v. disregard; ignore; pay little or no attention to
He could hardly suppose I should neglect them.
This is how you would neglect your most sacred duties.
I am growing great in Latin verses, and neglect the laces of my boots.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 18. A RETROSPECT a. impartial; not supporting one side over another
It was necessary to find some neutral ground on which an exchange could be made, and then to try and land these goods on the coast of France.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 22. The Smugglers. I do not suppose that for the world they would have profaned that moment with the slightest observation, even upon so neutral a topic as the weather.
Nothing then was altered in the plan, and orders were given to get under weigh next night, and, wind and weather permitting, to make the neutral island by the following day.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 22. The Smugglers. a. many; various; amounting to a large indefinite number
That these likenesses had grown more numerous, as he, coming over the sea, had drawn nearer.
I keep it and rear it rather on the Roman Catholic principle of expiating numerous sins, great or small, by one good work.
One of his most intimate friends was a merchant who, from a flourishing state, fell, through numerous mischances, into poverty.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 1 a. inattentive or unmindful; lacking all memory; forgetful
For once at least in her life she was totally oblivious of the charm of her attitude.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 5: 3 Eustacia Dresses Herself on a Black Morning In the background was one happy man dancing by himself, with closed eyes, totally oblivious of all the rest.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 4: 3 She Goes Out to Battle against Depression Vronsky, standing beside Oblonsky, watched the carriages and the passengers, totally oblivious of his mother.
a. no longer useful; outmoded; antiquated
It was an obsolete thing, and few cared to study it.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 3: 2 The New Course Causes Disappointment This obscure, obsolete, superseded country figures in Domesday.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 1: 1 A Face on Which Time Makes but Little Impression But this custom has now become obsolete; turn we then to the one proper mast-head, that of a whale-ship at sea.
v. get hold of; gain possession of; acquire, in any way
I confessed, that I might obtain absolution; but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than all my other sins.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 8 As I could obtain a perspective view of Mr. Omer inside, smoking his pipe by the parlour door, I entered, and asked him how he was.
Besides this business, Stepan Arkadyevitch had promised his sister Anna to obtain from Karenin a definite answer on the question of divorce.
a. random; occurring from time to time; infrequent
extorting from him occasional questions and remarks.
The rain cooled about half-past three to a damp mist through which occasional thin drops swam like dew.
The only surgeon was one who combined the occasional exercise of that noble art with the daily and habitual flourish of a razor.
v. strike against; attack; assail; make angry; affront
I wondered if I had said anything to offend him.
Yet there are a thousand ways of helping them, if one only knows how to do it so delicately that it does not offend.
I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.
n. government by a few persons, especially by a small faction of persons or families
The city, which was owned by an oligarchy of business men, being nominally ruled by the people, a huge army of graft was necessary for the purpose of effecting the transfer of power.
It'd had more generations in which to form an oligarchy of respectability.
v. leave undone or leave out ; bypass; neglect; fail to include or mention
Rance sat down on the horsehair sofa, and knitted his brows as though determined not to omit anything in his narrative.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In PART I: CHAPTER IV. WHAT JOHN RANCE HAD TO TELL It is not a subject on which I would willingly dwell, and yet I am conscious that a duty devolves upon me to omit no detail.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In XII. The Adventure of The Final Problem I did not omit even our sports and pastimes, or any other particular which I thought might redound to the honour of my country.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 2: CHAPTER VI. a. having total knowledge; knowing everything
And the omniscient gentlemen always said, indeed they would.
It appeared to be omniscient and omnipotent, and yet was neither seen nor heard.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In PART II: CHAPTER III. JOHN FERRIER TALKS WITH THE PROPHET One of those omniscient and aweinspiring marvels, a detective, came up from St. Louis, moused around, shook his head, looked wise, and made that sort of astounding success which members of that craft usually achieve.
v. be any thick messy substance; pass gradually; progress slowly but steadily
That silence seemed to ooze out of the ground, to hang under the foliage of the black maple trees with the bats and shadows.
I saw the water ooze in at several crannies, although the leaks were not considerable, and I endeavoured to stop them as well as I could.
Gulliver's Travels(V1) By Jonathan SwiftContext Highlight In PART 2: CHAPTER VIII. Little Wade had to be held up time and again, so that ladies who ventured as far through the ooze as their carriage blocks could exclaim over him.
v. place in front of, or over against; set opposite; exhibit; confront; resist; withstand
If his servants oppose me, I shall threaten them off with these pistols.
Now for the first time he heard her words with pleasure, and did not inwardly oppose them.
He is very decided, but never will be obstinate, if you reason kindly, not oppose impatiently.
n. large bird of the genus Struthio
And, curled about the brim of this confection was the perkiest of green ostrich plumes.
He bolts down all events, all creeds, and beliefs, and persuasions, all hard things visible and invisible, never mind how knobby; as an ostrich of potent digestion gobbles down bullets and gun flints.
"All right," said Marija, reaching for her hat, which was big enough to be a drum major's, and full of ostrich feathers.
n. line that appears to bound an object; shape of an object or figure; summary of a written work or speech
Then the shadowy outline did take form.
I took a sheet of fine card-board, and drew a careful outline.
As he passed into their gloom he saw an indistinct outline just ahead of him.
a. no longer usable or practical; obsolete; not in fashion
a. distinguished from others in excellence
His whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER’S THUMB The family had left that part a week before; they had called in such trifling debts as were outstanding, discharged them, and left the place by night.
In these accomplishments the twins excelled, and they were equally outstanding in their notorious inability to learn anything contained between the covers of books.
v. defeat; cover completely or make imperceptible; overcome by superior force ; charge someone with too many tasks
Oh, count, you overwhelm me with that coolness.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 94. Maximilian's Avowal. You must not think anymore about the hard things I said in my first moment of consternation, when I thought everything was going to overwhelm me.
Little did I then expect the calamity that was in a few moments to overwhelm me and extinguish in horror and despair all fear of ignominy or death.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 20 n. unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen
n. personal ornaments or accessories, as of attire; articles used in particular activity
Each house consisted of two compartments, and each family at Lebrun's possessed a compartment for itself, fitted out with all the essential paraphernalia of the bath and whatever other conveniences the owners might desire.
n. a tiny piece of anything
There was not a particle of earth beneath their feet.
He looked like a man cut away from the stake, when the fire has overrunningly wasted all the limbs without consuming them, or taking away one particle from their compacted aged robustness.
He glanced at her frizzled head, bare shoulders, and fantastically trimmed dress with an expression that abashed her more than his answer, which had not a particle of his usual politeness in it.
n. field covered with grass; meadow
The pasture was blue with them.
It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich in pasture.
Your mother agreed, providing he was able to jump the pasture fence, for, she said, there would be a lot of rough riding to be done in the army.
a. causing sadness, compassion, or pity
This old man was a touching and pathetic figure to Levin now, and he longed to say something pleasant to him.
Jo tried to look pathetic but must have failed, for Mr. Laurence began to laugh, and she knew the day was won.
His bowed head, and her angel-face and filial duty, derived a more pathetic meaning from it than they had had before.
a. special; characteristic; unusual; odd; bizarre
Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address.
However novel and peculiar this testimony of attachment, I did not doubt the accuracy of the interpretation.
But of his minuter propensities, as you call them you have from peculiar circumstances been kept more ignorant than myself.
v. gaze; stare; look searchingly; company with
Kennicott stooped to peer through the windows.
She saw Maud Dyer peer at Erik with moist possessive eyes.
Made a peer at the Restoration, I served through the first campaign under the orders of Marshal Bourmont.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 41. The Presentation. v. pierce; go through; permeate
I was encompassed by a cloud which no beneficial influence could penetrate.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 9 Still I would penetrate their misty veil and seek them in their cloudy retreats.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 10 They penetrate into the recesses of nature and show how she works in her hiding-places.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 3 n. a piece of land almost completely surrounded by water but joined to a larger mass of land
We left her standing upon the thin peninsula of firm, peaty soil which tapered out into the widespread bog.
The Hound of the Baskervilles By A. Conan DoyleContext Highlight In Chapter 14. The Hound of the Baskervilles The long and narrow peninsula of Malacca, extending south-eastward from the territories of Birmah, forms the most southerly point of all Asia.
On the outskirts of the town, within the verge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other habitation, there was a small thatched cottage.
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel HawthorneContext Highlight In V. HESTER AT HER NEEDLE n. consent; approval to do something
With his permission my mother prevailed on her rustic guardians to yield their charge to her.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 1 However, the permission was given, and was never retracted; for when the month was out, Peggotty and I were ready to depart.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 10. I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR I needed no second permission; though I was by this time in such a state of consternation and agitation, that my legs shook under me.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 13. THE SEQUEL OF MY RESOLUTION v. endure; be persistent, refuse to stop
He had all the disposition to persevere that Sir Thomas could wish him.
She found that he did mean to persevere; but how he could, after such language from her as she felt herself obliged to use, was not to be understood.
Heyward smiled to himself at the idea of a competition with the scout, though he determined to persevere in the deception, until apprised of the real designs of Magua.
The Last of the Mohicans By James Fenimore CooperContext Highlight In CHAPTER 29 v. continue; insist; persevere
He asked me if I meant to persist in my resistance.
If they persist in the scheme, they will find something.
Strange how these illusions will persist even in women as hard headed as you are.
a. pestering; vexatious; troublesome; causing irritation or annoyance
a. of or pertaining to the voice; relating to sounds of spoken language
a. peaceful; tranquil; calm or quiet
The moon began to rise, and I thought of the placid look at the white ceiling, which had passed away.
The placid look at the white ceiling came back, and passed away, and his head dropped quietly on his breast.
I see her, with her modest, orderly, placid manner, and I hear her beautiful calm voice, as I write these words.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 16. I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE v. steal another's ideas and pass them off as one's own
n. request for help; excuse or pretext
Upon the same plea, he told me to bring my tools and clothing home forthwith.
Mrs. Trenor brushed aside the plea with a gesture which laid bare its weakness.
Venn declined, on the plea of it being too early, and stated that his business was with Miss Vye.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 1: 10 A Desperate Attempt at Persuasion v. fall straight down; plunge; decline suddenly and steeply
Light as it was, I heard it fall like a plummet.
v. take goods of by force, or without right; spoil; sack; strip; rob
It was profusely strewed with the plunder of that unlucky fortress.
The Last of the Mohicans By James Fenimore CooperContext Highlight In CHAPTER 25 The skiff was half full of plunder which that gang had stole there on the wreck.
The idea was that one of you was to marry her, and the other have a share of the plunder.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In IV. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SOLITARY CYCLIST n. inflammation of the lungs
Carol was volunteer nurse when Mrs. Champ Perry suddenly died of pneumonia.
His iron constitution was somewhat broken by mountain pneumonia, and he had drifted back to live in a milder country for a while.
Will was acutely ill with pneumonia and when the girls put him to bed, they feared he would soon join the boy in the burying ground.
n. settled method of government to administer; system of public or official administration
And they have to find a support for themselves in inventing a policy.
The young creature in pink had a mother in green; and I rather think the latter separated us from motives of policy.
It has always been against the policy of despotic governments to suffer the victims of their persecutions to reappear.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 14. The Two Prisoners. n. a kind of cloak worn by the Spanish Americans, having the form of a blanket, with a slit in the middle for the head to pass through
For the whale is indeed wrapt up in his blubber as in a real blanket or counterpane; or, still better, an Indian poncho slipt over his head, and skirting his extremity.
There was a hole or slit in the middle of this mat, as you see the same in South American ponchos.
a. mobile; easily or conveniently transported
What I look at is the sacrifice of so much portable property.
Whereas, the portable property certainly could have been saved.
She might have been some two or three years younger than Wemmick, and I judged her to stand possessed of portable property.
n. section or quantity within a larger thing; a part of a whole
The shout died into a murmur, as one portion of the crowd after another obtained a glimpse of him.
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel HawthorneContext Highlight In XXIII. THE REVELATION OF THE SCARLET LETTER These emotions, in fact, and its bitterest scorn besides, seemed to be the sole portion that she retained in the universal heart.
The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel HawthorneContext Highlight In V. HESTER AT HER NEEDLE I have traversed a vast portion of the earth and have endured all the hardships which travellers in deserts and barbarous countries are wont to meet.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 24 a. involving advantage or good ; greater than zero; very sure; confident
She thought how Levin, who believed the opposite, was just as positive in his opinions at his own table.
In my heart I believed her to be right; and yet I took it rather ill, too, that she should be so positive on the point.
The fishing scheme had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley before noon.
n. lack of money; state of being poor; lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts
His manner of bearing his poverty, too, exactly corresponded to his manner of bearing that defeat.
I heard of the division of property, of immense wealth and squalid poverty, of rank, descent, and noble blood.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 13 One of his most intimate friends was a merchant who, from a flourishing state, fell, through numerous mischances, into poverty.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 1 n. forerunner; one who precedes an event and indicates its approach
He will find it as sure a precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS It was known, by all present, to be the brave precursor of a weighty and important judgment.
The Last of the Mohicans By James Fenimore CooperContext Highlight In CHAPTER 23 Again I saw that grim face look over the cliff, and I knew that it was the precursor of another stone.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In I. THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE n. tricky or dangerous situation; dilemma; troublesome
Betty Tarleton rescued him from his predicament.
To escape from his predicament he ran away with a widow six years older than himself, who owned a half-section.
It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important at comparatively little expense.
n. privilege; unquestionable right; exclusive power to command
These women at least shall continue to respect the prerogative.
Nevertheless, it is your undoubted prerogative to confer on whom you please this crown, by the delivery of which to the lady of your choice, the election of to-morrow's Queen will be formal and complete.
n. stress; tension; condition of being pressed
A stronger pressure on my hand.
Not only were my arms pulled close to my sides, but the pressure on my bad arm caused me exquisite pain.
The moon began to rise, and I thought of the pressure on my hand when I had spoken the last words he had heard on earth.
a. existing or occurring before something else
She recalled with wonder her state of mind on the previous day.
It was untouched like the previous sum, and he refolded it in the same way.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 40. THE WANDERER When we had dined, we went upstairs again, where everything went on exactly as on the previous day.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 16. I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE n. target of a hunt; animal hunted or caught for food
We desire that, too; that he may not by any chance be made her prey again.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 46. INTELLIGENCE Despair had indeed almost secured her prey, and I should soon have sunk beneath this misery.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 24 I shall no longer feel the agonies which now consume me or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet unquenched.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 24 a. of first rank or importance or value; essential or basic
She knew that to him, although he was the primary cause of her distress, the question of her seeing her son would seem a matter of very little consequence.
I like it very much," cried Duncan, who saw that the release of Cora was the primary object in the mind of the scout; "I like it much.
The Last of the Mohicans By James Fenimore CooperContext Highlight In CHAPTER 31 But the sale of reddle was not Diggory's primary object in remaining on the heath, particularly at so late a period of the year, when most travellers of his class had gone into winter quarters.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 2: 7 A Coalition between Beauty and Oddness a. first in excellence, quality, or value; at the best stage; peak; first in degree or rank; chief
By children now in their prime.
To love and labor in their prime.
I said he was my dearest friend, the protector of my boyhood, and the companion of my prime.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 24. MY FIRST DISSIPATION n. follow a certain course; move ahead; travel onward
I heard her steps proceed to the pantry.
But two advantages will proceed from this delay.
They proceed from no misconduct, and can bring no disgrace.
n. person with exceptional talents or powers; wonder
Long I gazed at that prodigy of plumage.
Moby Dick By Herman MelvilleContext Highlight In CHAPTER 42. The Whiteness of The Whale. He was always a Negro prodigy who played barbarously and wonderfully.
Heyward lifted his head from the cover, and beheld what he justly considered a prodigy of rashness and skill.
n. one derived from another; offspring or descendant; result of creative effort, as product
He was naturally a very nervous, shuddering sort of little fellow, this bread-faced steward; the progeny of a bankrupt baker and a hospital nurse.
And in this same last or shoe, that old woman of the nursery tale, with the swarming brood, might very comfortably be lodged, she and all her progeny.
Moby Dick By Herman MelvilleContext Highlight In CHAPTER 75. The Right Whale's Head—Contrasted View. Mr. Gryce was new to such manifestations; he wondered rather nervously if she were delicate, having far-reaching fears about the future of his progeny.
v. grow rapidly; propagate; reproduce
v. drive forward; cause to move forward or onward; push
Rhett propelled Gerald forward.
He took her arm and propelled her from the room.
The oars were useless as propellers, performing now the office of life-preservers.
Moby Dick By Herman MelvilleContext Highlight In CHAPTER 48. The First Lowering. v. extend out or project in space; stick out
Hope slapped the revolver butt which protruded from the front of his tunic.
A Study In Scarlet By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In PART II: CHAPTER IV. A FLIGHT FOR LIFE His hands were covered with red mittens through which protruded his chapped raw knuckles.
There was a heavy pistol openly in his trouser band and from the top of his tattered boot protruded the hilt of a bowie knife.
v. stir to anger; give rise to; stir to action or feeling
He would provoke them and set them off.
Franz, to provoke him, and to fight with him; all that would be folly.
The Count of Monte Cristo By Alexandre DumasContext Highlight In Chapter 73. The Promise. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was enough to provoke him.
v. follow in; go in search of or hunt for
You travelled to seek happiness, but a fatality seems to pursue you.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 21 I hoped to induce you to grant me a boat with which I could pursue my enemy.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 24 I burned with rage to pursue the murderer of my peace and precipitate him into the ocean.
Frankenstein By Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) ShelleyContext Highlight In Chapter 20 n. a massive memorial with a square base and four triangular sides; built as royal tombs in ancient Egypt
It was a small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like the one upon the table of the study.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE THREE STUDENTS He touched it once more, wishing us a good journey; and we left him standing on the pavement, as respectable a mystery as any pyramid in Egypt.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 23. I CORROBORATE Mr. DICK, AND CHOOSE A PROFESSI... While I was battering away at the pyramid, a sort of badger-haired old merman, with a hump on his back, takes me by the shoulders, and slews me round.
v. make such as is required; give added or requisite qualities to; make legally capable
I am not qualified to form one.
You are qualified for many good things.
I would have qualified that conclusion, but he stopped me.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 45. MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT'S PREDICTIONS