audacious
11 uses
a very audaciously attired young girl
audaciously = boldly and daringly
Definition
Generally audacious means:bold and daring (inclined to take risks) — especially in violating social convention in a manner that could offend others
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.3.1 |
augment
3 uses
He was minded to augment his pace, but for the third time something barred his way.
augment = increase
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1.3 |
austere
7 uses
This brown-skinned, broad-shouldered priest, hitherto condemned to the austere virginity of the cloister, was quivering and boiling in the presence of this night scene of love and voluptuousness.
austere = self-denying
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.4.2 |
bourgeois
48 uses
the house, which is simple and thoroughly bourgeois
bourgeois = typical of the middle class
Definition
Generally bourgeois means:typical of the middle class or their values and habits - typically used disapprovingly
or (in Marxist theory):
typical of the property-owning class
or (in Marxist theory):
typical of the property-owning class
Word Statistics
| Book | 48 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.2.6 |
capricious
12 uses
the capricious regulations regarding the public highways
capricious = unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9.5 |
complacent
1 use
then rose and said, without exhibiting too much self-complacency at his success,—"The accused has confessed all."
complacency = satisfaction
Definition
Generally complacent means:contented (unworried and satisfied) — often to a fault
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.8.3 |
credulous
1 use
What more was needed, simple and credulous as she was?
credulous = gullible (being too willing to believe)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9.4 |
denounce
4 uses
I denounced you to the official.
denounced = informed against (accused)
Definition
Generally denounce means:to strongly criticize or accuse publicly
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
or more rarely: to inform against someone (turn someone into the authorities)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.11.1 |
deride
8 uses
All this only increased the derision and hooting.
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 | 8 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1.1 |
disdain
17 uses
Down to that day, he had known only humiliation, disdain for his condition, disgust for his person.
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 17 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7.6 |
heresy
4 uses
not a week passed which had not its counterfeiter to boil, or its witch to hang, or its heretic to burn,
heretic = someone with opinions or actions 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 1.5.2 |
impetuous
4 uses
the impetuous gusts of the north wind do not make the traveler lay aside his cloak;
impetuous = sudden and unpredictable
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1.2 |
incessant
29 uses
It was this fixed idea which returned incessantly, which tortured him, which ate into his brain,
incessantly = continuously
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 29 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1.1 |
Monsieur
152 uses
I see that you agree with Monsieur de Boucicaut.
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 | 152 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.1.1 |
perceive (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
perceive the system as unfair
"But," resumed the good Oudarde, "you must have perceived to some extent, that yesterday was a festival."
perceived = seen in a certain way so as to form a belief or opinion
Definition
Generally this sense of perceive means:to view in a certain way so as to form a belief or opinion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1.6.3 |
2 —1 use as in:
though blind, can perceive light
As he plunged into the side aisles, he perceived a reddish light behind a cluster of pillars.
perceived = saw
Definition
Generally this sense of perceive means:to become aware of — especially by using the senses (to see, hear, smell, feel, or taste)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9.1 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
The solemn lines of that architecture, ... the serene and pious thoughts which emanated, so to speak, from all the pores of that stone, acted upon her without her being aware of it.
pious = holy (religious)
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9.4 |
profound (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
profound idea
He added with the air of a profound thinker, "One is indebted sometimes to fortune, sometimes to ruse, for the happy issue of great enterprises."
profound = deep or far-reaching in intellect or insight
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:deep or far-reaching in intellect or consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.11.1 |
2 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
She listened to him with profound tenderness.
profound = of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.9.3 |
sagacious
4 uses
All at once his deep-set eye assumed so sagacious and penetrating an expression, that Gringoire felt himself, so to speak, searched to the bottom of the soul by that glance.
sagacious = wise
Definition
Generally sagacious means:wise — especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2.7.2 |