Literary Character Descriptions

adjective born of low birth or social status

• The nobleman refused to acknowledge the baseborn child as his own.
• She always looked down on him for being baseborn.
• People in the village gossip about the baseborn girl and her mysterious origins.
• The artist considered his early, amateurish works to be baseborn compared to his later masterpieces.

noun an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place

• The denizen of the forest is the deer, a graceful and elusive creature.
• The denizen of this neighborhood is Mrs. Johnson, she knows everyone's business.
• The denizen of the club scene is always looking for the next party.
• As a denizen of the internet, he spends hours browsing various websites.

adjective having characteristics traditionally associated with women, such as delicacy and prettiness

• The man was often criticized for his effeminate mannerisms in the workplace.
• Some people mistakenly assume that a man who is effeminate must be gay.
• He was teased in school for being effeminate and was called names.
• The delicate lace curtains gave the room an effeminate touch.

verb to praise or pay tribute to someone in a eulogy or formal speech

• During the memorial service, the priest eulogized the deceased for his many charitable contributions.
• At the funeral, his friends took turns eulogizing him and sharing their favorite memories.
• After he passed away, his buddies got together to eulogize him over beers.
• The author eulogized the end of an era in his latest novel, capturing the nostalgia of a bygone time.

adjective easily distracted or changing in opinions or behavior; not serious or reliable

• Her flighty behavior at work often led to misunderstandings with her colleagues.
• I can't keep up with her flighty decisions, she changes her mind all the time.
• She's so flighty, always jumping from one thing to the next without a plan.
• His flighty thoughts drifted like clouds in the sky, never staying in one place for long.

adjective a term used to describe someone or something as attractive, stylish, or clever

• The woman was known for her foxy appearance and elegant demeanor.
• She's got a foxy smile that can light up a room.
• That guy is so foxy, he always knows how to charm the ladies.
• The detective had a foxy way of uncovering the truth in every case.

adjective friendly, cheerful, or pleasant

• The genial host welcomed all the guests to the charity event.
• She has such a genial personality, always making everyone feel comfortable.
• That new restaurant is genial, we should definitely check it out.
• His genial smile lit up the room, spreading warmth to everyone around him.

adjective subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind

• His mercurial temperament made it difficult to predict his reactions in a professional setting.
• She's so mercurial, one minute she's happy and the next she's upset.
• I can't keep up with his mercurial moods, it's like he's always changing his mind.
• The stock market can be mercurial, fluctuating wildly from one day to the next.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• Several prestigious universities number among the top 10 in the world.
• A lot of my friends number among the attendees of the music festival.
• Some cool kids from our school number among the group going to the party.
• His name will always number among the greats in the history of literature.

noun a person or thing that is unusual or distinctive in some way

adjective different from the usual or normal; strange

• The scientist made note of the peculiar behavior exhibited by the new species of insect.
• It's kind of peculiar how she always wears mismatched socks.
• That movie was so peculiar, I couldn't follow the plot at all.
• Her peculiar way of speaking was like a puzzle that no one could solve.

adjective having a stout or bulky body; somewhat fat or overweight

• The portly gentleman arrived at the event in a tailored suit.
• The portly man sure knows how to enjoy a good meal.
• That portly dude is always the life of the party.
• Her portly presence filled the room with warmth and comfort.

noun a person who is physically or morally weak

• The scientist referred to the smaller species as a weakling in comparison to the larger predators.
• Don't be a weakling, stand up for yourself and speak your mind.
• He's such a weakling, always backing down from a challenge.
• Her resolve was like a rock, unyielding to the opinions of weaklings around her.

adjective describing someone or something that resembles or has the qualities of a prince

• His princelike demeanor and impeccable manners set him apart from the rest of the guests.
• He always carries himself in a princelike manner, as if he were born into royalty.
• That car is so princelike, it's like driving a royal chariot.
• Her princelike grace on the dance floor made her the center of attention.

noun A person who takes care of horses at an inn or stable

• The ostler took great care of the horses at the inn, ensuring they were well-fed and groomed.
• The ostler at the stable is a real horse whisperer, he knows how to handle them with ease.
• I heard the ostler at the ranch is a real cowboy, he can ride and rope with the best of them.
• She was the ostler of the office, always taking care of everyone's needs and making sure things ran smoothly.

adjective resembling or characteristic of a sheep; docile or easily influenced

• The sheeplike behavior of the followers was evident as they blindly followed the leader's orders.
• Sheeplike, they all just went along with whatever the popular girl said.
• Don't be so sheeplike and just do what everyone else is doing.
• Her sheeplike obedience to authority figures was both admirable and concerning.

noun a strong, prominent jawline that resembles the shape of a lantern

• The actor was known for his lantern jaw, which gave his face a strong and defined appearance.
• I always envied my brother's lantern jaw, he never had to worry about double chins.
• Check out that guy with the lantern jaw, he must spend hours at the gym.
• Her words hit me like a punch to the lantern jaw, leaving me stunned and speechless.