adorn
87 uses
The women adorned themselves with shell necklaces.
adorned = decorated
Definition
Generally adorn means:to decorate — especially a person
Word Statistics
| Book | 87 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 2000 |
| 1st use | Book 4 |
austere
49 uses
He took a vow of silence and leads an austere life at the monastery.
austere = lacking luxury (and stern)
Definition
Generally austere means:a notable absence of luxury, comfort, or decoration
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
or:
of a person: stern in manner; or practicing great self-denial
Word Statistics
| Book | 49 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
banish
105 uses
He was banished from his own country.
banished = forced to leave
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 | 105 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
bestow
83 uses
They gave her the highest honor they can bestow.
bestow = give (as an honor)
Definition
Generally bestow means:to give — typically to present as an honor or give as a gift
Word Statistics
| Book | 83 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
cleave (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 11 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
cleave through
Large molecules cleave at their weakest points and produce smaller fragments.
cleave = split
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to split something — especially with violent force
or:
to cut through something
or:
to cut through something
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
2 —8 uses as in:
cleave to
The New Testament quotes the Old Testament twice in saying, "Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to this wife, and they become one flesh."
cleaves = holds firmly
Definition
Generally this sense of cleave means:to hold firmly to something — such as an object, a person or idea
Word Statistics
| Book | 8 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
descend
1 use
1 —1 use as in:
descend from royalty
She descended from an old Italian noble family.
descended = came from (had as an ancestor)
Definition
Generally this sense of descend means:figuratively, to have come down a path from the past; i.e., to originate or come from — such as in reference to ancestors or evolutionary origins
Word Statistics
| Book | 1 use |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
dwell
3 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
a modest dwelling
There is a second dwelling unit on the property.
dwelling = home
Definition
Generally this sense of dwelling means:a house or shelter in which someone lives
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 1000 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
frayed
25 uses
1 —25 uses as in:
into the fray
I'm hesitant to join the political fray.
fray = fight or struggle
Definition
Generally this sense of fray means:a noisy fight, controversial debate, or other exciting situation that usually is not well organized
Word Statistics
| Book | 25 uses |
| Library | 2 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
heed
100 uses
Heed the advice of the old women.
heed = pay close attention to; or to do what is 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 | 100 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
mortal
11 uses
1 —11 uses as in:
mortal body
Don't expect perfection of a mere mortal.
mortal = human
Definition
Generally this sense of mortal means:human (especially merely human); or subject to death
Word Statistics
| Book | 11 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
perish
40 uses
...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln -- Gettysburg Address
perish = 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 | 40 uses |
| Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
scorn
116 uses
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
scorned = rejected
Definition
Generally scorn means:disrespect or reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 116 uses |
| Library | 10 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 500 |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
spurn
41 uses
She spurned his advances.
spurned = rejected
Definition
Generally spurn means:reject as not good enough
Word Statistics
| Book | 41 uses |
| Library | 1 use in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
subdue
24 uses
1 —24 uses
verb as in: subdued the opposition
She was threatening people with a knife, but police used a Taser to subdue her.
subdue = overcome and control
Definition
Generally this sense of subdue means:to control, prevent, or make less intense — sometimes through force
The exact meaning of subdue depends upon its context. For example:
- "subdued a nation" — defeated militarily and brought under control
- "subdued the fever" — made it less intense or defeated it
- "subdued her enthusiasm" — made it less intense
- "subdued her fears" — made them less intense or overcame them
- "subdued my emotions" — kept them under control
- "subdued the crowd" — quieted or controlled it
Word Statistics
| Book | 24 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
torrent
55 uses
She screamed a torrent of abuse.
torrent = an overwhelming amount
Definition
Generally torrent means:an overwhelming amount — especially of quickly moving water
Word Statistics
| Book | 55 uses |
| Library | 6 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
valor
62 uses
She received a medal for valor.
valor = courage (exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger — especially in battle)
Definition
Generally valor means:exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger — especially in battle
Word Statistics
| Book | 62 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 3 |
wrath
130 uses
She could hardly contain her wrath when she learned he had betrayed her.
wrath = extreme anger
Definition
Generally wrath means:extreme anger or angry punishment
Word Statistics
| Book | 130 uses |
| Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 1 |
yield (2 meanings)
2 meanings, 43 uses
1 —3 uses as in:
will yield valuable data
The discovery could yield a more effective treatment for diabetes.
yield = produce (lead to)
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to produce (usually something wanted); or the thing or amount produced
Word Statistics
| Book | 3 uses |
| Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
| SAT®* | top 100 |
| 1st use | Book 2 |
2 —40 uses as in:
yield to pressure
The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.
yield = give in
Definition
Generally this sense of yield means:to give in, give way, or give up
Word Statistics
| Book | 40 uses |
| Library | 14 uses in 10 avg bks |
| 1st use | Book 2 |