of the Catholic.
rectify = correct
Definition
Generally this sense of rectify means:correct, fix, or make right
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5.52 |
reticent
5 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 | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4 |
servile
2 uses
Formerly he had the same combination of servility and impertinence which Wilkerson possessed...
servility = submissiveness, and/or eagerness to serve and please
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 3.29 |
succession
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a succession of events
Scarlett could now understand a little better the boy who had made her wife, widow and mother in such rapid succession.
succession = sequence (one after another)
Definition
Generally this sense of succession means:series or sequence (one after another)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3 |
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 |