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 |
deemed
6 uses
Of all these Thebans none so deems but thou.
deems = believes or judges
Definition
Generally deemed means:believed or judged
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 8 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 |
despondent
1 use
Why this despondency?
despondency = depression
Definition
Generally despondent means:emotionally depressed — especially a feeling of grief and hopelessness after a loss
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
discern
1 use
Yet 'tis no easy matter to discern
The temper of a man, his mind and will,
The temper of a man, his mind and will,
discern = to notice or understand something that is not obvious
Definition
Generally discern means:to notice or understand something — often something that is not obvious
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 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 | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
divine (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
She was sprung of gods, divine,
divine = wonderful (as though having come from the gods)
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
divined from tea leaves
The divination of my arts shall tell.
divination = the act of predicting or discover something supernaturally (as if by magic)
(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 this sense of divine means:to predict or discover something supernaturally (as if by magic)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
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 | 2 uses 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 | 2 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 | 9 uses 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 | 9 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 | 8 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 | 4 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 | 9 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 | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
pretense
1 use
My lord, I will not make pretense to pant
And puff as some light-footed messenger.
And puff as some light-footed messenger.
pretense = a false appearance or action to help one pretend
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
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 |