The Miserable Mill — Vocabulary
Lemony Snicket
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Exemplary sample Uses Broad Use
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foremansupervisor
She complained to the shop foreman.more
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Foreman Flacutono threw his pots on the floor, walked over to the tiny green boxes, and grabbed one.†p.40.2116 more
a person chosen to lead and speak for a group…
Show general definition a person chosen to lead and speak for a group, especially at work or in a courtroom
Show editor's word notes At work, a foreman is the worker who supervises and directs other workers, often in factories, workshops, or on construction sites. In a court case, the foreman is the juror selected to lead the jury and announce its decision.
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optimisticexpecting the best
I'm optimistic that I'll get into a good college.more
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The children could tell, from Phil's statement about everything and everybody having a good side, that he was an optimist.†p.26.78 more
optimisticoptimist:someone who expects the best; or who focuses on the good part of things
Show general definition expecting the best; or focusing on the good part of things
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dismaydismaydismayed:sad, disappointed, or worried
Don't be dismayed. I have a solution.more
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The dismayed orphans looked at their reflections, and their dismayed reflections looked back at them.†p.47.65 more
dismaydismayed:to feel sadness, disappointment, or worry
Show general definition to feel sadness, disappointment, or worry -- typically in response to something surprising
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diligentcareful and hardworking
She's the kind of diligent worker we want to hire.more
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"'Assiduous' and 'diligent' both mean the same thing," said Klaus, who knew lots of impressive words from all the books he had read.†p.17.92 more
hard work and care
Show general definition for diligent (as in: she is diligent) working carefully and steadily with effort and attention to detail
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despisedespisedespises:dislikes strongly and looks down upon
She despises the people he works for.more
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She only had her four sharp teeth, and, looking Dr. Orwell right in the eye, she opened her mouth and pointed all four at this despicable person.†p.167.94 more
despisedespicable:terrible (vile; disgusting) -- worthy of being strongly disliked and looked down upon
Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable.
Show general definition to dislike strongly and to look down upon with disrespect
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coincidencea situation where things happened at the same time by chance even though it was unlikely
It was a pure coincidence that both got sick the same weekend.more
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Try as they might, they just couldn't believe it was a coincidence that the town in which they were to live had a building that looked just like the tattoo of Count Olaf.†p.14.83 more
Show general definition a situation where two things happened at the same time or in the same way by chance even though it was unlikely
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acquireobtain (get)
Children acquire language at an amazing rate.more
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Without money, of course, it was difficult to acquire any books, but I did have three books donated.†p.59.91 more
obtain (come into the possession of something)
Show general definition obtain (come into the possession of something)
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cunningclever and deceitful
She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more
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For instance, a book that began with the sentence "Once upon a time there was a family of cunning little chipmunks who lived in a hollow tree" would probably contain a story full of talking animals who get into all sorts of mischief.†p.1.41 more
good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
Show general definition for cunning (as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
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endeavorendeavorendeavored:tried or attempted
I endeavored to get both sides to agree to a compromise.more
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Sunny said, wondering what in the world "endeavor" meant.†p.143.51 more
to attempt; OR  a project or activity attempted
Show general definition to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
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frauddeception to get something illegally
She was arrested for committing credit card fraud after using someone else’s account to buy expensive electronics.more
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You, Count Olaf, are under arrest for various murders and attempted murders, various frauds and...p.187.61 more
fraudfrauds:illegal deceptions for financial gain
Show general definition the act of deceiving someone for personal gain; or a person or thing that is not what it pretends or appears to be
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conveycommunicate or express
She dresses to convey a sense of a successful, no-nonsense woman.more
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And I know because I have written down all the details in order to convey to you, the reader, just how miserable their experience was.†p.20.3
Show general definition for convey (as in: convey her thoughts) communicate or express
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neverthelessdespite that (used to connect contrasting ideas)
The class was hard. Nevertheless, it was my favorite.more
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Nevertheless, when she found a sentence that appeared to be useful, she gave Sunny a waking nudge and read the sentence out loud.†p.150.2
Show general definition despite that
Show editor's word notes Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 was just stated, we still have idea 2.  Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
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dauntdiscourage or intimidate
It is a challenge that would daunt a lesser diplomat.more
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Grateful that she could skip that daunting first paragraph—the word "daunting" here means "full of incredibly difficult words"—she flipped through Advanced Ocular Science until she reached "Hypnosis and Mind Control."†p.146.8
dauntdaunting:discouraging or intimidating
Show general definition to discourage or intimidate
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treacherybetrayal
Benedict Arnold remains the U.S.'s symbol of ultimate treachery.more
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After so many narrow escapes from Count Olaf's treachery, this seemed to be the moment of his—or in this case, her—terrible triumph.†p.164.91 more
Show general definition the behavior of someone who pretends to be a friend and then tricks, cheats, or betrays
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inordinateexcessive
She has an inordinate fear of spiders.more
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The Baudelaire orphans were alive, and it seemed that maybe they had an inordinate amount of luck after all.†p.194.98 more
excessive or more than is reasonable or normal
Show general definition excessive or more than is reasonable or normal
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ostentatiousshowy (trying to attract notice and impress others in a manner seen as in bad taste)
Although wealthy, the family is not ostentatious.more
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Violet knew, of course, that her parents had never guessed, when they told her this, that the sort of trouble her siblings would get into would be so ostentatiously—a word which here means "really, really"— horrendous, but still she felt as if she had let her parents down.†p.93.8
ostentatiousostentatiously:in a manner intended to attract notice and impress others
Show general definition intended to attract notice and impress others -- especially with wealth in a vulgar way
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askewnot straight (not in proper alignment)
She came out of the water with her glasses askew but still on her head.more
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Klaus's glasses were hanging askew, a phrase which here means "tilted to one side from leaning over logs the entire morning."†p.46.2
not straight; or not right
Show general definition not straight (not in proper alignment)

or:

(when used figuratively) not right, or not as planned
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imperativeessential and urgent
The candidate said it is imperative that we take action to address climate change.more
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The first sentence was "This tome will endeavor to scrutinize, in quasi-inclusive breadth, the epistemology of ophthalmologically contrived appraisals of ocular systems and the subsequent and requisite exertions imperative for expugnation of injurious states," and as Violet read it out loud to her sister, both children felt the dread that comes when you begin a very boring and difficult book.†p.143.1
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paltryinsignificant
She was frustrated by the paltry raise she got after a year of growing on the job.more
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But their experience at the lumbermill had been so very dreadful that they didn't care much that they were leaving Paltry•ville.†p.190.3
insignificant in amount or quality
Show general definition insignificant in amount or quality
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entwinedinterconnected or twisted together
Our lives are entwined.more
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The cage part of the string machine was split open like an egg, and the string had become completely entwined and entangled.†p.97.1
interconnected (not easily separated) or twisted together
Show general definition interconnected (not easily separated) or twisted together