The Black Cat — Vocabulary
Edgar Allan Poe
(Auto-generated)

Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
4 top 500
dispositionnormal mood or typical way of behaving
She has a cheerful disposition.more
Show sample from book
My pets, of course, were made to feel the change in my disposition.3 more
mood
Show general definition for disposition (as in: a kind disposition) someone's personality, nature, or typical way of behaving
3 top 1000
loathehate
I make New Year's resolutions every year and then loathe myself for breaking them.more
Show sample from book
Whenever I sat, it would crouch beneath my chair, or spring upon my knees, covering me with its loathsome caresses.2 more
loathe → loathsome:disgusting
Show general definition hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Show editor's word notes Word Confusion:  Do not confuse loathe with loath which sounds very similar or the same. Loathe is a verb while loath is an adjective describing "reluctance or unwillingness to do something." Note that loathing and loathsome are forms of the verb loathe even though both word forms lack the "e". Occasionally, you will see loath spelled as loathe even in a published book, but it is rare enough that it is generally considered an error rather than a non-standard spelling.
2 top 500
deriveget
She likes to win, but she doesn't derive pleasure from watching others lose.more
Show sample from book
This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure.†1 more
derive → derived:got
Show general definition to get something from something else

(If the context doesn't otherwise indicate where something came from, it is generally from reasoning--especially deductive reasoning.)
2 top 500
perceivesee (become aware of)
I could perceive the ship coming over the horizon.more
Show sample from book
I had been looking steadily at the top of this hogshead for some minutes, and what now caused me surprise was the fact that I had not sooner perceived the object thereupon.1 more
perceive → perceived:seen
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)
3 top 1000
remorseregret for doing something wrong
There was no sign of remorse until the police caught her.more
Show sample from book
I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of remorse, for the crime of which I had been guilty; but it was, at best, a feeble and equivocal feeling, and the soul remained untouched.2 more
regret
Show context notes In this context, describing the feeling as equivocal is a way of saying that the feeling is less significant than one would assume were it not for that description.
Show general definition a feeling of deep regret for doing something that was wrong
Show editor's word notes Synonym comparison (if you're into word choice):

Many consider the word remorse stronger than the word regret. Also, it is more personal. One might regret that their team lost the game, but feel remorse that they missed the bus and weren't there to help the team.
3 top 2000
hideousextremely ugly, offensive, and/or frightening
The beast had hideous fangs.more
Show sample from book
This hideous murder accomplished, I set myself forthwith, and with entire deliberation, to the task of concealing the body.2 more
ugly or offensive
1 top 100
establishestablish → establishing:showing or demonstrating
The passage is primarily about establishing the relationship between the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature.more
Show sample from book
I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity.
determine or understand
Show general definition for establish (as in: establish that there is a need) show or determine (cause to be recognized or figure out)
2 top 2000
procureget
She said the Air Force lacks the funds to procure maintenance equipment it needs.†more
Show sample from book
Observing my partiality for domestic pets, she lost no opportunity of procuring those of the most agreeable kind.†1 more
procure → procuring:getting by special effort
Show general definition get by special effort
2 top 2000
atrocityact that is exceptionally bad or cruel
The bombing of the hospital was condemned worldwide as an atrocity.more
Show sample from book
I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity.†1 more
an action that is exceptionally bad or cruel
Show general definition an action that is exceptionally bad or cruel
1 top 100
attributeattribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the source of)
She attributed this quotation to Shakespeare.more
Show sample from book
The plastering had here, in great measure, resisted the action of the fire--a fact which I attributed to its having been recently spread.
attribute → attributed:credited (pointed to as the cause of something)
Show general definition for attribute (as in: I attribute it to...) to credit (a source for something)
in two typical senses:
  • "I attribute it to her work." -- to say who or what made something happen
  • "Remember to attribute any quotations in your paper." -- indicate the source of a quotation or idea
1 top 100
alludeallude → alluded:indirectly referenced
He alluded to Susan without mentioning her name.more
Show sample from book
In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise.
allude → allusion:indirect reference
Show context notes In this context, tinctured is a synonym for influenced or tinged.
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.
2 top 2000
tormenttorment → tormenting:causing great mental or physical suffering
She enjoys tormenting others.†more
Show sample from book
The second and the third day passed, and still my tormentor came not.†1 more
torment → tormentor:someone who causes great mental or physical suffering
Show general definition to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
1 top 200
moreoverin addition to what has just been said
The company has too much debt. Moreover, it is responsible for a long-term lease on expensive office space.more
Show sample from book
Moreover, in one of the walls was a projection, caused by a false chimney, or fireplace, that had been filled up, and made to resemble the red of the cellar.†
1 top 2000
minutetiny
Don't eat a lot of poppy seeds for a few days before a drug test. They have a minute amount of a chemical that can cause a false positive when testing for heroin use.more
Show sample from book
At one period I thought of cutting the corpse into minute fragments, and destroying them by fire.1 more
small
Show general definition for minute (as in: minute size) small, exceptionally small, or insignificant
1
minute#2including even small considerations
We discussed it in minute detail.more
Show sample from book
The rubbish on the floor was picked up with the minutest care.1 more
minute → minutest:most careful
Show general definition for minute (as in: minute description) detailed (including even small considerations); and/or careful (done with care)
2 top 1000
rigorousthorough
The scientist conducted a rigorous analysis of the data to ensure no detail was overlooked.more
Show sample from book
and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises.1 more
thorough and careful
Show general definition for rigorous (as in: we follow a rigorous procedure) thorough and careful procedures
1 top 100
adaptedadapted → well adapted:well suited
Penguins are especially well adapted for cold weather.more
Show sample from book
For a purpose such as this the cellar was well adapted.†
Show general definition for adapted (as in: the species is well adapted for) to be especially well suited or appropriate for something
1 top 2000
bravadoboldness and courage
The fighter's bravado amused the crowd, even though everyone knew he was outmatched.more
Show sample from book
"--these walls are solidly put together;" and here, through the mere phrenzy of bravado, I rapped heavily, with a cane which I held in my hand, upon that very portion of the brick-work behind which stood the corpse of the wife of my bosom.
a show of courage
Show general definition a bold manner or show of bravery -- often hiding fear or insecurity
1 top 2000
docileeasily led or managed
It is a gentle old horse, docile and obedient.more
Show sample from book
From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition.
docile → docility:tendency to behave
Show general definition easily led or managed -- perhaps submissive or well-behaved
1 top 2000
expedientpractical but not ideal
It was a necessary expedient to get the job done.more
Show sample from book
Finally I hit upon what I considered a far better expedient than either of these.
an action that is speedy or practical
Show general definition convenient and practical, but sometimes not the best or most moral choice