compunction
1 use
Compunction gave Eugene a little elderly-like rap, and he recognized that Bertsingers' was more respectable than most of the jewelry stores: Mr. Bertsinger Senior was on hand.†
compunction = guilt for a misdeed; or a feeling that it would be wrong to do something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
conscientious
1 use
In love songs as in the rest, the artist himself remained remÃīte, as a conscientious black cloud from a summer day.†
conscientious = careful to do what is right
Definition
Generally conscientious means:careful to do what is right—especially to perform duties in a thorough manner (as when guided by conscience)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
derogatory
1 use
Eugene felt his face growing pointed with derogatory, yet pitying, truly pitying sounds.†
derogatory = expressing disrespect or criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
extricate
1 use
He got the Spaniard off the streetcar, actually having to pull him by the waist to extricate him backwards.†
extricate = free or remove from constraint or difficulty
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
flaunt
1 use
Eugene felt an almost palpable aura of a disgrace or sadness that had to be as ever-present as the skin is, of hiding and flaunting together.†
flaunting = showing off
Definition
Generally flaunt means:the act of showing off (displaying something in an obvious way for others to admire or envy)
or:
openly defiant of rules or expectations
or:
openly defiant of rules or expectations
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
forgo
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a foregone conclusion
When the trees opened out and they reached pavement, some city corner and its streetlight, they were so cold it was foregone they should go in the nearest cafe for coffee.†
foregone = done in the past
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
heed
1 use
Quite unheeding of legs overhead, the sleeper was stretched out of a little garden with his head in the anemones and the gray beard shining like spittle on his face.†
unheeding = ignoring
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unheeding means not and reverses the meaning of heeding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "un-" in unheeding means not and reverses the meaning of heeding. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.)
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
incessant
1 use
Across the table his incessant cigarette smoke came out of his nostrils in a double spout.†
incessant = continuous (and often annoying)
Definition
Generally incessant means:continuous — often in an annoying way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
interminable
1 use
Beyond the car barn was a black scraggly wood, and then there was something of a road that followed along the cliff interminably, or once there had been.†
interminably = seemingly endless; or long and unpleasant (often boring or annoying)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
judicious
1 use
Eugene's touch, his push, now seemed judicious; and he pushed forthrightly to propel the old fellow across the street at the next crossing.†
judicious = showing good judgment
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
languid
1 use
There were posters in the dirty windows and a languid, enthroned man offering tickets and intoning all day long the words, "Have—you—seen—Em-ma?" in a voice so tired it gave the effect of downright menace.†
languid = lacking energy or relaxed or moving slowly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
mallet
1 use
Eugene could hear all day as he worked at his meticulous watches the glad mallet of the man who cracked the crabs.†
mallet = a piece of equipment for pounding or hitting
Definition
Generally mallet means:a piece of equipment for pounding or hitting
such as:
- a tool resembling a hammer but with a large cylindrical head that is usually made of rubber or wood
- a long stick with a thick cylindrical head used to hit a ball in polo or croquet
- a light drumstick with a rounded head that is used to strike percussion instruments
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
manifest
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
manifest destiny
But the Spaniard, cocking his head at Emma's full-sailed manifestation, simply pointed to his own breadth and opened his eyes on Eugene with one warm, brimming question of his own.†
manifestation = demonstration (something made obvious or shown)
(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.)
Definition
Generally this sense of manifest means:obvious; or to make obvious; or to show or demonstrate
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
palpable
1 use
Eugene felt an almost palpable aura of a disgrace or sadness that had to be as ever-present as the skin is, of hiding and flaunting together.†
palpable = very apparent
Definition
Generally palpable means:very apparent (so strong, it almost seems to take a material form that can be touched)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
reprehensible
1 use
For considering that he \ might have done some reprehensible thing, then he would need the gravest and tenderest handling.†
reprehensible = bad
Definition
Generally reprehensible means:bad — deserving severe criticism
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
soliloquy
1 use
Her way of response was dramatic—soliloquy, and with an accent.†
soliloquy = a speech you make to yourself or as a long uninterrupted part of a conversation
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
spurn
1 use
The beeves were moving across, all right, and on the other side a tramp leaned on a cane to watch, leering like a dandy at each one of the carcasses as it went by; it could have been some haughty and spurning woman he kept catching like that.†
spurning = rejecting as not good enough
Definition
Generally spurn means:reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
testimonial
1 use
He and Emma MacLain could at any time be printed in the paper where all could see, side by side naked and compared, in those testimonial silhouettes; maybe had been.†
testimonial = something that recommends (or expresses commendation) — especially a verbal statement
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
untoward
1 use
Eugene felt untoward visions churning, the Spaniard with his great knees bent and his black slippers turning as if on a wheel's rim, dancing in a red smoky place with a lead-heavy alligator.†
untoward = improper, awkward, or unfavorable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
veritable
1 use
And always the one, dark face, though momently fire from his nostrils brimmed over, with that veritable waste of life!†
veritable = used for emphasis to introduce a dramatic metaphor
Definition
Generally veritable means:used for emphasis: to describe one thing as almost like another (more intense) thing
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |