accentuate
2 uses
Accentuated by her pallor and white hair, her dark brown eyes appear black.†
accentuated = emphasized or drew attention to
Definition
Generally accentuate means:to emphasize or draw attention to — possibly to emphasize by increasing
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
antagonism
3 uses
Stung, Jamie has turned to stare at her with accusing antagonism.†
antagonism = hostility or opposition
Definition
Generally antagonism means:hostility, opposition, or tension between opposing forces or ideas
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
attain
1 use
By applying my natural Godgiven talents in their proper sphere, I shall attain the pinnacle of success!†
attain = gain or reach something with effort
Definition
Generally attain means:to gain or reach something with effort
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Act 4 |
beguile
1 use
But on the rare occasions when he smiles without sneering, his personality possesses the remnant of a humorous, romantic, irresponsible Irish charm — that of the beguiling ne'er-do-well, with a strain of the sentimentally poetic, attractive to women and popular with men.†
beguiling = charming or enchanting; or deceiving through charm
Definition
Generally beguile means:to charm, enchant, or entertain someone; or to deceive — especially through charm
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
belittle
1 use
With a belittling laugh.†
belittling = making someone or something seem less important
Definition
Generally belittle means:to make someone or something seem less important
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 3 |
carouse
1 use
I expect a salary of at least one large iron man at the end of the week-to carouse on!†
carouse = having fun with others in a noisy manner while drinking alcohol
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
dissipate
2 uses
His face is still good looking, despite marks of dissipation, but it has never been handsome like Tyrone's, although Jamie resembles him rather than his mother.†
dissipation = to gradually disappear; or to gradually waste
(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.)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
ebb
2 uses
His anger ebbs into a weary complaint.†
ebbs = declines — typically gradually as with the height of the tide
Definition
Generally ebb means:decline — typically gradually as with the height of the tide
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
enmity
2 uses
Turns on Edmund with a hard, accusing antagonism-almost a revengeful enmity.†
enmity = hatred
Definition
Generally enmity means:hatred toward someone or between people — typically long-lasting
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 3 |
eviction
2 uses
I let him have the place for almost nothing, just to keep someone on it, and he never pays that till I threaten to evict him.†
evict = force someone to leave
Definition
Generally eviction means:the process of forcing someone to leave a place — typically from a home due to non-payment
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
flout
1 use
You've both flouted the faith you were born and brought up in-the one true faith of the Catholic Church-and your denial has brought nothing but self-destruction!†
flouted = openly disregarded
Definition
Generally flout means:to openly disregard — typically a law, rule, or custom
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 2 |
heed
2 uses
I've warned him for years his body couldn't stand it, but he wouldn't heed me, and now it's too late.†
heed = pay close attention to; or do what is suggested
Definition
Generally heed means:pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested — especially with regard to a warning or other advice
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
high-strung
1 use
TYRONE Why, nothing, except you've seemed a bit high-strung the past few days.†
high-strung = tense and easily upset
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
indulge
1 use
Not that he indulges in any of the deliberate temperamental posturings of the stage star.†
indulges = enjoys to excess
Definition
Generally indulge means:to give into a desire or enjoy something — especially in excess of what is thought good—such as a desire to eat too much cake, or be too lazy
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 1000 |
1st use | Act 1 |
matinée
2 uses
He was a great matinee idol then, you know.†
matinee = daytime performance
Definition
Generally matinée means:a daytime performance (of something like a movie or play)
Word Statistics
Book | 2 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 3 |
mollify
1 use
TYRONE Mollifyingly.†
mollifyingly = calm someone who is or may become angry or upset
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
Othello
4 uses
The first night I played Othello, he said to our manager, "That young man is playing Othello better than I ever did!"†
Othello = Shakespeare's tragedy of betrayal and jealousy (c. 1604)
Word Statistics
Book | 4 uses |
Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
pugnacious
1 use
For a second Jamie reacts pugnaciously and half rises from his chair to do battle, but suddenly he seems to sober up to a shocked realization of what he has said and he sinks back limply.†
pugnaciously = in a combative manner (as though ready to fight)
Definition
Generally pugnacious means:quick to fight or argue
Word Statistics
Book | 1 use |
Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |
rebuke
3 uses
MARY Mechanically rebuking.†
rebuking = criticizing severely
Definition
Generally rebuke means:criticize severely; or such criticism
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 1 |
vulgar
3 uses
Harlots and Hunted have pleasures of their own to give, The vulgar herd can never understand.†
vulgar = of bad taste (crude, offensive, or unsophisticated)
Definition
Generally vulgar means:of bad taste — often crude or offensive
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
or:
unsophisticated (or common) — especially of taste
Word Statistics
Book | 3 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Act 4 |