adorn
12 uses
Then the work I find afar was assigned [4] To many races in middle-earth's regions, To adorn the great folk-hall.†
adorn = decorate
Definition
Generally adorn means:to decorate — especially a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 12 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
bestow
8 uses
Beowulf drank of The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing 35 He needed not blush for in battle-men's presence.†
bestowing = giving
Definition
Generally bestow means:to give — typically to present as an honor or give as a gift
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
context
2 uses
H. supplies 'geweald' from the context; and our translation is based upon this assumption, though it is far from satisfactory.†
context = the setting or situation in which something occurs
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
defer
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
deferred the decision
No thought had the monster of deferring the matter,
deferring = postponing
Definition
Generally this sense of defer means:delay or postpone (hold off until a later time)
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
dispute
7 uses
1 —7 uses as in:
She disputes his claim.
[2] The passage beginning here is very much disputed.†
disputed = challenged, argued about, or fought over
Definition
Generally this sense of dispute means:challenge, argue about, or fight over
Word Statistics
| Book | 7 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
dwell
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
a modest dwelling
}"Then the warriors departed to go to their dwellings, Reaved of their friends, Friesland to visit, Their homes and high-city.†
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 | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
feud
17 uses
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.†
feud = a bitter, long-standing fight
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 | 17 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
grave
1 use
The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill,†
grave = serious and solemn
Definition
Generally this sense of grave means:serious and/or solemn
The exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." — important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." — sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." — in a sincere and serious manner
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 15 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
hoard
43 uses
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.†
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 | 43 uses |
| Library | 5 uses in 10 avg bks |
malicious
13 uses
He had marked the misery malice had caused them, 15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2] Long been afflicted.†
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 | 13 uses |
| Library | 8 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
manor
10 uses
The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward, The manor with fire.†
manor = a large house of a lord or wealthy person; or the house and the land around it
Word Statistics
| Book | 10 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
passage
1 use
(1) It adds nothing to the text; (2) it makes 'naca' the subject, and thus brings the passage into keeping with the context, where the poet has exhausted his vocabulary in detailing the actions of the vessel.†
passage = a short part of a longer written work
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
perish
7 uses
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.†
perished = died, was destroyed, or ceased 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 | 7 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
plunder
8 uses
Then the hoard[5] was discovered, The treasure was taken, his petition was granted{The hero plunders the dragon's den} The lorn-mooded liegeman.†
plunders = steals
Definition
Generally plunder means:to steal — often after conquering the location with the goods
or:
the goods stolen
or:
the goods stolen
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
render (3 meanings)
3 meanings, 4 uses
1 —1 use as in:
rendered service or a verdict
I was most happy to render thee this service.
render = give
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to give or supply something
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
2 —1 use as in:
rendered her unconscious
to render arrogant
render = make
Definition
Generally this sense of render means:to make or cause to become
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
3 —2 uses as in:
rendered interpretation
Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as follows:
rendering = interpretation or portrayal
Definition
Generally this sense of render means: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
Word Statistics
| Book | 2 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
valor
9 uses
I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws, But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar.†
valor = exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger — especially in battle
Word Statistics
| Book | 9 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
vengeance
10 uses
1 —10 uses as in:
vengeance is mine
[2] The line 'And .... yielding,' B. renders: And she has performed a deed of blood-vengeance whose effect is far-reaching.†
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 | 10 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
wretched
12 uses
He had marked the misery malice had caused them, 15 [1]That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile[2] Long been afflicted.†
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 | 12 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |