Great Expectations: Chapters 16–25

by Charles Dickens
Pip's life is changed when an anonymous benefactor pays for an expensive education in London, but he quickly discovers that you can't escape who you really are. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–15, Chapters 16–25, Chapters 26–35, Chapters 36–47, Chapters 48–59
15 words 1968 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. corroborate
    support with evidence or authority or make more certain
    Now, Joe, examining this iron with a smith's eye, declared it to have been filed asunder some time ago. The hue and cry going off to the Hulks, and people coming thence to examine the iron, Joe's opinion was corroborated.
  2. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
    Besides, there had been no altercation; the assailant had come in so silently and suddenly, that she had been felled before she could look round.
  3. aberration
    a disorder in one's mental state
    A tremulous uncertainty of the action of all her limbs soon became a part of her regular state, and afterwards, at intervals of two or three months, she would often put her hands to her head, and would then remain for about a week at a time in some gloomy aberration of mind.
    "Aberration" also means "a state or condition markedly different from the norm"—Pip ironically observes that the attack on his sister's head and spine turned her into a nicer, less dangerous, and more patient person.
  4. propitiation
    the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity
    ...there was an air of humble propitiation in all she did, such as I have seen pervade the bearing of a child towards a hard master.
  5. valedictory
    of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell
    Without evincing any inclination to come in again, he there delivered his valedictory remarks.
  6. clemency
    leniency and compassion shown toward offenders
    But, morning once more brightened my view, and I extended my clemency to Biddy, and we dropped the subject.
  7. deferential
    showing courteous regard for people's feelings
    Mr. Trabb then bent over number four, and in a sort of deferential confidence recommended it to me as a light article for summer wear...
  8. affability
    a disposition to be friendly and approachable
    This occasion shall not entirely pass without that affability on your part.
  9. entreat
    ask for or request earnestly
    ...when I went up to my little room on this last night, I felt compelled to admit that it might be so, and had an impulse upon me to go down again and entreat Joe to walk with me in the morning.
  10. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
    "Well!" said the pale young gentleman, reaching out his hand good-humouredly, "it's all over now, I hope, and it will be magnanimous in you if you'll forgive me for having knocked you about so."
  11. acquiesce
    agree or express agreement
    “No,” he acquiesced: “I heard it had happened very lately. I was rather on the lookout for good fortune then.”
  12. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
    It had not occurred to me before, that he had led up to the theme for the purpose of clearing it out of our way; but we were so much the lighter and easier for having broached it, that I now perceived this to be the case.
  13. plebeian
    of or associated with the great masses of people
    Be that as it may, he had directed Mrs. Pocket to be brought up from her cradle as one who in the nature of things must marry a title, and who was to be guarded from the acquisition of plebeian domestic knowledge.
  14. diffidence
    lack of self-assurance
    As he had shown no diffidence on the subject, I ventured on the liberty of asking him the question, when he stood before me, dusting his hands.
  15. inveigle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    Mr. Pip, there are about seven hundred thieves in this town who know all about that watch; there's not a man, a woman, or a child, among them, who wouldn't identify the smallest link in that chain, and drop it as if it was red hot, if inveigled into touching it.
Created on Sat Jul 13 02:14:57 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Jul 30 17:56:51 EDT 2025)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.