A Midsummer Night's Dream — Vocabulary
William Shakespeare
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	2	top 100
yieldproduce (lead to) The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.more Show sample from book For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself To fit your fancies to your father's will, Or else the law of Athens yields you up,6 more yield → yields:gives Show general definition for yield (as in: will yield valuable data) to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
	5	top 100
yield#2give in The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more Show sample from book So will I grow, so live, so die, my lord, Ere I will yield my virgin patent up Unto his lordship, whose unwished yoke My soul consents not to give sovereignty.6 more give up Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
	12	top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book When at your hands did I deserve this scorn?11 more rejection or disrespect Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
	9	top 2000
dotingdemonstrating love and uncritical affection She has doting parents.more Show sample from book The juice of it on sleeping eyelids laid Will make or man or woman madly dote Upon the next live creature that it sees.8 more doting → dote:love excessively Show general definition demonstrating love and uncritical affection Show editor's word notes Doting may also imply that the doter tends to hover around the person they love to help attend to any needs.
	7
prologuean introduction to a fictional work In the prologue, we learn about the history of the kingdom, providing important background information for the rest of the story.more Show sample from book ...and let the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that...6 more introduction Show general definition an introduction to a fictional work; or anything that precedes a more important event
	7	top 2000
mortalhuman Don't expect perfection of a mere mortal.more Show sample from book Lord, what fools these mortals be!6 more mortal → mortals:humans Show general definition for mortal (as in: mortal body) human (especially merely human); or subject to death
	5	top 1000
tediousboring I'll have to endure one of her tedious lectures.more Show sample from book O weary night, O long and tedious night, Abate thy hours!4 more boring or monotonous Show general definition boring -- especially because something goes on too long or without variation
	4	top 1000
loathehate I make New Year's resolutions every year and then loathe myself for breaking them.more Show sample from book O, how mine eyes do loathe his visage now!3 more Show general definition hate, detest, or intensely dislike Show editor's word notes Word Confusion: Do not confuse loathe with loath which sounds very similar or the same. Loathe is a verb while loath is an adjective describing "reluctance or unwillingness to do something." Note that loathing and loathsome are forms of the verb loathe even though both word forms lack the "e". Occasionally, you will see loath spelled as loathe even in a published book, but it is rare enough that it is generally considered an error rather than a non-standard spelling.
	5
entreatentreat → entreated:asked She flattered and entreated him until he agreed to help.more Show sample from book If she cannot entreat, I can compel.4 more persuade Show general definition to ask -- especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
	5	top 2000
mirthfun and laughter The room filled with mirth as the friends shared stories and laughed late into the night.more Show sample from book Where is our usual manager of mirth?†4 more
	5	top 2000
revelrevel → reveled:took delight in The team reveled in their victory.more Show sample from book But I will wed thee in another key, With pomp, with triumph, and with revelling.4 more revel → revelling:to take delight in; or to party Show context notes This is a British spelling. Americans do not repeat the "L" prior to adding the "ING". Show general definition to take delight in; or to party or celebrate -- especially in a noisy way
	5	top 2000
serpentsnake There was a picture of a serpent eating its tail.more Show sample from book Methought a serpent eat my heart away, And you sat smiling at his cruel prey.†4 more Show general definition a snake
	2	top 200
disdainlack of respect She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more Show sample from book in love with a disdainful youth1 more disdain → disdainful:lacking respect Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
	4	top 2000
deridederide → derides:criticizes with strong disrespect She relentlessly mocks and derides the younger students.more Show sample from book To conjure tears up in a poor maid's eyes with your derision!3 more deride → derision:treatment as inferior and unworthy of respect Show general definition to criticize with strong disrespect -- often with humor
	5
adieugoodbye She whispered a quiet adieu as she turned to leave.more Show sample from book Take pains; be perfect; adieu.†4 more Show general definition a farewell remark (an alternative to goodbye) Show editor's word notes Adieu is typically more formal than bye. It comes from the French, à Dieu which literally means "to God" — as in I entrust you to God's care.
	5
nuptialwedding The bride and groom exchanged their nuptial vows in a beautiful ceremony by the beach.more Show sample from book Demetrius, and Egeus, go along; I must employ you in some business Against our nuptial, and confer with you Of something nearly that concerns yourselves.†4 more of or relating to a wedding Show general definition concerning a wedding
	3	top 2000
spurnspurn → spurned:rejected She spurned his advances.more Show sample from book I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me, Neglect me, lose me; only give me leave, Unworthy as I am, to follow you.†2 more reject as not good enough Show general definition reject as not good enough
	2	top 1000
discordconflict There is too much discord in the team.more Show sample from book How shall we find the concord of this discord?1 more Show general definition for discord (as in: discord amongst the group) conflict or disagreement -- especially among those expected to cooperate or (especially in the form discordant): seeming different or wrong in context
	2
beguilebeguile → beguiling:enchanting; or enchanting and deceptive Few men could remain detached while looking into her beguiling eyes.more Show sample from book How shall we beguile The lazy time, if not with some delight?1 more to charm someone; or to deceive -- especially through charm Show general definition to charm, enchant, or entertain someone; or to deceive -- especially through charm
	2
forswearforswear → forsworn:renounced or disavowed The group has forsworn terrorism in favor of negotiating an end to the conflict.more Show sample from book Fairies, skip hence; I have forsworn his bed and company.†1 more forswear → forsworn:to decide to stop doing something; OR to renounce or disavow something Show general definition for forswear (as in: forswear my country of birth) to decide to stop doing something; or to renounce or disavow something