augment
8 uses
old prophecies augment her fears
augment = increase
Definition
Generally augment means:enlarge or increase
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
daunt
25 uses
their dauntless men maintain the field
dauntless = never discouraged or intimidated
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in dauntless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in dauntless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
Definition
Generally daunt means:to discourage or intimidate
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
descend (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
Descending thence, I scape thro' foes and fire:
descending = moving downward
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:move or slope downward
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
2 —1 use as in:
descend from royalty
With fire and sword pursue the perjur'd brood;
Our arms, our seas, our shores, oppos'd to theirs;
And the same hate descend on all our heirs!"†
Our arms, our seas, our shores, oppos'd to theirs;
And the same hate descend on all our heirs!"†
descend = passed on (down into the future)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to have come down a path from the past; i.e., to originate or come from — such as in reference to ancestors or evolutionary origins
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
3 —1 use as in:
thieves descended upon us
Meantime Acestes, from a lofty stand,
Beheld the fleet descending on the land;†
Beheld the fleet descending on the land;†
descending = coming or arriving
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:to come or arrive — especially suddenly or from above or as an attack
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 5 |
despair
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
she felt despair
Ours take new courage from despair and night:
despair = hopelessness
Definition
Generally this sense of despair means:hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
discord
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
discord amongst the group
But shall celestial discord never cease?
discord = conflict
Definition
Generally this sense of discord means:conflict or disagreement — especially among those expected to cooperate
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
or (especially in the form discordant):
seeming different or wrong along with everything else
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
disdain
34 uses
love, refus'd, converted to disdain
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 | 34 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 6 |
divine
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
to forgive is divine
and by laws divine
divine = coming from a god
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 6 |
forbearance
7 uses
Forbear thy threats:
forbear = refrain from acting upon
Definition
Generally forbearance means:refraining (holding back) from acting
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 6 |
forsake
41 uses
All seek the mountains, and forsake the town
forsake = abandon or give up on
Definition
Generally forsake means:to abandon or give up on — such as someone who needs you, or an idea, or a place
Word Statistics
| Book | 41 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
haughty
31 uses
that haughty wish is vain!
haughty = arrogant
Definition
Generally haughty means:arrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
Word Statistics
| Book | 31 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
impetuous
9 uses
Th' impetuous youth press forward to the field;
They clash the sword, and clatter on the shield:
They clash the sword, and clatter on the shield:
impetuous = impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought)
Definition
Generally this sense of impetuous means:impulsive (acting suddenly without much thought) — often with an unfortunate consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 5 |
lament
19 uses
Their champion's fate with pity they lament,
lament = grieve (express grief or sadness)
Definition
Generally lament means:to express grief or regret
Word Statistics
| Book | 19 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
obscure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
it obscured my view
Meantime, the gathering clouds obscure the skies:
obscure = make less visible
Definition
Generally this sense of obscure means:to block from view or make less visible or understandable
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
pious
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a good, pious woman
The ghost replied: "Your piety has paid
All needful rites, to rest my wand'ring shade;"
All needful rites, to rest my wand'ring shade;"
piety = highly religious or moral behavior
Definition
Generally this sense of pious means:religious or highly moral
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 6 |
reign
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She reigned over England
...you shall be taught obedience to my reign.
reign = rule (like that of a king or queen)
Definition
Generally this sense of reign means:rule (like that of a king or queen); or the time during which one ruled
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
sustain (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 3 uses
1 —1 use as in:
sustained by her faith
Her hand sustain'd a bow;
sustain'd = provided
(editor's note: More commonly, this is spelled sustained.)
(editor's note: More commonly, this is spelled sustained.)
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:provide support or necessities
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
sustained through the ages
Then Juno, grieving that she should sustain
A death so ling'ring, and so full of pain,
A death so ling'ring, and so full of pain,
sustain = continue (to suffer)
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:to continue through time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
3 —1 use as in:
sustained wounds
This endless outrage shall they still sustain?
sustain = suffer
Definition
Generally this sense of sustain means:to suffer (as of injury, damage, or loss)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 10 |