adjure
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
I adjure you
"Once and for all," said the prisoner, "I adjure you to set me free."
adjure = appeal earnestly or command solemnly
Definition
Generally this sense of adjure means:to appeal earnestly or command solemnly
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 0 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
apparent
5 uses
After about twenty-five minutes the giants apparently had a quarrel.
apparently = it appears
Definition
Generally apparent means:clear or obvious; or appearing as such but not necessarily so
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 66 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
bastion
1 use
To the North there were low pale-coloured hills, in places bastioned with rock.
bastioned = protected
Definition
Generally bastion means:defense or defensive fortification — such as people who defend a principle or fortifications that defend people from attack (especially the projecting part of a castle wall or rampart)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
beseech
1 use
"I beseech you to hear me," said the Knight, forcing himself to speak calmly.
beseech = to ask strongly or beg
Definition
Generally beseech means:to ask strongly or beg for something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
bulwark
2 uses
...and many banners waving from the decks, and a row of shields, bright as silver, along the bulwarks.
bulwarks = the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
Definition
Generally bulwark means:something that offers protection — especially a defensive wall or embankment, or a sea wall
or (especially in classic literature): the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
or (especially in classic literature): the part of a ship's side that is above the upper deck
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
divine
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
to forgive is divine
She is of divine race, and knows neither age nor death.
divine = wonderful; god-like; or coming from God
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 10 |
doleful
3 uses
You sound as doleful as a funeral...
doleful = sad
Definition
Generally doleful means:expressing or causing sadness
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
forbearance
1 use
And I know not how, as the years pass, I shall bear to remember that it was once in my power to have probed the uttermost pit of Earth and that I forbore.
forbore = refrained (did not)
Definition
Generally forbearance means:refraining (holding back) from acting
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
or:
patience, tolerance, or self-control
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
grievous
1 use
For she has found out by art magical that this would hinder my deliverance from the grievous enchantment I lie under.
grievous = very bad; or causing grief
Definition
Generally grievous means:very serious; or very bad; or causing grief
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
infernal
1 use
If it was, we'd be out of this infernal wind down there.
infernal = bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell
Definition
Generally infernal means:very bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell or the underworld
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
monotonous
1 use
She began to play it with her fingers - a steady, monotonous thrumming that you didn't notice after a few minutes.
monotonous = lacking in variety
Definition
Generally monotonous means:lacking in variety — typically boring
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
pantomime
1 use
And he rubbed his big frog-like hands together as if he were talking of going to a party or a pantomime.
pantomime = a performance of something through gestures and body movements without words
Definition
Generally pantomime means:a performance or expression of something through gestures and body movements without words
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 5 |
phosphorescence
1 use
He thought the hole would lead only into some other cave, lit by some ghostly phosphorescence and filled with goodness-knows-what evil creatures of the Underworld.
phosphorescence = dim glowing light
Definition
Generally phosphorescence means:a dim glowing light
or more technically: a fluorescence (dim light) created by a chemical reaction within a living organism; or a dim light that continues to shine from something after the bombarding radiation (stronger light that fell upon it) has ceased
or more technically: a fluorescence (dim light) created by a chemical reaction within a living organism; or a dim light that continues to shine from something after the bombarding radiation (stronger light that fell upon it) has ceased
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 15 |
prudent
1 use
...the gentle giants. They are as mild, civil, prudent, and courteous as...
prudent = careful and sensible
Definition
Generally prudent means:sensible and careful
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
recite
2 uses
You mean we might draw a circle on the ground... and stand inside it... and recite charms and spells?
recite = to say something aloud (often from memory)
Definition
Generally recite means:to say or read something aloud — especially something previously memorized such as a poem
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
or:
to say in detail — especially a list of things
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 23 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
resolute
1 use
He walked resolutely to the door and flung it wide open.
resolutely = with firm purpose
Definition
Generally resolute means:firm in purpose or belief
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 11 |
shoal
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
run aground on a shoal
At about nine o'clock next morning three lonely figures might have been seen picking their way across the Shribble by the shoals and stepping-stones.
shoals = areas of shallow water
Definition
Generally this sense of shoal means:an area of shallow water — especially a navigation hazard, and often caused by a deposit of sand (sandbank)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
sullen
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a sullen sky
...and rivers that poured out of echoing gorges to plunge sullenly into black depths.
sullenly = in a gloomy manner (darkly)
Definition
Generally this sense of sullen means:darkened by clouds; or the color of a gloomy sky
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
trifle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a trifling matter
I dare say you two thought I was a trifle tipsy last night, but I do assure you it was - well, most of it was - put on.
trifle = little
Definition
Generally this sense of trifle means:something of small importance; or a small quantity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 8 |
wither
1 use
It was absolute misery to come back into the withering coldness.
withering = intense and shriveling
Definition
Generally wither means:to shrivel (wrinkle and contract — usually from lack of water)
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
or:
to become weaker; or feel humiliated
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |