abridge
1 use
Away to the south a wild and desolate valley opens, running up among the waste places of Helicon, a scene of inexpressible grandeur and desolation" (Jebb, abridged).†
abridged = shortened; or reduced in scope while retaining essential elements
Definition
Generally abridge means:reduce in scope while retaining essential elements — especially to a book
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
afflict
4 uses
One new as our new-come affliction, Or an old toil returned with the years?†
affliction = something that causes ongoing suffering
(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 afflict means:cause suffering — such as illness, pain, or unhappiness
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
anguish
4 uses
She passed like one who flies In very anguish.†
anguish = extreme pain, suffering, or distress
Definition
Generally anguish means:extreme pain, suffering, or distress (of body or mind)
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 12 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
askance
1 use
893-916] To ward him secretly From the arrow that slays askance?†
askance = with disapproval or distrust; or directed to one side
Definition
Generally askance means:with disapproval, distrust, or suspicion
or:
directed to one side — especially a sideways glance
or:
directed to one side — especially a sideways glance
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
assuage
1 use
She will assuage it as is well.†
assuage = soothe
Definition
Generally assuage means:to soothe (make something less unpleasant or frightening)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
banish
7 uses
For Phoebus—thou hast heard withal His message—to our envoy hath decreed One only way of help in this great need: To find and smite with death or banishing, Him who smote Laius, our ancient King.†
banishing = expelling or getting rid of
Definition
Generally banish means:to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
- to force someone to leave a country as punishment
- to push an idea from the mind
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
blasphemy
1 use
If such there be, oh, let some doom be given Meet for his ill-starred pride, Who will not gain his gain where Justice is, Who will not hold his lips from blasphemies, Who hurls rash hands amid the things of heaven From man's touch sanctified.†
blasphemies = things said or done that are disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Definition
Generally blasphemy means:something said or done that is disrespectful of something considered sacred — especially God or religion
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
contemporary
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
they are contemporaries
Indeed, considering the general tone of his contemporaries and friends, we may safely assume that he did not.†
contemporaries = people who live or lived at the same time
Definition
Generally this sense of contemporary means:living at the same time
or:
something occurring in the same period of time as something else
or:
something occurring in the same period of time as something else
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
exile
4 uses
'tis that, hath kept thee exiled in this place?†
exiled = forced to leave one's homeland
Definition
Generally exile means:to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition
or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
or more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
fluctuate
1 use
The character of the professional seer or "man of God" has in the imagination of most ages fluctuated between two poles.†
fluctuated = alternately increased and decreased in quantity
Definition
Generally fluctuate means:to alternately increase and decrease in quantity
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
Sophocles does not, however, carry this plan of simply flooding the scene with sudden beauty nearly so far as Euripides does.†
however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Definition
Generally this sense of however means:though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrastand but.)
(Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that,
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 61 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Play |
malicious
1 use
I deny not what he saith, My Queen .... with craft and malice practising Against my life.†
malice = the desire to hurt others or see them suffer
Definition
Generally malicious means:wanting to see others suffer; or threatening evil
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Play |
mortal
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
mortal body
And none among mortals, none, Seeking to live, hath won More than to seem, and to cease Again from his seeming.†
mortals = humans (especially merely humans) or people subject to death
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
perish
1 use
And Holy Earth in her increase perisheth: The child dies and the mother awaketh not.†
perisheth = dies or is destroyed
(Editor's note: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She perisheth" in older English, today we say "She perishes.")
(Editor's note: Today, the suffix "-eth" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She perisheth" in older English, today we say "She perishes.")
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Play |
prophecy
7 uses
Question every cry Of birds, and all roads else of prophecy Thou knowest.†
prophecy = prediction of the future
Definition
Generally prophecy means:a prediction of the future (usually said to be obtained in a supernatural way)
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
scorn
7 uses
—Children, care For this so moves me, I have scorned withal Message or writing: seeing 'tis I ye call, 'tis I am come, world-honoured Oedipus.†
scorned = disrespected or rejected
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Play |
subtle
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a subtle difference or thinker
This is partly because the writing of Euripides, being less business-like and more penetrated by philosophic reflections and by subtleties of technique, actually needs more thorough re-casting to express it at all adequately; partly because there is in Sophocles, amid all his passion and all his naturalness, a certain severe and classic reticence, which, though impossible really to reproduce by any method, is less misrepresented by occasional insufficiency than by habitual redundance.†
subtleties = things that are not obvious, but noticeable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge
Definition
Generally this sense of subtle means:not obvious, but understandable by someone with adequate sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps depending upon fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
or:
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Pref. |
wrath
10 uses
_ Nay; the wrath of any stone Would rise at him.†
wrath = extreme anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |
wrest
1 use
There is my lineage true, which none shall wrest From me; who then am I to fear this quest?†
wrest = obtain with difficult effort or force
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Play |
Zeus
10 uses
A crowd of suppliants of all ages are waiting by the altar in front and on the steps of the Palace; among them the_ PRIEST OF ZEUS.†
Zeus = Greek mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Play |