Faust — Vocabulary
Goethe (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
translated by: B. Taylor
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
10 top 1000
yearnstrongly desire or wish
I yearn for her return.more
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  FAUST
  What am I, then, if 'tis denied my part
  The crown of all humanity to win me,
  Whereto yearns every sense within me?†9 more
yearn → yearns:strongly desires
Show general definition have a strong desire -- often for something difficult or impossible to have
7 top 1000
heedheed → heedlessness:pay close attention to
Heed the advice of those who have been there before.more
Show context notes The suffix "-lessness" in heedlessness means in a state without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearlessness, powerlessness, and harmlessness.
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Take heed—look about!†6 more
pay close attention to; or do what is suggested
Show general definition pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested -- especially with regard to a warning or other advice
8 top 1000
wrathextreme anger
She could hardly contain her wrath when she learned he had betrayed her.more
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  A chain of deepest action forging
  Round all, in wrathful energy.†7 more
wrath → wrathful:full of extreme anger
Show general definition extreme anger or angry punishment
6 top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire
Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more
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  MERRY ANDREW
  Youth, good my friend, you certainly require
  When foes in combat sorely press you;
  When lovely maids, in fond desire,
  Hang on your bosom and caress you;
  When from the hard-won goal the wreath
  Beckons afar, the race awaiting;
  When, after dancing out your breath,
  You pass the night in dissipating:—
  But that familiar harp with soul
  To play,—with grace and bold expression,
  And towards a self-erected goal
  To walk with many a sweet digression,—
  This, aged Sirs, belongs to you,
  And we no less revere you for that reason:
  Age childish makes, they say, but 'tis not true;
  We're only genuine children still, in Age's season!5 more
respect or admire
Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
6 top 500
scarcityshortage
There is a scarcity of work in the region.more
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  Man's misery even to pity moves my nature;
  I've scarce the heart to plague the wretched creature.†5 more
scarcity → scarce:in short supply  OR  barely or hardly (by a small margin)
Show general definition shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
5 top 500
haughtyarrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
It is a story about a haughty princess who has a great fall.more
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  They're of a noble house, that's very clear:
  Haughty and discontented they appear.†4 more
arrogant
4 top 200
disdainlack of respect
She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more
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  SOLDIERS
  Castles, with lofty
  Ramparts and towers,
  Maidens disdainful
  In Beauty's array,
  Both shall be ours!†3 more
disdain → disdainful:full of disrespect
Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
4 top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more
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  MEPHISTOPHELES
  A question small, it seems,
  For one whose mind the Word so much despises;
  Who, scorning all external gleams,
  The depths of being only prizes.†3 more
scorn → scorning:disrespecting or rejecting as not good enough
Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
5 top 1000
dissipatedissipate → dissipates:gradually disappears
Airborne radiation dissipates over time and distance.more
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  MEPHISTOPHELES
  What time takes she for dissipating?†4 more
dissipate → dissipating:gradually wasting; or gradually disappearing
Show general definition to gradually disappear; or to gradually waste
5 top 2000
forsakeabandon or give up
The country must forsake terrorism as a political instrument.more
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  THE WITCH (dancing)
  Reason and sense forsake my brain,
  Since I behold Squire Satan here again!†4 more
abandon or give up on
Show general definition to abandon or give up on -- such as someone who needs you, or an idea, or a place
4 top 1000
endeavorendeavor → endeavored:tried or attempted
I endeavored to get both sides to agree to a compromise.more
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  When was a human soul, in its supreme endeavor,
  E'er understood by such as thou?†3 more
to attempt; OR  a project or activity attempted
Show general definition to attempt; or a project or activity attempted
3 top 500
attaingain or reach something with effort
She was the first woman to attain the rank of general.more
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  FAUST
  Yes, of the kind which men attain!†2 more
Show general definition to gain or reach something with effort
2 top 100
contradictdisagree with
Does the sentence contradict the main claim of the essay?more
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  'Tis all the same: the book I can repeat,
  Such time I've squandered o'er the history:
  A contradiction thus complete
  Is always for the wise, no less than fools, a mystery.†1 more
contradict → contradiction:something (typically a statement) that disagrees with itself; or (more rarely) the act of disagreeing
Show general definition disagree
in various senses, including:
  • to say something is not true -- as in "She contradicted his testimony."
  • to say something else is true when both can't be true -- as in "I don't believe her. She contradicted herself as she told us what happened."
  • to be in conflict with -- as in "Her assertions contradict accepted scientific principles."
5
entreatentreat → entreated:asked
She flattered and entreated him until he agreed to help.more
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And now, I do entreat this boon—Leave to withdraw from my intrusion.†4 more
ask earnestly
Show general definition to ask -- especially while trying hard to overcome resistance
2 top 500
digressdigress → digresses:wanders from a direct course
She always digresses when telling a story.more
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  Waste not a day in vain digression:
  With resolute, courageous trust
  Seize every possible impression,
  And make it firmly your possession;
  You'll then work on, because you must.†1 more
digress → digression:a wandering from a direct or straight course -- especially verbally
Show general definition wander from a direct or straight course -- typically verbally
3 top 2000
bequeathpass down
It is our duty to bequeath a better world to our grandchildren.more
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  A good man does his honest share
  In exercising, with the strictest care,
  The art bequeathed to his possession!†2 more
bequeath → bequeathed:give or pass down
Show general definition give or pass down -- often upon death in a will
3 top 2000
scruplesprinciples that discourage certain kinds of action
She doesn't share my scruples on the subject.more
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  FAUST
  The There my scruples naught increases.†2 more
3
impelimpel → impelled:drove
The desire to make a difference in the world impelled her to pursue a career in medicine.more
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  I feel impelled, its meaning to determine,—With honest purpose, once for all,
  The hallowed Original
  To change to my beloved German.†2 more
impel → impelled:to make someone feel they must do something
Show general definition to make someone feel they must do something
2 top 2000
edifyedify → edifies:teaches or instructs
She edifies and inspires supporters everywhere she speaks.more
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  In motley pictures little light,
  Much error, and of truth a glimmering mite,
  Thus the best beverage is supplied,
  Whence all the world is cheered and edified.†1 more
edify → edified:instructed
Show general definition to instruct -- morally or intellectually
2 top 2000
spurnspurn → spurned:rejected
She spurned his advances.more
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  Pardon, this troop I cannot follow after
  With lofty speech, though by them scorned and spurned:
  My pathos certainly would move Thy laughter,
  If Thou hadst not all merriment unlearned.†1 more
spurn → spurned:rejected as not good enough
Show general definition reject as not good enough