Lord Jim — Vocabulary
Joseph Conrad
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	22	top 2000
approachapproach → approaching:getting nearer Winter is approaching.more Show sample from book He was a youngster of the sort you like to see about you; of the sort you like to imagine yourself to have been; of the sort whose appearance claims the fellowship of these illusions you had thought gone out, extinct, cold, and which, as if rekindled at the approach of another flame, give a flutter deep, deep down somewhere, give a flutter of light …. of heat!22 more coming Show general definition for approach (as in: approached the city) to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
	1	top 500
approach#2method (way of doing something) Perhaps I just need to work harder, but I may need an entirely different approach to the problem.more Show sample from book I was thinking how I had best approach him (I did not want to be flung off again) when he gave a little laugh.22 more way of doing something Show general definition for approach (as in: use the best approach) a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
	31	top 1000
somberserious and cheerless Before she said anything, I knew it was bad news from her somber face.more Show sample from book His gaze was bent on the ground at his feet; the girl, erect and slight on his arm, stared sombrely beyond my shoulder with black, clear, motionless eyes.30 more somber → sombrely:solemnly (in a manner that is serious--not cheerful or lighthearted) Show context notes This is a British spelling. Americans use somberly. Show general definition for somber (as in: a somber mood) serious (without cheer or lightheartedness); or sad
	23	top 500
inquiryinvestigation The school launched an official inquiry into the allegations of cheating.more Show sample from book The illustration was good: the questions were aiming at facts, and the official Inquiry was being held in the police court of an Eastern port.†22 more questioning or investigating Show general definition a question or investigation -- especially one meant to gather information or find out the truth
	16	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book 'Drink!' repeated the engineer with amiable scorn: he was hanging on with both hands to the rail, a shadowy figure with flexible legs.†15 more disrespect or reject as not good enough Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	18	top 2000
abjectextreme As the world grows more affluent, our definition of abject poverty changes.more Show sample from book The verandah was empty by then, the noise and movement in court had ceased: a great silence fell upon the building, in which, somewhere far within, an oriental voice began to whine abjectly.†17 more abject → abjectly:in an extremely negative manner -- often implying extreme hopelessness, misery, shame, or desperation Show general definition extreme (in a negative sense such as misery, hopelessness, submissiveness, cruelty, or cowardice)
	12	top 500
recollectremember I think I recollect that she was away at college that year.more Show sample from book 'Of course the recollection of my last conversation with Brierly is tinged with the knowledge of his end that followed so close upon it.†11 more recollect → recollection:memory Show general definition to remember -- especially experiences from long ago Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice): Relative to its synonyms, recollect brings to mind a leisurely piecing together of distant memories. It may be used in a less formal manner than remember and is almost always less formal than recall.
	16	top 2000
wretchedmiserable The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more Show sample from book Can't he see that wretched skipper of his has cleared out?†15 more miserable or very bad Show general definition very bad in various senses, including: unfortunate or miserable -- as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor" of poor quality -- as in "wretched roads" morally bad -- as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
	13	top 1000
appallingshockingly terrible or horrible The live in appalling conditions.more Show sample from book The stupidity of the phrase appalled me while I was trying to finish it, but the power of sentences has nothing to do with their sense or the logic of their construction.†12 more appalling → appalled:shocked by how terrible or horrible something is
	8	top 200
disdainlack of respect She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more Show sample from book In time, beside the original disdain there grew up slowly another sentiment; and suddenly, giving up the idea of going home, he took a berth as chief mate of the Patna.†7 more a lack of respect Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
	11	top 2000
abominableexceptionally bad She described the abominable treatment of prisoners.more Show sample from book No doubt he wanted to be done with that abomination as quickly as possible.†10 more abominable → abomination:something that is exceptionally bad or detestable Show general definition exceptionally bad or intensely disliked
	12	top 2000
magistratejudge The local magistrate insisted on a cash payment for the speeding ticket.more Show sample from book The face of the presiding magistrate, clean shaved and impassible, looked at him deadly pale between the red faces of the two nautical assessors.†11 more judicial official Show general definition a judge or judicial official The exact meaning of magistrate varies widely depending upon the context. For example: in the U.S. federal court: assists district court judges by handling minor offenses or administrative tasks such as preliminary hearings (often referred to as a magistrate judge rather than just a magistrate) in some U.S. states: a judge in the state court in France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and other civil law countries: a sitting magistrate is a judge and a standing magistrate is a prosecutor in England: may be a volunteer without formal legal training who performs a judicial role with regard to minor matters in ancient Rome: a powerful officer with both judicial and executive power
	7	top 100
alludeallude → alluded:indirectly referenced He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.more Show sample from book I marvelled greatly at this expression: he might have been alluding to some trifling occurrence.†6 more allude → alluding:making an indirect reference Show general definition to make an indirect reference Show editor's word notes The expression, no allusion can mean "not even an indirect reference"; i.e., neither a direct nor an indirect reference to something.
	19
infernalvery annoying Please stop making that infernal noise!more Show sample from book He looked as genuine as a new sovereign, but there was some infernal alloy in his metal.†18 more very bad; OR very annoying; OR characteristic of hell or the underworld Show general definition very bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell or the underworld
	8
inflexibleunbending (not willing to compromise or make concessions) They accused her of being stubborn and inflexible.more Show sample from book He had shown a desire, I continued inflexibly, to go out and shut the door after him...."Did I?" he interrupted in a strange access of gloom that seemed to envelop him from head to foot like the shadow of a passing cloud.†7 more inflexible → inflexibly:in a manner that is not bendable or adaptable Show general definition not bendable or adaptable in various senses, including: not willing to compromise or make concessions -- as when a boss says "Do it my way or you're fired." not able to adjust well to different conditions -- as of a schedule that cannot be changed not easily bent without physical damage or injury -- as of brittle steel or person with stiff joints
	8
vagabondperson who wanders from town to town with no fixed home or job She describes him as a vagabond storyteller.†more Show sample from book They are tramps, vagabonds, knocking at the back-door of your mind, each taking a little of your substance, each carrying away some crumb of that belief in a few simple notions you must cling to if you want to live decently and would like to die easy!†7 more vagabond → vagabonds:a person who wanders from town to town with no fixed home or job Show general definition a person who wanders from town to town with no fixed home or job
	3	top 2000
vengeancerevenge Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more Show sample from book The howl pursued me like a vengeance.†3 more the act of taking revenge Show general definition for vengeance (as in: vengeance is mine) the act of taking revenge (Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
	1
with a vengeancewith intensity I thought I was getting over my cold and went to work, but it came back with a vengeance.more Show sample from book I could make him a solemn promise that it would be shut behind him with a vengeance.†3 more Show general definition for with a vengeance (as in: with a vengeance) with intensity
	7
shirkavoid She began to shirk her duties and turned to drinking to help deal with the pain.more Show sample from book The skipper was ordering, "Get under and try to lift"; and the others naturally shirked.†6 more shirk → shirked:avoided Show general definition to avoid something -- such as a duty or responsibility
	6	top 2000
stolidemotionless She listened to both arguments thoughtfully, but with a face as stolid as a cow's.more Show sample from book I had no mind to laugh, and lest I should smile I made for myself a stolid face.†5 more having or revealing little emotion Show general definition having or revealing little emotion -- sometimes indicating qualities of not changing or being dependable or (much more rarely): of an object: not interesting -- often large and unmoving