- inmatesnounChapter 1 →
The people living or housed in an institution such as a workhouse or prison; here, the other residents of the workhouse who hear Oliver's first cry.
“proceeded to advertise his existence to the inmates of the workhouse”
- hithertoadverbChapter 1 →
Up until this point in time; used to describe something that was true before but may now change.
“Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his only covering”
- articulatedverbChapter 1 →
Spoke or pronounced words clearly; here used with 'imperfectly' to show the dying woman could barely form the words.
“a faint voice imperfectly articulated the words, 'Let me see the child, and die.'”
- sageadjectiveChapter 2 →
Supposed to be very wise and experienced; Dickens uses it sarcastically to mock the self-important workhouse board members.
“The members of this board were very sage, deep, philosophical men”
- systematicadjectiveChapter 2 →
Carried out according to a fixed, deliberate plan, repeated consistently over time rather than happening by chance.
“Oliver was the victim of a systematic course of treachery and deception”
- treacherynounChapter 2 →
Deliberate betrayal of trust; acting in a deceitful or disloyal way toward someone who depends on you.
“Oliver was the victim of a systematic course of treachery and deception”
- taintedverbChapter 3 →
Contaminated or spoiled by something unpleasant; here the air in the shop is described as polluted by the smell of coffins.
“The atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins”
- tauntsnounChapter 4 →
Mocking, insulting remarks made to provoke or humiliate someone; cruel jeering words meant to cause pain.
“He had listened to their taunts with a look of contempt”
- contemptnounChapter 4 →
A feeling that someone or something is worthless and beneath you; complete scorn and disrespect.
“He had listened to their taunts with a look of contempt”
- scantyadjectiveChapter 4 →
Too small in amount to be adequate; barely enough to serve its purpose.
“with no other covering than a scanty woollen jacket”
- rumadjectiveChapter 5 →
British slang of the period meaning odd, strange, or difficult to figure out; not related to the drink.
“'He's a rum one,' said the Dodger”
- pewteradjectiveChapter 5 →
Made of pewter, a dull grey metal alloy used for cheap drinking vessels; signals the poverty and roughness of the surroundings.
“two or three pewter pots, a loaf and butter”
- shrivelledadjectiveChapter 5 →
Wrinkled and shrunken, as skin or flesh does with extreme old age or dryness.
“He was a very old shrivelled Jew”
- mattedadjectiveChapter 5 →
Tangled and stuck together in a dense, dirty mass; used here to describe unkempt, clumped hair.
“obscured by a quantity of matted red hair”
- pell-melladverbChapter 6 →
In a wild, disorderly rush all at once; headlong and without any order or control.
“away they run, pell-mell, helter-skelter”
- ruefuladjectiveChapter 6 →
Showing regret, sorrow, or embarrassment about something; looking sorry or sheepish.
“The old gentleman looked almost as rueful as Oliver when the book was first displayed”
- towering passionphraseChapter 6 →
An extreme, overwhelming fit of rage; an anger so intense it seems to tower over everything else.
“The magistrate was in a towering passion”
- juvenilenounChapter 8 →
A young person or child; here used as a noun to describe Oliver as a young boy in a slightly formal, distancing way.
“as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see”
- snub-nosedadjectiveChapter 8 →
Having a short, turned-up nose; a common period description of a rough or common-looking face.
“He was a snub-nosed, flat-browed, common-faced boy enough”
- wretchnounChapter 9 →
A deeply unfortunate or miserable person; also used as a term of contempt for someone considered worthless or wicked.
“'Come on, you young wretch!' said Sikes”
- mirenounChapter 10 →
Deep, sticky mud or swampy ground; used to convey the filthy, difficult physical conditions Oliver is dragged through.
“dragging him through the mud and mire”
- loatheverbChapter 13 →
To feel intense disgust and hatred toward something; a stronger and more visceral feeling than simply disliking.
“I loathe and hate it now, but I cannot leave it”
- infamousadjectiveChapter 14 →
Well known for being wicked or morally disgraceful; having a reputation for shameful behaviour.
“I am the infamous creature you have heard of, that lives among the thieves”
- snivellingadjectiveChapter 12 →
Weakly whining or crying in a feeble, contemptible way; used here as an insult to describe a cowardly, petty thief.
“Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once?”
- sneakingadjectiveChapter 12 →
Acting in a sly, underhanded, cowardly way; doing things secretly out of cowardice rather than boldness.
“made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once”
Oliver TwistNovel by Charles Dickens