bestow
3 uses
Then, at Aslan's command, Peter bestowed the Knighthood of the Order of the Lion on Caspian,
bestowed = presented as an honor
Definition
Generally bestow means:to give — typically to present as an honor or give as a gift
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
centaur
16 uses
...there came in sight the noblest creatures that Caspian had yet seen, the great centaur Glenstorm...
centaur = a creature that is half man, half horse
Definition
Generally centaur means:a mythical being that is half man and half horse
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
countenance
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a pleasant countenance
I am completely out of countenance.
countenance = composure
Definition
Generally this sense of countenance means:facial expression; or face; or composure or manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
dais
6 uses
That was the dais where the High Table was, where the King and the great lords sat.
dais = raised platform that gives prominence to people on it
Definition
Generally dais means:a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to people on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
defile
1 use
Since the Humans came into the land, felling forests and defiling streams, the Dryads and Naiads have sunk into a deep sleep.
defiling = spoiling the beauty or purity of something
Definition
Generally this sense of defile means:to spoil the beauty or purity of something
in various senses, including:
- pollute a pristine lake
- harm a reputation or good name
- damage or disrespect something sacred
- take a person's virginity in a disrespectful way
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend the mountain
Caspian found himself descending a dark stairway into the earth,
descending = moving downward on
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 | Chapter 6 |
dictate
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
dictate a letter
Peter dictated as follows:
dictated = said out loud for the purpose of recording
Definition
Generally this sense of dictate means:say out loud for the purpose of recording
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
divinely comfortable
divinely = wonderfully
Definition
Generally this sense of divine means:wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
gist
1 use
But the gist of the story, as they knew it in the end, was as follows.
gist = the main point(s) of a more detailed matter
Definition
Generally gist means:the main point(s) of a more detailed matter
or:
law: the grounds for a legal action
or:
law: the grounds for a legal action
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
grave
2 uses
His voice was grave and his eyes were merry so that, until you got to know him really well, it was hard to know when he was joking and when he was serious.
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
indifferent
1 use
...who had been listening with complete indifference,
indifference = lack of interest
Definition
Generally indifferent means:without interest
in various senses, including:
- unconcerned — as in "She is indifferent to what is served to eat."
- unsympathetic — as in "She is indifferent to his needs."
- not of good quality (which may imply average or poor quality depending upon context) — as in "an indifferent performance"
- impartial — as in "We need a judge who is indifferent."
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
lilt
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
played a lively lilt
But there was, at least, a lilt; she felt her own feet wanting to dance as she got nearer.†
lilt = lively music
Definition
Generally this sense of lilt means:cheerful and lively music, or to play such music
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
mane
6 uses
Aslan, who seemed larger than before, lifted his head, shook his mane, and roared.
mane = lion's hair
Definition
Generally mane means:long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
Word Statistics
| Book | 6 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 10 |
nettle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
beware of nettles near the river
With some difficulty, and with some stings from nettles and pricks from thorns, they struggled out of the thicket.
nettles = plants with stinging or irritating hairs
Definition
Generally this sense of nettle means:a type of plant with stinging or irritating hairs
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
precipice
5 uses
They had come, without seeing it, almost to the edge of a small precipice from which they looked down into a gorge...
precipice = steep cliff
Definition
Generally precipice means:a very steep cliff
or:
any dangerous situation
or:
any dangerous situation
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
reign
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
She reigned over England
Their reign was the Golden Age in Narnia...
reign = the time of their rule
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 | Chapter 4 |
reproach
2 uses
said Lucy with a reproachful glance.
reproachful = full of criticism
Definition
Generally reproach means:a criticism; or to express criticism — especially where a relationship makes the disapproval result in disappointment or shame
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
treachery
5 uses
That'll be very useful if the enemy try any treachery.
treachery = betrayal
Definition
Generally treachery means:the behavior of someone who pretends to be a friend and then tricks, cheats, or betrays
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
twilight
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
pink clouds in a twilight sky
It was a cold and cheerless waking for them all next morning, with a grey twilight in the wood (for the sun had not yet risen) and everything damp and dirty.
twilight = time between daylight and darkness (in this case, just before the sunrise, but in other instances it could be just after sunset)
Definition
Generally this sense of twilight means:the time of day between daylight and darkness (just after sunset or just before sunrise); or the light from the sky at that time
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |
wizened
1 use
he would be a wizened, but hearty old man with a frizzled beard and warts on his face and hands,
wizened = lean and wrinkled (typically from age)
Definition
Generally wizened means:thin and wrinkled — typically from age or illness
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 9 |