abide (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
abide by her decision
hears the merry noise of Hart and cannot abide it;
abide = tolerate
Definition
Generally this sense of abide means:to tolerate or put up with something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —3 uses as in:
abide in the forest
The said dragon abides there,
abides = lives
Definition
Generally this sense of abide means:to live in a place
or more rarely: to live with someone or something
or more rarely: to live with someone or something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
adorn
8 uses
Forth shone the boar-shapes Over the check-guards golden adorned, Fair-shifting, fire-hard; ward held the farrow.†
adorned = decorated
Definition
Generally adorn means:to decorate — especially a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
blithe
7 uses
Went Wealhtheow forth, The Queen she of Hrothgar, of courtesies mindful, The gold-array'd greeted the grooms in the hall, The free and frank woman the beaker there wended, And first to the East-Dane-folk's fatherland's warder, And bade him be blithe at the drinking of beer, To his people beloved, and lustily took he The feast and the hall-cup, that victory-fam'd King.†
blithe = carefree and happy
Definition
Generally blithe means:carefree and happy — often unaware of or ignoring something that should be of concern
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
contrast
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
contrast their writing styles
THRYTHO (112 [1931]), wife of the Angle King Offa and mother of Eomaer, is mentioned in contrast to Hygd, just as Heremod is a foil to Beowulf.†
in contrast = in a comparison that shows differences
Definition
Generally this sense of contrast means:point to differences between; or compare to show differences
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
dwell
2 uses
1 —2 uses as in:
a modest dwelling
Now soon was a-swimming he who erst in the strife bode The war-onset of wrath ones; he div'd up through the water; And now were the wave-welters cleansed full well, 1620 Yea the dwellings full wide, where the ghost of elsewhither Let go of his life-days and the waning of living.†
dwellings = houses or shelters in which people live
Definition
Generally this sense of dwelling means:a house or shelter in which someone lives
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
feud
30 uses
Fought down thy father the most of all feuds; To Heatholaf was he forsooth for a hand-bane 460 Amidst of the Wylfings.†
feuds = bitter, long-standing fights
Definition
Generally feud means:bitter hostile argument between two parties — typically long-standing between families or tribes with occasional incidents of violence
Word Statistics
| Book | 30 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
heed
8 uses
Forsooth of that faring the carles wiser-fashion'd Laid little blame on him, though lief to them was he; The heart-hardy whetted they, heeded the omen.†
heeded = paid close attention to; or did what was suggested
Definition
Generally heed means:pay close attention to; or to do what is suggested — especially with regard to a warning or other advice
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
hoard
49 uses
Then first was I wielding the weal of the Dane-folk, That time was I holding in youth-tide the gem-rich Hoard-burg of the heroes.†
hoard = gathers something valuable and stores it
Definition
Generally hoard means:to gather something valuable and store it; or a collection of such things
Word Statistics
| Book | 49 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
however
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
However, complications may...
Afterwards, however, he lends his sword Hrunting for Beowulf's encounter with Grendel's mother (85, 104 [1465, 1808]).†
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 |
malicious
4 uses
If it be so thou wottest, As soothly for our parts we now have heard say, That one midst of the Scyldings, who of scathers I wot not, A deed-hater secret, in the dark of the night-tide Setteth forth through the terror the malice untold of, The shame-wrong and slaughter.†
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 | 4 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
moreover
3 uses
Moreover they set him up there a sign golden High up overhead, and let the holm bear him, Gave all to the Spearman.†
moreover = in addition to what has just been said
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
quell
8 uses
I wreaked the foul deeds, The death-quelling of Danes, e'en as duly behoved.†
quelling = stopping or suppressing
Definition
Generally quell means:suppress or stop completely
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 3 uses in 10 avg bks |
valor
13 uses
What! we of the Spear-Danes of yore days, so was it That we learn'd of the fair fame of kings of the folks And the athelings a-faring in framing of valour.†
valour = exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger — especially in battle
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use valor.)
(editor's note: This is a British spelling. Americans use valor.)
Word Statistics
| Book | 13 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
wane
9 uses
For that he over-long the lief people of me Made to wane and undid.†
wane = a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) — especially the part of the moon that is visible
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
wrath
16 uses
He casteth shame upon them with great wrath.†
wrath = extreme anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 16 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
wretched
5 uses
Of that fall of the folk-king he minded the payment 2390 In days that came after: unto Eadgils he was A friend to him wretched; with folk he upheld him Over the wide sea, that same son of Ohthere, With warriors and weapons.†
wretched = miserable or very bad
Definition
Generally wretched means:very bad
in various senses, including:
- unfortunate or miserable — as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor"
- of poor quality — as in "wretched roads"
- morally bad — as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
Word Statistics
| Book | 5 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
wrought (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 2 uses
1 —1 use as in:
wrought iron
for whom first was that sword wrought
wrought = shaped (worked)
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:worked — as when iron is shaped to fit by bending or beating
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
2 —1 use as in:
the damage she has wrought
...for the crime he had wrought.
wrought = done (caused to happen)
Definition
Generally this sense of wrought means:caused to happen or occurred as a consequence
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
yield
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
yield to pressure
I know now 1180 My Hrothulf the gladsome, that he this young man Will hold in all honour if thou now before him, O friend of the Scyldings, shall fare from the world; I ween that good-will yet this man will be yielding To our offspring that after us be, if he mind him Of all that which we two, for good-will and for worship, Unto him erst a child yet have framed of kindness.†
yielding = giving in, giving up, or giving way (easily moved or soft)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |