allay
2 uses
be moderate; allay thy ecstasy; In measure rain thy joy; scant this excess; I feel too much thy blessing; make it less, For fear I surfeit!
allay = reduce the intensity of or calm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
amity
2 uses
There may as well be amity and life
'Tween snow and fire as treason and my love.
'Tween snow and fire as treason and my love.
amity = friendly relations
(editor's note: No Fear Shakespeare paraphrases this as "Treason has nothing at all to do with my love. They're as opposite as hot and cold.")
(editor's note: No Fear Shakespeare paraphrases this as "Treason has nothing at all to do with my love. They're as opposite as hot and cold.")
Definition
Generally amity means:a state of friendly relations
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
bereft
1 use
Madam, you have bereft me of all words,
bereft = deprived (taken from)
Definition
Generally bereft means:lacking something that is desired
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
or:
suffered great sadness because of loss or lack of something expected or strongly desired
or:
deprived (taken away something that is desired)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
beseech
7 uses
I beseech you, sir, go:
beseech = ask strongly or beg
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 2.2 |
bestow
4 uses
Silence bestows that virtue on it, madam.
bestows = gives
Definition
Generally bestow means:to give — typically to present as an honor or give as a gift
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
commend
7 uses
This letter from Bellario doth commend a young and learned doctor to our court.
commend = express a favorable opinion
Definition
Generally commend means:praise or recommend
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
direct (4 meanings)
4 meanings, 8 uses
1 —1 use as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
...at the very next turning, turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew's house.†
indirectly = going around (not in a straight line)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
2 —4 uses as in:
was direct in my instructions
For it appears by manifest proceeding
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.†
That indirectly, and directly too,
Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd
The danger formerly by me rehears'd.†
indirectly = in a complicated, non-obvious manner
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in indirectly means not and reverses the meaning of directly. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
3 —1 use as in:
directed her question to
Some god direct my judgment!†
direct = guide
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.7 |
4 —2 uses as in:
directed the jury to...
Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.†
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.†
directed = commanded
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.4 |
dwell
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
It dwells in the forest.
You shall not seal to such a bond for me; I'll rather dwell in my necessity.
dwell = live
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 1.3 |
entreat
5 uses
Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.
entreat = ask
Definition
Generally entreat means:to ask — especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |
flourish
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dismissed them with a flourish
Flourish of cornets.
flourish = a showy gesture (in this case fanfare played by the musical instrument)
(editor's note: In Shakespeare's plays, flourish is often used as a stage direction indicating a specific type of showy gesture: fanfare played by trumpets or cornets to announce the entry or exit of royalty.)
(editor's note: In Shakespeare's plays, flourish is often used as a stage direction indicating a specific type of showy gesture: fanfare played by trumpets or cornets to announce the entry or exit of royalty.)
Definition
Generally this sense of flourish means:a showy gesture
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
or:
the act of waving — a hand or an item
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.1 |
forbearance
1 use
I lose your company; therefore forbear a while.
forbear = refrain (hold back) from acting
Definition
Generally forbearance means:refraining (holding back) from acting
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.2 |
forfeit
12 uses
Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh:
forfeit = loses by not paying
Definition
Generally forfeit means:to lose or surrender something — often as a penalty
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.3 |
malicious
2 uses
Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,
That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought,
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse, more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought,
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse, more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty;
malice = wanting to see others suffer
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
notwithstanding
3 uses
ANTONIO: I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels.
PORTIA: Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding.
PORTIA: Sir, grieve not you; you are welcome notwithstanding.
notwithstanding = despite what was just said (in this case, even though he is the subject of the quarrels, he is still welcome.)
Definition
Generally notwithstanding means:in spite of; or in spite of the thing mentioned
(Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nevertheless, nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
(Used to connect contrasting ideas. Other synonyms could include words and phrases such as nevertheless, nonetheless, all the same, still, and however.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 1.3 |
perjury
1 use
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
perjury = the criminal offense of telling lies after formally promising to tell the truth
Definition
Generally perjury means:the criminal offense of telling lies after formally promising to tell the truth — such as when testifying in a court trial
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
recant
1 use
He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here.
recant = withdraw
Definition
Generally recant means:for one to say they no longer believe a previously made statement or belief — often while under pressure
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
render
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
rendered service or a verdict
we do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.
render = give
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to give or supply something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |