alacrity
2 uses
This heightened alacrity had its cause, namely, the impression made upon him by the first formal gangway-punishment he had ever witnessed, which befell the day following his impressment.
alacrity = liveliness and eagerness (in this context, Billy Budd's eagerness to quickly do his duty)
Definition
Generally alacrity means:quickness; and/or cheerful eagerness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
arbitrary
4 uses
At the time of Billy Budd's arbitrary enlistment into the Indomitable that ship was on her way to join the Mediterranean fleet.
arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
Definition
Generally arbitrary means:based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
ascetic
1 use
However it was, the Dansker in his ascetic way rather took to Billy.
ascetic = severely plain (without decoration)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of the adjective which more commonly refers to someone who practices self-denial. Dansker is seldom used in contemporary writing. It is a synonym for Dane or someone from Denmark.)
(editor's note: This is a less common sense of the adjective which more commonly refers to someone who practices self-denial. Dansker is seldom used in contemporary writing. It is a synonym for Dane or someone from Denmark.)
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
austere
3 uses
The austere devotee of military duty,
austere = having stern demeanor; or practicing great 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 28 |
candid
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
your candid opinion
Such an episode in the Island's grand naval story her naval historians naturally abridge; one of them (G.P.R. James) candidly acknowledging that...
candidly = with honesty and directness
(editor's note: In this context, abridge means "leave out of the history".)
(editor's note: In this context, abridge means "leave out of the history".)
Definition
Generally this sense of candid means:honest and direct
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
capacious
1 use
...the watch below came pouring, overspreading with the watch already on deck the space between the main-mast and fore-mast including that occupied by the capacious launch and the...
capacious = large in capacity
(editor's note: In this context, a launch is a boat that is available for use and on the deck of a large ship.)
(editor's note: In this context, a launch is a boat that is available for use and on the deck of a large ship.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 25 |
condemn
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
was condemned to life in prison
...had been already tried by a summary court and condemned to death;
condemned = legally sentenced someone to punishment
Definition
Generally this sense of condemn means:force into an undesired activity or situation — such as to legally sentence someone to punishment
or:
find guilty — especially in court (and sometimes to death)
or:
provide the means of finding guilty
or:
find guilty — especially in court (and sometimes to death)
or:
provide the means of finding guilty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 23 |
deference
5 uses
No sooner did the Commander observe who it was that deferentially stood awaiting his notice, than a peculiar expression came over him.
deferentially = with polite respect
Definition
Generally deference means:polite respect — often when submitting to another's wishes
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
depravity
7 uses
The enormity of the crime and the extreme depravity of the criminal, appear the greater in view of the character of the victim,
depravity = immorality or evilness
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
disdain
2 uses
—disdain of innocence.
disdain = lack of respect (as though it is inferior)
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
dubious
5 uses
...his feeling partook less of intuitional conviction than of strong suspicion clogged by strange dubieties.
dubieties = things that are doubtful
Definition
Generally dubious means:doubtful
in various senses, including:
- doubtful that something should be relied upon — as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
- doubtful that something is morally proper — as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
- bad or of questionable value — as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
- doubtful or uncertain — as in "She is dubious about making the change."
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 18 |
engender
1 use
...not engendered by vicious training or corrupting books or...
engendered = caused
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
mitigate
3 uses
Can we not convict and yet mitigate the penalty?
mitigate = make less harmful or unpleasant
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 17 |
obscure (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
it obscured my view
There was no moon as yet; a haze obscured the star-light.
obscured = made less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
2 —7 uses as in:
the view or directions are obscure
Coke and Blackstone hardly shed so much light into obscure spiritual places as the Hebrew prophets.
obscure = difficult to understand
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
pedantic
2 uses
This, along with his phraseology, now and then was suggestive of the grounds whereon rested that imputation of a certain pedantry socially alleged against him by certain naval men of wholly practical cast,
pedantry = being too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Definition
Generally pedantic means:too concerned with formal rules, details, or book learning
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
prudent
1 use
... the prudent Surgeon nevertheless held his peace,
prudent = sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 19 |
refute
2 uses
In this instance as in so many other instances in these days, the character of this unfortunate man signally refutes ... that peevish saying attributed to the late Dr. Johnson, that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
refutes = disproves (shows that something is false)
Definition
Generally refute means:to disprove or argue against
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 29 |
sagacious
2 uses
...he will direct a cool judgment sagacious and sound.
sagacious = wise
Definition
Generally sagacious means:wise — especially through long experience and thoughtfulness
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
spontaneous
7 uses
...with the off-hand unaffectedness of natural regality, he seemed to accept the spontaneous homage of his shipmates.
spontaneous = natural (happening or arising without plan)
Definition
Generally spontaneous means:behaving in an instinctive, uninhibited manner
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
or:
happening naturally (without planning or external force)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |