anarchy
2 uses
What evils are not wrought by Anarchy!
anarchy = the absence of political authority
Definition
Generally anarchy means:the complete absence of political authority; or more generally, complete absence of order
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
contrite
1 use
We offered first a prayer
To Pluto and the goddess of cross-ways,
With contrite hearts, to deprecate their ire.
To Pluto and the goddess of cross-ways,
With contrite hearts, to deprecate their ire.
contrite = feeling sorrow or regret for a fault or offense
(editor's note: "deprecate their ire" could be said as "soften their anger".)
(editor's note: "deprecate their ire" could be said as "soften their anger".)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred to her wishes
deferring to a father's will
deferring = submitting
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:submit or yield (typically to another person's opinion because of respect for that person or their knowledge)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
deprecate
1 use
We offered first a prayer To Pluto and the goddess of cross-ways, With contrite hearts, to deprecate their ire.
deprecate = to diminish or treat something as unimportant or of low quality; or to express disapproval
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
disdain
1 use
Thus Dryas' child, the rash Edonian King,
For words of high disdain
Did Bacchus to a rocky dungeon bring,
To cool the madness of a fevered brain.
For words of high disdain
Did Bacchus to a rocky dungeon bring,
To cool the madness of a fevered brain.
disdain = a lack of respect
Definition
Generally disdain means:a lack of respect — often suggesting distaste and an undeserved sense of superiority
or:
to reject as not good enough
or:
to reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
forbearance
2 uses
Sister, forbear, or I shall hate thee soon, And the dead man will hate thee too, with cause.
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 | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
grievous
6 uses
the obstinate soul that fights with Fate, is smitten grievously.
grievously = very badly (causing grief)
(editor's note: smitten is a synonym for stricken — as with a blow or with defeat)
(editor's note: smitten is a synonym for stricken — as with a blow or with defeat)
Definition
Generally grievous means:very serious; or very bad; or causing grief
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
heed
6 uses
I will heed.
heed = pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested
Definition
Generally heed means:pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested — especially with regard to a warning or other advice
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
immutable
1 use
Nor did I deem that thou, a mortal man, Could'st by a breath annul and override The immutable unwritten laws of Heaven.
immutable = unchangeable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
lament
6 uses
SECOND MESSENGER Hearing the loud lament above her son With her own hand she stabbed herself to the heart.
lament = expressing grief or regret
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
mortal
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
mortal body
Poor mortals, how we labor all in vain!
mortals = people (who lack the power of gods)
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
obstinate
2 uses
No fool, the saw goes, like the obstinate fool.
obstinate = stubbornly unyielding to other's wishes
(editor's note: saw is a way of saying familiar saying)
(editor's note: saw is a way of saying familiar saying)
Definition
Generally obstinate means:stubbornly not doing what others want
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
perish
6 uses
CREON The patriot perished by the outlaw's brand.
perished = died, was destroyed, or ceased to exist
Definition
Generally perish means:to die — especially in an unnatural way
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
pious
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a good, pious woman
O sister, scorn me not, let me but share
Thy work of piety, and with thee die.
Thy work of piety, and with thee die.
piety = highly moral behavior
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
poignant
1 use
At this thou touchest my most poignant pain, My ill-starred father's piteous disgrace, The taint of blood, the hereditary stain, That clings to all of Labdacus' famed race.
poignant = sharp or intense
Definition
Generally poignant means:sharp or intense — typically arousing deep emotion such as sadness, but possibly having or creating a sharp smell, taste, or insight
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
resolve
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
I resolved to stop drinking.
Antigone, daughter of Oedipus, the late king of Thebes, in defiance of Creon who rules in his stead, resolves to bury her brother Polyneices, slain in his attack on Thebes.
resolves = decides
Definition
Generally this sense of resolve means:to decide — typically a firm or formal decision
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
specious
1 use
A specious pretext.
specious = seemingly good, but without merit
(editor's note: pretext is a synonym for excuse)
(editor's note: pretext is a synonym for excuse)
Definition
Generally specious means:seemingly good, but without merit
or:
insincere, but seemingly good
or:
insincere, but seemingly good
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
wrought (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
wrought iron
a well-wrought brazen urn
wrought = worked (in this case decoratively)
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:worked — as when iron is shaped to fit by bending or beating
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
the damage she has wrought
In what wise was her self-destruction wrought?
wrought = made to happen
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:caused to happen or occurred as a consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
Zeus
13 uses
Thy might, O Zeus, what mortal power can quell?
Zeus = Greek mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |