admonish
3 uses
At times he felt, deep in his chest, a dying, quiet voice, which admonished him quietly,
admonished = expressed disapproval
Definition
Generally admonish means:to express disapproval to someone of their actions; or to warn or advise someone
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
austere
1 use
How could it be that among so many learned men, among so many Brahmans, among so many austere and venerable Samanas ... no one will find the path of paths?
austere = practitioners of self-denial
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
benevolent
4 uses
He commands benevolence, clemency, sympathy, tolerance, but not love; he forbade us to tie our heart in love to earthly things.
benevolence = kindness and goodwill
Definition
Generally benevolent means:kind, generous, or charitable
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
his mouth twitched with contempt, when he walked through a city of nicely dressed people.
contempt = disgust and disrespect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
destitute
5 uses
"No," said Siddhartha, "I have not become destitute"
destitute = extremely poor
Definition
Generally destitute means:extremely poor; or lacking the necessities of life such as food and shelter
The expression "destitute of" means: lacking
The expression "destitute of" means: lacking
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
disdain
5 uses
But still he had felt different from and superior to the others; always he had watched them with some mockery, some mocking disdain,
disdain = 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 | 5 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
diversity
2 uses
the deeply thinking Brahman, who scorns diversity, who seeks unity.
diversity = the condition of variety
Definition
Generally diversity means:the condition of variety — especially in reference to members of a population group who are of different races or cultures
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
divine
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
willingness to listen to the divine voice in his own heart,
divine = wonderful or god-like or coming from gods
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
exalt
39 uses
It is that Gotama, the exalted one, who is spreading that teachings.
exalted = elevated (praised and honored)
Definition
Generally exalt means:praise, glorify, or honor
or:
fill with extreme happiness
or:
fill with extreme happiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 39 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
futile
2 uses
Futile were also the merchant's attempts, to convince Siddhartha that he should eat his bread.
futile = effort that is pointless because it is unproductive or unsuccessful
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
however
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
However much she tried...
However easily he succeeded in talking to all of them, in living with all of them, in learning from all of them, he was still aware that there was something which separated him from them and this separating factor was him being a Samana.†
however = to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
incessant
5 uses
this water ran and ran, incessantly it ran, and was nevertheless always there, was always at all times the same and yet new in every moment!
incessantly = continuously
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
lament
4 uses
The river sang with a voice of suffering, longingly it sang, longingly, it flowed towards its goal, lamentingly its voice sang.
lamentingly = in a manner that expresses grief or regret
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
penitent
7 uses
Was it not this what he used to intend to kill in his ardent years as a penitent?
penitent = someone feeling and expressing remorse for misdeeds (sorrow for having done wrong)
(editor's note: In this case, someone who punishes himself in an attempt to make amends for the misdeeds.)
(editor's note: In this case, someone who punishes himself in an attempt to make amends for the misdeeds.)
Definition
Generally penitent means:feeling or expressing sorrow for having done wrong; or a person who does such
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
But to the maid she gave the order to give the pious Brahman white upper garments.
pious = religious or moral
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
refuge
16 uses
There was ... no worker that did not belong to the workers, and found refuge with them, shared their life, spoke their language.
refuge = protection (a safe place)
Definition
Generally refuge means:something giving protection — especially a safe place
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
reproach
2 uses
Why did he, the irreproachable one, have to wash off sins every day, strive for a cleansing every day, over and over every day?
irreproachable = beyond criticism
(Editor's note: The prefix ir- is often used in front of words that start with R to mean not. That reverses the meaning of the word as seen in words like irrational, irregular, and irresistible. The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
(Editor's note: The prefix ir- is often used in front of words that start with R to mean not. That reverses the meaning of the word as seen in words like irrational, irregular, and irresistible. The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.)
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
venerable
22 uses
How old, would you think, is our oldest Samana, our venerable teacher?
venerable = respected
Definition
Generally venerable means:respected (worthy of respect) — typically because of age or position
Word Statistics
| Book | 22 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
venerate
7 uses
Never before, Siddhartha had venerated a person so much, never before he had loved a person as much as this one.
venerated = regarded with feelings of respect and reverence
Definition
Generally venerate means:regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
zeal
2 uses
Govinda had aged, he too, but still his face bore the same features, expressed zeal, faithfulness, searching, timidness.
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |