alacrity
2 uses
Thomasin had been persuaded by her aunt, and by an instinctive impulse of loyalty towards her cousin Clym, to bestir herself on his account with an alacrity unusual in her during these most sorrowful days of her life.
alacrity = quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
appropriate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
appropriate from their culture
To Mrs. Yeobright, as soon as she could calmly reflect, there was much likelihood in this, for she could hardly believe that Wildeve would really appropriate money belonging to her son.†
appropriate = take without asking
Definition
Generally this sense of appropriate means:to take without asking — often without right
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
ascend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
ascend the mountain
he ascended the valley in a mathematically direct line towards his distant home in the meadows.
ascended = climbed (move upward)
Definition
Generally this sense of ascend means:to move or slope upward — sometimes figuratively as when climbing the corporate ladder
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
ascetic
2 uses
The most thorough-going ascetic could feel that he had a natural right to wander on Egdon:
ascetic = someone who practices self-denial
Definition
Generally ascetic means:someone who practices self-denial (often to encourage spiritual growth); or relating to such self-denial
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
or:
severely plain (without decoration)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
candid
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
your candid opinion
"I am thoroughly perplexed," she said candidly.
candidly = with honesty and directness
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
condescending
6 uses
"It was condescension, nevertheless," said Eustacia vehemently.
condescension = a manner that treats others as inferiors
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.)
Definition
Generally condescending means:treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend into poverty
To see me now, Thomasin, gives you no idea of what I have been; of what depths I have descended to in these few last days.
descended = moved to a lower or less good condition
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to move downward to a worse or less prestigious situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
discern
13 uses
On the further side of a table bearing candles she could faintly discern faces, and that was all.
discern = notice something that is not easy to see
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
disdain
1 use
"I know it," she said disdainfully.
disdainfully = with a sense of superiority
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
dwell (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
Don't dwell on it.
Let me look right into your moonlit face and dwell on every line and curve in it!
dwell = let attention stay on for a prolonged period
Definition
Generally this sense of dwell means:to think, communicate, or let attention stay on (or return to) something for a prolonged period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
2 —1 use as in:
It dwells in the forest.
...when the old watering-place herein called "Budmouth" still retained sufficient afterglow from its Georgian gaiety and prestige to lend it an absorbing attractiveness to the romantic and imaginative soul of a lonely dweller inland.
dweller = someone who lives in a place
Definition
Generally this sense of dwell means:make one's home in; or to live in; or to stay (in a place)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
3 —1 use as in:
a modest dwelling
A long day's march was before him, his object being to secure a dwelling to which he might take Eustacia when she became his wife.
dwelling = a house or shelter in which someone lives
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
engender
3 uses
...to hunger for the hope and happiness which the fascination of the dance seemed to engender within them.
engender = bring about (cause)
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
ephemeral
3 uses
As is usual with bright natures, the deity that lies ignominiously chained within an ephemeral human carcase shone out of him like a ray.
ephemeral = existing only for a short time
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
impetuous
3 uses
"No—I won't, I won't!" she said impetuously, quite forgetful of...
impetuously = impulsively (suddenly, without much thought)
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 1 |
inclined (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
I'm inclined to
After replying to the old man's greeting he showed no inclination to continue in talk, although they still walked side by side, for the elder traveller seemed to desire company.
inclination = attitude favoring
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally this sense of inclined means:a tendency, mood, desire, or attitude that favors something; or making someone favor something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
on an incline or incline his head
She inclined her head, and swept round so that her eyes rested in the misty vale beneath them.
inclined = bent or angled
Definition
Generally this sense of incline means:to be at an angle or to bend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
rectify
3 uses
Thus Venn, in his anxiety to rectify matters, had placed in Thomasin's hands not only the fifty guineas which rightly belonged to her, but also the fifty intended for her cousin Clym.
rectify = correct (make right)
Definition
Generally this sense of rectify means:correct, fix, or make right
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
resolve (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 17 uses
1 —13 uses as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
She resolved to look for the man from Paris no more.
resolved = decided
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —4 uses as in:
Her resolve weakened.
Up to this hour he had persevered in his resolve not to invite her back.
resolve = determination (in holding to his decision)
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:firmness of purpose (strong determination to do something)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |