Question

Which reference would best explain what an author means when she uses the adjective saturnine to describe a character?

A.A thesaurus
B.An atlas
C.An encyclopedia
D.A dictionary

Answer 1

A dictionary

Step-by-step explanation:

The dictionary would define saturnine as a word meaning gloomy, sullen, or melancholy, which are all common interpretations of the word.

Answer 2

To understand the meaning of the adjective 'saturnine' as used by an author to describe a character, consulting a dictionary would be the best choice as it provides word definitions.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an author uses the adjective saturnine to describe a character, the reference that would best explain what this means is D. A dictionary. A dictionary provides definitions of words, detailing their meanings, pronunciations, origins, and grammatical information. When looking to understand what a particular adjective means in the context of character description, a dictionary is the most direct and helpful resource.