attain
1 use
CHORUS (chanting) May Maia's princely son go with thee on thy way to bring thee to thy home, and mayest thou attain that on which thy soul is set so firmly, for to my mind thou seemest a generous man, O Aegeus.†
attain = gain or reach something with effort
Definition
Generally attain means:to gain or reach something with effort
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
banish
10 uses
MEDEA What, wilt thou banish me, and to my prayers no pity yield?†
banish = expel or get 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 | 10 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
beguile
2 uses
Next I caused the death of Pelias by a doom most grievous, even by his own children's hand, beguiling them of all their fear.†
beguiling = charming or enchanting; or deceiving through charm
Definition
Generally beguile means:to charm, enchant, or entertain someone; or to deceive — especially through charm
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
cease
10 uses
but if thou cease from anger the greater will be thy gain.
cease = discontinues
Definition
Generally cease means:to stop or discontinue
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 26 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
craven
2 uses
MEDEA Thou craven villain (for that is the only name my tongue can find for thee, a foul reproach on thy unmanliness), comest thou to me, thou, most hated foe of gods, of me, and of all mankind?†
craven = exceedingly cowardly; or someone who is exceedingly cowardly
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
fraught
2 uses
Woe for the wooing of women fraught with disaster!†
fraught = full of negative things; or marked by or causing distress
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
grievous
5 uses
Next I caused the death of Pelias by a doom most grievous, even by his own children's hand, beguiling them of all their fear.†
grievous = very serious; or very bad
Definition
Generally grievous means:very serious; or very bad; or causing grief
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
indulge
1 use
Art learning only now, that every single man cares for himself more than for his neighbour, some from honest motives, others for mere gain's sake? seeing that to indulge his passion their father has ceased to love these children.†
indulge = enjoy to excess
Definition
Generally indulge means:to give into a desire or enjoy something — especially in excess of what is thought good—such as a desire to eat too much cake, or be too lazy
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
or:
to allow or help someone to get their way or enjoy something — especially something that (probably because of excess) is not considered to be good or proper
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
loathe
4 uses
O, to die and win release, quitting this loathed existence!†
loathed = detested or intensely disliked
Definition
Generally loathe means:hate, detest, or intensely dislike
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
mortal
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
mortal body
And amongst mortals I do assert that they who are wholly without experience and have never had children far surpass in happiness those who are parents.†
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
perish
3 uses
May he perish and find no favour, whoso hath not in him honour for his friends, freely unlocking his heart to them.†
perish = die, be destroyed, or cease to exist
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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
refuge
4 uses
MEDEA Mock on; thou hast a place of refuge; I am alone, an exile soon to be.†
refuge = something giving protection — especially a safe place
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
reproach
3 uses
MEDEA Thou craven villain (for that is the only name my tongue can find for thee, a foul reproach on thy unmanliness), comest thou to me, thou, most hated foe of gods, of me, and of all mankind?†
reproach = a criticism; or to express 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 | 3 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
satiate
1 use
How shall a yearning for that insatiate resting-place ever hasten for thee, poor reckless one, the end that death alone can bring?†
insatiate = not possible to satisfy
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in insatiate means not and reverses the meaning of satiate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
(Editor's note: The prefix "in-" in insatiate means not and reverses the meaning of satiate. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.)
Definition
Generally satiate means:to satisfy a hunger; or fill to satisfaction (typically said of hunger for food, but can be said of anything desired—such as of knowledge or sensual pleasure)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
scorn
5 uses
While Medea, his hapless wife, thus scorned, appeals to the oaths he swore, recalls the strong pledge his right hand gave, and bids heaven be witness what requital she is finding from Jason.†
scorned = disrespected or rejected
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
tact
1 use
If haply we perform these tasks with thoroughness and tact, and the husband live with us, without resenting the yoke, our life is a happy one; if not, 'twere best to die.†
tact = the ability or act of saying or handling things in such a way that others feel good about them
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
vengeance
5 uses
1 —5 uses as in:
vengeance is mine
LEADER OF THE CHORUS This will I do; for thou wilt be taking a just vengeance on thy husband, Medea.†
vengeance = the act of taking revenge
Definition
Generally this sense of vengeance means:the act of taking revenge
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
wrath
4 uses
CHORUS Would that she would come forth for us to see, and listen to the words of counsel we might give, if haply she might lay aside the fierce fury of her wrath, and her temper stern.†
wrath = extreme anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
yield
4 uses
1 —4 uses as in:
yield to pressure
I yield and do confess that I was wrong then, but now have I come to a better mind.†
yield = give up, give in, or give way
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 4 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
Zeus
13 uses
CHORUS Didst hear, O Zeus, thou earth, and thou, O light, the piteous note of woe the hapless wife is uttering?†
Zeus = Greek mythology: the most supreme of the gods
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |