aesthetic
1 use
But down here he acts the little god with his gentility, and his patronage, and his sham aesthetics, and every one—even your mother—is taken in.
aesthetics = sense of what is beautiful
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
antecedent
2 uses
Let us put it down to his deplorable antecedents and education, if you wish.†
antecedents = something that happened previous to something else; or anything that precedes something
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
capricious
1 use
Isn't Romance capricious!
capricious = impulsive or unpredictable
Definition
Generally capricious means:impulsive or unpredictable or tending to make sudden changes — especially impulsive behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
contrite
1 use
But Mr. Emerson, contrite and unhappy, hurried away to apologize to...
contrite = feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
deride
1 use
we deride or oppose it
deride = 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 8 |
disperse
2 uses
A few people lingered round and praised her playing, but finding that she made no reply, dispersed to their rooms to write up their diaries or to sleep.
dispersed = scattered and left
Definition
Generally this sense of disperse means:to scatter or cause to spread
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
dissent
1 use
George attended gravely, assenting or dissenting with slight but determined gestures
dissenting = disagreeing
Definition
Generally dissent means:to disagree; or disagreement or conflict — typically between people who cooperate, and often with official or majority beliefs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
flippant
2 uses
Was it likely that a clergyman and a gentleman would refer to his engagement in a manner so flippant?†
flippant = showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
florid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a florid style
Miss Bartlett burst into florid gratitude.
florid = elaborate
Definition
Generally this sense of florid means:elaborate (with much decorative detail)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
grave
7 uses
A grave voice replied, "Hullo!"†
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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
hackneyed
1 use
The view thence of Florence is most beautiful—far better than the hackneyed view of Fiesole.
hackneyed = lacking impact due to too much previous exposure
Definition
Generally hackneyed means:lacking impact due to too much previous exposure — especially writing that is unimaginative and filled with overused expressions, ideas, and formulas
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
indifferent
6 uses
a cup of coffee was upset over Lucy's figured silk, and though Lucy feigned indifference, her mother feigned nothing of the sort but dragged her indoors to have the frock treated by a sympathetic maid.
indifference = unconcern (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 | 6 uses |
| Library | 19 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
innate
1 use
...full of innate sympathy...quickness to perceive good in others...vision of the brotherhood of man.
innate = an inseparable part (of her)
Definition
Generally innate means:of a quality: present at birth; or arising from within rather than having been learned or acquired
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
irony
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
She had counted on his being petty. It would have made things easier for her. By a cruel irony she was drawing out all that was finest in his disposition.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
lucid
1 use
He chanced to be in a lucid critical mood, and would not sympathize with exaltation.
lucid = clear thinking
Definition
Generally lucid means:of a person: capable of thinking clearly
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
or:
of language: clearly expressed so it is easily understood
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
minuteness
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
minute size; or minute description
At a little distance stood Minnie and the "garden-child," a minute importation, each holding either end of a long piece of bass.†
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
orthodox
2 uses
Mrs. Honeychurch defended orthodoxy,
orthodoxy = commonly accepted beliefs
Definition
Generally orthodox means:thinking and behavior that is (or was) commonly accepted
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
ostentatious
1 use
had been ostentatiously drinking his tea
ostentatiously = in a manner intended to attract notice and impress others
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 | Chapter 14 |
portentous
4 uses
Meaningless at first, it gradually became menacing, obnoxious, portentous with evil.†
portentous = very important; or indicating something important in the future
or:
acting overly important or serious
or:
acting overly important or serious
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
usurp
2 uses
The ghosts were returning; they filled Italy, they were even usurping the places she had known as a child.
usurping = seizing or taking control of
Definition
Generally usurp means:seize or take control without authority
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |