Maggie: A Girl of the Streets — Vocabulary
Stephen Crane
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
12 top 500
perceivesee (become aware of)
I could perceive the ship coming over the horizon.more
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He scrambled to his feet, and perceiving, evidently, the size of his assailant, ran quickly off, shouting alarms.11 more
perceive → perceiving:seeing; or becoming aware of
Show general definition for perceive (as in: though blind, can perceive light) to become aware of -- especially by using the senses (to see, hear, smell, feel, or taste)
11 top 1000
contemptlack of respect
Familiarity breeds contempt.more
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There was valor and contempt for circumstances in the glance of his eye.10 more
a lack of respect
Show general definition for contempt (as in: feels contempt towards her) lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior -- often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Show editor's word notes A famous saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" comes from Aesop's fable, "The Fox and the Lion".  (6th century BC)

When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.

The moral is traditionally, "Familiarity breeds contempt"; though an alternative moral is "Acquaintance softens prejudices."
8 top 1000
audaciousbold and daring
It was an audacious act of piracy.more
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A woman of brilliance and audacity, accompanied by a mere boy, came into the place and took seats near them.7 more
audacious → audacity:boldness and daring
Show general definition bold and daring (inclined to take risks) -- especially in violating social convention in a manner that could offend others
7 top 1000
sullenunhappy and withdrawn
She changed from a happy, outgoing child to sullen teenager.more
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Pete came along slowly, with a sullen dropping of the under lip.6 more
showing a gloomy or bad mood
Show general definition for sullen (as in: a sullen mood) being unhappy (and often withdrawn)
7 top 1000
wrathextreme anger
She could hardly contain her wrath when she learned he had betrayed her.more
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She stood shivering beneath the torrent of her mother's wrath.6 more
intense anger
Show general definition extreme anger or angry punishment
4 top 100
varybe different
Your mileage may vary.more
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Above the muffled roar of conversation, the dismal wailings of babies at night, the thumping of feet in unseen corridors and rooms, mingled with the sound of varied hoarse shoutings in the street and the rattling of wheels over cobbles, they heard the screams of the child and the roars of the mother die away to a feeble moaning and a subdued bass muttering.†3 more
vary → varied:differed; or changed
Show general definition to be different, or to change
Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
5 top 500
indifferentwithout interest
About a third are in favor of the change, a third are opposed, and a third are indifferent.more
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...he took pride in commanding the waiters who were, however, indifferent or deaf.4 more
uninterested (in providing service to him)
Show general definition without interest
in various senses, including:
  • unconcerned -- as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
  • unsympathetic -- as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
  • not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) -- as in "an indifferent performance"
  • impartial -- as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
4 top 200
disdainlack of respect
She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more
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She turned her huge back in tremendous disdain and climbed the stairs to the next floor.3 more
with a lack of respect; or with a sense of superiority
Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
4 top 500
earnestearnest → in earnest:in a serious manner
I began training in earnest the summer before high school.more
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Very infrequent tipsy men, swollen with the value of their opinions, engaged their companions in earnest and confidential conversation.†3 more
earnest → in earnest:serious; or in a serious manner
Show general definition characterized by sincere belief

or:

intensely or excessively serious or determined
4 top 500
lamentlament → lamented:expressed grief about
She lamented the loss.more
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The mother raised lamenting eyes to the ceiling.†3 more
lament → lamenting:expressing grief or regret
Show general definition to express grief or regret
4 top 500
exasperatedgreatly annoyed
She was exasperated by his teasing.more
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The question exasperated Pete beyond the powers of endurance.3 more
Show general definition greatly annoyed
4 top 1000
furtivedone in a way that attempts to avoid notice
Despite her attempt to look interested, her teacher did not miss her furtive glances at the clock.more
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He cast furtive glances at his mother.3 more
taking pains to avoid being observed
Show general definition taking pains to avoid being observed

or:

in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
4 top 500
contemplatethink deeply about
After the meeting, she needed some time alone to contemplate her next move.more
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Turning, Maggie contemplated the dark, dust-stained walls, and the scant and crude furniture of her home.†3 more
contemplate → contemplated:consider or ponder
Show general definition consider or ponder
5 top 2000
chroniclong-lasting or happening repeatedly
She struggled with chronic back pain that made even simple tasks difficult.more
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Down the avenue came boastfully sauntering a lad of sixteen years, although the chronic sneer of an ideal manhood already sat upon his lips.†4 more
of something bad:  lasting a long time or happening repeatedly
Show general definition of something bad:  lasting a long time or happening repeatedly -- especially in relation to illness
3 top 500
annihilatecompletely defeat and destroy
She reported that "ISIS needs to understand the Joint Force is on orders to annihilate them."more
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When an engine would strike a mass of blocked trucks, splitting it into fragments, as a blow annihilates a cake of ice, Jimmie's team could usually be observed high and safe, with whole wheels, on the sidewalk.†2 more
annihilate → annihilates:to completely destroy or defeat
Show general definition to completely destroy or defeat
2 top 500
antagonistenemy or opponent
In the movie, Star Wars, Darth Vader is the antagonist to Luke Skywalker.more
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One day the young man, Pete, who as a lad had smitten the Devil's Row urchin in the back of the head and put to flight the antagonists of his friend, Jimmie, strutted upon the scene.†1 more
antagonist → antagonists:people who offer opposition or are hostile
Show general definition for antagonist (as in: the antagonist in the film) someone who offers opposition or is hostile
2 top 1000
vindictiveinclined to seek revenge or desirous of hurting others
Not being vindictive by nature, Grant did what he could to see that the Confederate prisoners were treated well.more
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Her mouth was set in the same lines of vindictive hatred that it had, perhaps, borne during the fight.†1 more
desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone
Show general definition desirous of seeking revenge or wanting to hurt someone
2 top 2000
belligerenthostile or combative
She spoke to her teacher in a belligerent tone and was sent to the office.more
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He maintained a belligerent attitude toward all well-dressed men.1 more
hostile (eager to fight)
Show general definition hostile (the attitude of one eager to fight); or one already engaged in a fight or war
2 top 2000
stolidemotionless
She listened to both arguments thoughtfully, but with a face as stolid as a cow's.more
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After a time she left rattling avenues and passed between rows of houses with sternness and stolidity stamped upon their features.†1 more
stolid → stolidity:lack of 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
1 top 100
narratoran actor who helps to tell a story by talking directly to the audience (breaking the imaginary barrier between the performers and the audience)
The narrator in the play, Our Town talks to characters in the play as well as to the audience.more
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Over his features played an eager desire to state the amount of his valor in a similar crisis, but the narrator proceeded.†
storyteller
Show general definition someone who tells a story--especially the main voice in a documentary, or a character who talks directly to the audience in a movie, play or other performance