aesthetic
1 use
Events must play themselves out to aesthetic, moral and logical conclusion.
aesthetic = related to beauty (in this case, perhaps "properly beautiful in the scheme of things")
Definition
Generally aesthetic means:related to beauty or good taste — often referring to one's appreciation of beauty or one's sense of what is beautiful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
or:
beautiful or tasteful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
afflict
9 uses
He's afflicted.
afflicted = suffering from something
Definition
Generally afflict means:cause suffering — such as illness, pain, or unhappiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
anguish
5 uses
GUIL: But why? Was it all for this? Who are we that so much should converge on our little deaths? (In anguish to the PLAYER:) Who are we?
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
arbitrary
3 uses
If we start being arbitrary it'll just be a shambles:
arbitrary = doing things 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
He regards the audience, that is the direction, with contempt
contempt = lack of respect
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 | Act 2 |
deride
2 uses
ROS: I think we can say he made us look ridiculous.
GUIL: We played it close to the chest of course.
ROS (derisively) : "Question and answer. Old ways are the best ways"! He was scoring off us all down the line.
GUIL: We played it close to the chest of course.
ROS (derisively) : "Question and answer. Old ways are the best ways"! He was scoring off us all down the line.
derisively = with treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect
Definition
Generally deride means:to criticize with strong disrespect — often
with humor
with humor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
discriminate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discriminating taste
ROS: How much did he give you?
GUIL: I asked you first.
ROS: I got the same as you.
GUIL: He wouldn't discriminate between us.
GUIL: I asked you first.
ROS: I got the same as you.
GUIL: He wouldn't discriminate between us.
discriminate = to recognize or perceive differences
Definition
Generally this sense of discriminate means:to recognize or perceive differences — especially fine distinctions
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
doleful
1 use
(Dolefully.) I suppose we'll have to go to sleep.
dolefully = full of sadness
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
immutable
1 use
we are brought round full circle to face again the single immutable fact-that we, Rosencrantz and Guildenstem, bearing a letter from one king to another, are taking Hamlet to England.
immutable = unchangeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
irony (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
situational irony
Between "just desserts" and "tragic irony" we are given quite a lot of scope for our particular talent.
irony = when what happens is very different than what might be expected (in this case, tragically)
(editor's note: "just desserts" is an idiom meaning "that which is deserved." It is more typically spelled, "just deserts".)
(editor's note: "just desserts" is an idiom meaning "that which is deserved." It is more typically spelled, "just deserts".)
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:when what happens is very different than what might be expected; or when things are together that seem like they don't belong together — especially when amusing or an entertaining coincidence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
verbal irony
Then GUIL claps solo with slow measured irony.
irony = saying one thing while meaning the opposite (In this case, Guil is clapping in a manner that shows disapproval even though clapping usually says you liked something.)
Definition
Generally this sense of irony means:saying one thing, while meaning the opposite or something else — usually as humor or sarcasm
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
morose
2 uses
More morose than mad, perhaps.
morose = unhappy with a withdrawn personality
Definition
Generally morose means:unhappy — often with a withdrawn personality
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
obscure
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
the view or directions are obscure
...we are tied down to a language which makes up in obscurity what it lacks in style.
obscurity = the quality of being difficult to understand
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:not clearly seen, understood, or expressed
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
plausible
3 uses
It doesn't sound very plausible.
plausible = likely (reasonable that it would be true)
Definition
Generally plausible means:apparently reasonable, but unproven
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 3 |
pragmatic
1 use
ROS: Why don't you go and have a look?
GUIL: Pragmatism?!—is that all you have to offer?
GUIL: Pragmatism?!—is that all you have to offer?
pragmatism = concern with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Definition
Generally pragmatic means:concerned with practical matters — especially where quick results and/or practical experience triumph over theory
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
remonstrate
1 use
The PLAYER has moved down, to remonstrate with ALFRED.
remonstrate = argue, complain, or criticize
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
resignation
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
accepted it with resignation
(Resigned and quiet).
resigned = having accepted something undesired as unavoidable
Definition
Generally this sense of resignation means:acceptance of something undesired as unavoidable or the lesser of evils
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 1 |
rhetoric
10 uses
PLAYER: It's about a King and Queen....
GUIL: Escapism! What else?
PLAYER: Blood
GUIL: -Love and rhetoric.
GUIL: Escapism! What else?
PLAYER: Blood
GUIL: -Love and rhetoric.
rhetoric = the use of words to make a point (and in this case, to entertain)
(editor's note: In this play, the word rhetorical is also used in the phrase rhetorical question—a question asked as a way of making a point rather than asked in search of an answer.)
(editor's note: In this play, the word rhetorical is also used in the phrase rhetorical question—a question asked as a way of making a point rather than asked in search of an answer.)
Definition
Generally rhetoric means:the use of (or study of using) words to make a point — typically implying skillful use
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
spontaneous
2 uses
Spontaneity and whim are the order of the day.
spontaneity = 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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Act 2 |
usurp
2 uses
usurped by his uncle
usurped = seized control without authority
Definition
Generally usurp means:seize or take control without authority
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Act 1 |