contempt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
feels contempt towards her
Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
contempt = lack of respect
Definition
Generally this sense of contempt means:lack of respect for someone or something thought inferior — often accompanied by a feeling of dislike or disgust
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 3.1 |
depravity
1 use
That lie and cog and flout, deprave and slander,
deprave = make immoral or evil
Definition
Generally depravity means:complete immorality or evilness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
dissemble
2 uses
Marry, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou.†
dissembler = hide or disguise the truth without outright lying
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
divine
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
Now, divine air!
divine = wonderful
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
endure
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
endured the pain
For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently,
That could endure the toothache patiently,
endure = suffer through
Definition
Generally this sense of endure means:to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 18 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 2.1 |
enigma
1 use
Your answer, sir, is enigmatical:
enigmatical = mysterious and seemingly unexplainable
Definition
Generally enigma means:something mysterious that seems unexplainable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.4 |
epitaph
2 uses
Your daughter here the princes left for dead; Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it that she is dead indeed: Maintain a mourning ostentation; nd on your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites That appertain unto a burial.†
epitaphs = short texts in memory of dead people
Definition
Generally epitaph means:a short text in memory of a dead person — especially text written on a tombstone
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
exeunt
30 uses
[Exeunt HERO and URSULA.]
exeunt = stage direction: characters exit from stage
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
expedient
1 use
therefore is it most expedient for the wise ... to be the trumpet of his own virtues,
expedient = practical
Definition
Generally expedient means:a practical action — especially one that accepts negative tradeoffs due to circumstances
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
or:
convenient, speedy, or practical
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.2 |
fetter
1 use
But there is no such man; for, brother, men
Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief
...
Would...
Fetter strong madness in a silken thread,
Charm ache with air and agony with words.
Can counsel and speak comfort to that grief
...
Would...
Fetter strong madness in a silken thread,
Charm ache with air and agony with words.
fetter = restrain (shackle)
Definition
Generally fetter means:to restrain or hinder
or more archaically:
a shackle for the ankles
or more archaically:
a shackle for the ankles
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
flout
7 uses
'I measure him,' says she, 'by my own spirit; for I should flout him, if he writ to me; yea, though I love him, I should.'
flout = openly disregard
Definition
Generally flout means:to openly disregard — typically a law, rule, or custom
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
infamy
2 uses
Why had I not with charitable hand Took up a beggar's issue at my gates, Who smirched thus, and mir'd with infamy, I might have said, 'No part of it is mine; This shame derives itself from unknown loins?'†
infamy = famous for something that is bad; or an extremely bad event
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
obstinate
1 use
Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic...
obstinate = stubborn
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
ostentatious
1 use
And publish it that she is dead indeed.
Maintain a mourning ostentation,
And on your family's old monument
Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites
That appertain unto a burial.
Maintain a mourning ostentation,
And on your family's old monument
Hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites
That appertain unto a burial.
ostentation = actions intended to attract notice
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
(editor's note: The suffix "-tion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in action, education, and observation.)
Definition
Generally ostentatious means:intended to attract notice and impress others — especially with wealth in a vulgar way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
profound
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
profound sadness
In most profound earnest; and, I'll warrant you, for the love of Beatrice.
profound = intense or emotional deep
Definition
Generally this sense of profound means:of greatest intensity or emotional depth
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 5.1 |
reconcile
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
reconciled their differences
being reconciled to the prince your brother, I owe you all duty.
reconciled = brought into agreement (on the same side without argument)
Definition
Generally this sense of reconcile means:to bring into agreement
The exact meaning of reconcile can depend upon its context. For example:
- "We reconciled our differences and are on friendly terms now." — settled or found a way to accept
- "They did break up, but they reconciled since then." — made up
- "I need to reconcile my goals with my abilities." — make compatible
- "I need to reconcile my checkbook." — get the checkbook numbers and the bank statement to agree
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Scene 1.1 |
reprove
1 use
'tis so, I cannot reprove it; and wise, but for loving me:
reprove = criticize
Definition
Generally reprove means:to express disapproval of one's actions to them
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.3 |
temperate
1 use
I will write against it: You seem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown; But you are more intemperate in your blood Than Venus, or those pamper'd animals That rage in savage sensuality.†
intemperate = given to excess — especially of weather or behavior
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in intemperate means not and reverses the meaning of temperate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in intemperate means not and reverses the meaning of temperate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally temperate means:lacking extremes — especially of weather, climate, or behavior
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
wanton
1 use
Not to be married,
Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.
Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.
wanton = sexually promiscuous woman
(editor's note: at the time, approved, was a way of saying proved or proven)
(editor's note: at the time, approved, was a way of saying proved or proven)
Definition
Generally wanton means:of something considered bad: excessive, thoughtless indulgence — such as waste, cruelty, violence, and (especially in the past) sexual promiscuity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 4.1 |
zeal
1 use
Intend a kind of zeal both to the Prince and Claudio,
zeal = active interest and enthusiasm
(editor's note: today, this use of intend, would be better replaced by pretend)
(editor's note: today, this use of intend, would be better replaced by pretend)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Scene 2.2 |