Beowulf — Vocabulary
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
43 top 2000
hoardgather and collect (something thought valuable)
She decided to hoard her favorite snacks in the back of the pantry, keeping them hidden from her siblings.more
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  The great one had gained then by his glorious achievement
  To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment,
  [32] As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded,
  Shining ornaments on the ship's bosom carried,
  60 Kinsman of Waels: the drake in heat melted.†42 more
gathers something valuable and stores it
Show general definition to gather something valuable and store it; or a collection of such things
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malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer
I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more
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  He had marked the misery malice had caused them,
  15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2]
  Long been afflicted.†12 more
the desire to hurt others or see them suffer
Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
17
feuda bitter, long-standing fight
Perhaps the most famous American family feud was between the Hatfields and McCoys.more
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  15 That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded;
  O'er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent
  Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me.†16 more
Show general definition bitter hostile argument between two parties -- typically long-standing between families or tribes with occasional incidents of violence
Show editor's word notes Sometimes the term blood feud is used to reference a feud between families.
9 top 500
lamentlament → lamented:expressed grief about
She lamented the loss.more
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  The woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,[2]
  65 In measures lamented; upmounted the hero.†8 more
lament → lamented:expressed grief or regret
Show general definition to express grief or regret
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adornadorn → adorned:decorated
The women adorned themselves with shell necklaces.more
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  Then the work I find afar was assigned
  [4] To many races in middle-earth's regions,
  To adorn the great folk-hall.†11 more
decorate
Show general definition to decorate -- especially a person
13 top 2000
avengetake revenge for
In the story, she wants to avenge the murder of her brother.more
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  Then the battle-sword burned, the brand that was lifted,[1]
  As the blood-current sprang, hottest of war-sweats;
  Seizing the hilt, from my foes I offbore it;
  I avenged as I ought to their acts of malignity,
  20 The murder of Danemen.†12 more
avenge → avenged:took revenge
Show general definition take revenge for a perceived wrong
12 top 2000
wretchedmiserable
The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more
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  He had marked the misery malice had caused them,
  15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2]
  Long been afflicted.†11 more
miserable or very bad
Show general definition 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."
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loathreluctant or unwilling
She is loath to admit a mistake.more
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  And no one was able
  Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you
  Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming,
  15 Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover,
  The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them,
  Glided the ocean; angry the waves were,
  With the weltering of winter.†8 more
loath → loth:reluctant or unwilling to do something
Show general definition reluctant or unwilling to do something
Show editor's word notes Word Confusion:  Do not confuse loath with loathe which sounds very similar or the same. Loath is typically used as an adjective while loathe is a verb that means "to dislike greatly".
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brandishbrandish → brandished:waved or exhibited aggressively
She brandished her cane at him.more
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  45 High on his horse then Hrothgar's retainer
  Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished
  His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness.†8 more
Show general definition the act of waving something or exhibiting it aggressively
7 top 200
prudentsensible and careful
She was promoted to manager because she is so prudent.more
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  For the perilous project prudent companions
  Chided him little, though loving him dearly;
  15 They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.†6 more
7 top 500
perishbe destroyed or cease to exist
...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln  —  Gettysburg Addressmore
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  They saw on the sand then soulless a-lying,
  90 His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given them
  In days that were done; then the death-bringing moment
  Was come to the good one, that the king very warlike,
  Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished.†6 more
perish → perished:died, was destroyed, or ceased to exist
Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way

or:

to be destroyed or cease to exist
Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought."  It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
10 top 2000
vengeancerevenge
Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more
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  [2] The line 'And ...yielding,' B. renders: _And she has performed a
  deed of blood-vengeance whose effect is far-reaching_.†9 more
the act of taking revenge
Show general definition for vengeance (as in: vengeance is mine) the act of taking revenge

(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
18
unrequitedunreturned
It's a sad song about the heartbreak of unrequited love.more
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  The Lord, in requital,
  Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.†17 more
unrequited → requital:the act of repaying or returning -- especially an appropriate penalty
Show context notes Today, unrequited is used much more commonly than forms of requite. You'll probably learn unrequited first. The prefix "un-" means not, so when it's not there, the meaning of unrequited is reversed. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
Show general definition not returned (typically of feelings -- as in unrequited love)
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strifeviolent conflict
The region suffers from violent religious strife.†more
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[2] B. would render: _Which, as I heard, excelled in stroke every sword that he carried to the strife, even the strongest (sword)†15 more
violent conflict or angry disagreement
Show general definition violent conflict or angry disagreement
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rendergive
We're waiting for the jury to render a verdict.more
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I was most happy to render thee this service.60 more
Show general definition for render (as in: rendered service or a verdict) to give or supply something
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render#2render → rendered:made
Her verbal attack rendered me speechless.more
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to render arrogant60 more
make
Show general definition for render (as in: rendered her unconscious) to make or cause to become
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render#3render → rendered:played (portrayed or gave her interpretation of)
The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully.more
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Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as follows:60 more
render → rendering:interpretation or portrayal
Show general definition for render (as in: rendered interpretation) to portray or create something in a particular way; or to interpret, translate, or extract from
The exact meaning of this sense of render depends upon its context. For example:
  • "Each artist will render a different interpretation when painting a portrait." -- create in a particular way
  • "A Supreme Court judge may render his own interpretation of the Constitution." -- interpret in a particular way
  • "The computer you are using, rendered this page from software instructions." -- created through interpretation
  • "A graph is rendered from the underlying data." -- made
  • "Fat can be rendered (extracted) by cooking meat slowly." -- extracted from
9
pyrepyre → pyres:piles of wood or other burnable materials
While cremation is not uncommon in the western world, open air funeral pyres are typically illegal.more
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B. 1110 (_ready for the pyre_), El.†8 more
a pile of wood or other burnable material
Show general definition a pile of wood or other burnable material -- especially to burn a dead body as in a funeral rite
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embellishembellish → embellished:added detail to
The dress was elegant to begin with, but she embellished it with lace and tiny pearls along the neckline.more
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  A liegeman did service,
  [19] Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum,
  {The gleeman sings}
  40 And gleaming-drink poured.†6 more
embellish → embellished:made more attractive or interesting through additions
Show general definition add to something -- typically to make it more attractive or interesting
7
i.e.in other words
Most of the items the store sells are private-label, i.e., not national brands you'd recognize.more
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And the beloved land-prince enjoyed (had) his
  transitory days (i.e. lived).6 more
that is to say or in other words
Show general definition that is to say; or in other words