Words from a Single Sentence in William Styron's "The Confessions of Nat Turner"

In one sentence, William Stryon is able to pack in an entire list's worth of rare and powerful words.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. malingerer
    someone shirking duty by feigning illness or incapacity
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  2. censure
    harsh criticism or disapproval
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  3. circumspect
    careful to consider potential consequences and avoid risk
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  4. furtive
    secret and sly
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  5. lechery
    unrestrained indulgence in sexual activity
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  6. servile
    submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  7. unctuous
    unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  8. crafty
    marked by skill in deception
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  9. fancy
    not plain; decorative or ornamented
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
  10. illiterate
    not able to read or write
    Well, under these circumstances I would doubtless have become... mildly efficient at some stupid task like wringing chickens' necks or smoking hams or polishing silver, a malingerer wherever possible yet withal too jealous of my security to risk real censure or trouble and thus cautious in my tiny thefts, circumspect in the secrecy of my afternoon naps, furtive in my anxious lecheries with the plump yellow-skinned cleaning maids upstairs in the dark attic, growing ever more servile and unctuous
Created on Wed May 29 11:00:40 EDT 2013 (updated Wed May 29 11:56:15 EDT 2013)

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