approach (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 6 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
approached the city
At fall of dusk Odysseus and his son heard the approach of the good forester.†
approach = getting near
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to get closer to (near in space, time, quantity, or quality)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 104 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —2 uses as in:
use the best approach
So Nestor held his throne and scepter now, lord of the western approaches to Akhaia.†
approaches = roads leading
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:a way of doing something; or a route that leads to a particular place
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
3 —1 use as in:
approached her with the proposal
But clear-headed Telemakhos replied: "Mentor, how can I do it, how approach him? I have no practice in elaborate speeches, and for a young man to interrogate an old man seems disrespectful-"†
approach = begin communication with
Definition
Generally this sense of approach means:to begin communication with someone about something — often a proposal or a delicate topic
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 3 |
assuage
1 use
Thus to assuage the nations of the dead I pledged these rites,
assuage = to soothe (make less unpleasant)
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 | Chapter 11 |
auspicious
1 use
But cliffs and rock shoals made that place forbidding, so I turned back, swimming off shore, and came in the end to a river, to auspicious water, with smooth beach and a rise that broke the wind.
auspicious = favorable
Definition
Generally auspicious means:favorable; or suggestive of good things to come
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
bronze (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 19 uses
1 —18 uses as in:
bronze won't corrode in salt water
Telemakhos went on through to the storeroom of his father, a great vault where gold and bronze lay piled along with chests of clothes, and fragrant oil.
bronze = a metal made mostly of copper
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:a brownish-colored metal with red or yellow hues that is made of copper and (usually) tin
Word Statistics
| Book | 18 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
2 —1 use as in:
her bronze is on display
They plan to drive the keen bronze through Telemakhos when he comes home.†
bronze = a sword made of the brownish metal with the same name
Definition
Generally this sense of bronze means:something made of the brownish metal with the same name — such as a sculpture (statue) or a third place medal
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 4 |
consequence
2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
a direct consequence of
The immortal gods show you no less esteem, and the rough consequence would make them slow to let barbs fly at their eldest and most noble.†
consequence = result
Definition
Generally this sense of consequence means:a result of something (often an undesired side effect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 28 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
unquizzed meaning —1 use
contemptible
3 uses
My hand and eye are sound, not so contemptible as the young men say.
contemptible = deserving no respect (worthless or of bad quality)
Definition
Generally contemptible means:very bad (deserving no respect)
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
direct (5 meanings)
5 meanings, 11 uses
1 —1 use as in:
depart directly
The grey-eyed goddess said directly: "Courage; and let the future trouble you no more."†
directly = immediately
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:without delay, or in the quickest manner, or without going somewhere else first
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 16 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 13 |
2 —3 uses as in:
directly above; or buy direct from
With crack on crack of thunder, he let fly a bolt against the ship, a direct hit, so that she bucked, in sacred fumes of sulphur, and all the men were flung into the water.†
direct = exact
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straight (exactly where stated); or without involvement of anything in between
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "The road runs directly to Las Vegas." — straight (without varying from a straight line)
- "It was a direct hit." — exact
- "The plant is in direct sunlight." — unobstructed (without anything in between)
- "She wants a direct meeting with him." — personal (without other people in between)
- "She paid direct attention to what he was reading." — close
- "a direct gaze" — straight, steady, or focused—not a brief glance taken while generally looking at other things; not a sideways look
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 62 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 12 |
3 —1 use as in:
was direct in my instructions
No, he thought; the more direct way would be best-to go humbly to his lord.†
direct = straightforward (uncomplicated)
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:straightforward (uncomplicated or simple — perhaps also indicating openness and honesty)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 13 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 22 |
4 —3 uses as in:
directed her question to
I came to this wild place, directed by Athena, so that we might lay plans to kill our enemies.†
directed = guided
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:to indicate direction; or to cause movement or focus in a direction or towards an object
The exact meaning of this sense of direct is subject to its context. For example:
- "intentionally directed fire at unarmed civilians" — aimed a gun
- "directed the question to her" — aimed a question
- "directed her north" — pointed in a particular direction
- "directed attention to the 3rd paragraph" — focused attention on a particular object
- "The sound of her voice directed him to the kitchen." — guided or gave directions to someone to help them move to a particular place
- "She directed him to the airport." — gave directions to send someone to a particular place
- "She directed the boat north." — steered it
- "directed the letter to" — send a letter to a particular person by putting a name and address on it
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 36 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 6 |
5 —3 uses as in:
directed the jury to...
Direct your maids at work.†
direct = instruct
Definition
Generally this sense of direct means:give instructions or commands
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 21 |
engender
1 use
My mother says I am his son; I know not surely. Who has known his own engendering?
engendering = parentage (causation)
Definition
Generally engender means:cause — usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |
guile
8 uses
Then said that sly and guileful man, Odysseus:
guileful = cunning (shrewd, clever) and deceitful
Definition
Generally guile means:cunning (shrewdness and cleverness) and deceitful
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 7 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 9 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
I take no raft you grudge me out to sea.
Or yield me first a great oath, if I do,
to work no more enchantment to my harm.†
Or yield me first a great oath, if I do,
to work no more enchantment to my harm.†
yield = give
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Chapter 2 |
2 —5 uses as in:
yield to pressure
He yielded to her, and his heart was glad.†
yielded = gave in (agreed to what was asked)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 16 |
zenith
2 uses
Witness this, god of the zenith, noblest of the gods,
zenith = the highest point
Definition
Generally zenith means:the highest point - physically or as a metaphor
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 14 |
Zeus
209 uses
Ah, Father Zeus almighty over gods and men!
Zeus = the most supreme of the gods (Greek Mythology)
Definition
Generally Zeus means:Greek mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 209 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Chapter 1 |