apprehend
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
apprehend the criminal
Police are determined to apprehend the murderer.
apprehend = catch and arrest
Definition
Generally this sense of apprehend means:to capture and arrest someone suspected of breaking the law
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.3 |
banish
29 uses
He was banished from his own country.
banished = forced to leave
Definition
Generally banish means:to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
- to force someone to leave a country as punishment
- to push an idea from the mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 29 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
beseech
7 uses
She teaches and beseeches her students to think about their future.
beseeches = begs
Definition
Generally beseech means:to ask strongly or beg for something
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.3 |
chide
5 uses
She constantly chides me for my grammar.
chides = corrects or criticizes
Definition
Generally chide means:to tell someone they have done wrong — sometimes in a gentle way to encourage better behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.3 |
devise
3 uses
She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.
devise = come up with (invent or create)
Definition
Generally this sense of devise means:to come up with a way of doing something — typically a creative idea or plan
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.4 |
discord (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
There is too much discord in the team.
discord = conflict
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 5.3 |
2 —2 uses as in:
discordant music
She described the loud discordant music as a form of torture.
discordant = unpleasant sounding
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:unpleasant sound — especially a combination of sounds that sound wrong together (though sometimes done intentionally in music)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 3.1 |
dwell (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
Don't dwell on it.
Don't dwell on the past.
dwell = think or talk about something longer than seems appropriate
Definition
Generally this sense of dwell means:to think, communicate, or let attention stay on (or return to) something for a prolonged period
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
2 —3 uses as in:
It dwells in the forest.
The creature dwells in the forest.
dwells = lives in
Definition
Generally this sense of dwell means:make one's home in; or to live in; or to stay (in a place)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
exeunt
32 uses
Exeunt all except Hamlet.
exeunt = stage direction: characters exit from stage
Word Statistics
| Book | 32 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
exile
6 uses
She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.
exile = having to live outside one's home country
Definition
Generally exile means:to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition
or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.1 |
fickle
3 uses
I can't imagine depending upon the fickle wind to sail around the world.
fickle = having a tendency to change suddenly
Definition
Generally fickle means:having a tendency to change suddenly — such as a person quick to change their mind, or the weather in a region where it changes rapidly
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.5 |
frayed
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
into the fray
I'm hesitant to join the political fray.
fray = fight or struggle
Definition
Generally this sense of fray means:a noisy fight, controversial debate, or other exciting situation that usually is not well organized
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
lament
8 uses
She lamented the loss.
lamented = expressed grief about
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.4 |
loathe
5 uses
I make New Year's resolutions every year and then loathe myself for breaking them.
loathe = hate
Definition
Generally loathe means:hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.6 |
scorn
5 uses
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
scorned = rejected
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
vary
1 use
Your mileage may vary.
vary = be different
Definition
Generally vary means:to be different, or to change
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
warrant
11 uses
1 —11 uses as in:
I warrant it
I warrant the material is original.
warrant = promise
Definition
Generally this sense of warrant means:to promise, guarantee, or indicate certainty of something
(seldom used today, but common in classic literature)
(seldom used today, but common in classic literature)
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Scene 1.3 |
writ
7 uses
Her attorney filed for a writ of habeas corpus.
writ = an order issued by a court or judicial officer
Definition
Generally writ means:law: an order issued by a court or judicial officer
or more rarely:
archaic term for written or wrote
or more rarely:
archaic term for written or wrote
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.2 |
yield
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
yield to pressure
The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.
yield = give in
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |