adorn
87 uses
Give me thy son, thine eldest born, Whom locks like raven's wings adorn.†
adorn = decorate
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
Nor did he fail that saint to please With his devout austerities.†
austerities = notable absences of basic comforts
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
This wicked prince who aye withstood The counsel of the wise and good, Who plagued the people in his hate, His father banished from the state.†
banished = expelled or gotten 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 | 105 uses |
Library | 9 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Book 1 |
bestow
83 uses
Then this was, after due debate, The counsel of the wise and great, To churn with might the milky sea(202) The life-bestowing drink to free.†
bestowing = giving
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
Thou, rent by shafts, this day shalt die: Low on the ground thy corse shall lie, And bubbles from the cloven neck With froth and blood thy skin shall deck.†
cloven = split (or divided in two)
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
To all the princes, young and brave, His soul with fond affection clave; Around his loving heart they clung Like arms from his own body sprung.†
clave = held 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
O holy man, I fain would hear
The tale repeated full and clear
How he from whom my sires descend
Brought the great rite to happy end.†
The tale repeated full and clear
How he from whom my sires descend
Brought the great rite to happy end.†
descend = come genetically
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 shone with gems that flashed afar The marvel of the Flower-named(811) car, Mid wondrous dwellings still confessed Supreme and nobler than the rest.†
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 | 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
With joy the pride of Raghu's race Received the hermit's proffered grace, Mysterious arms, to check and stay, Or smite the foeman in the fray.†
the fray = the 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
Such heedless faults will kings destroy Who fail to guard what they enjoy.†
heedless = ignorant or ignoring; or not following advice
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in heedless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
(Editor's note: The suffix "-less" in heedless means without. This is the same pattern you see in words like fearless, homeless, and endless.)
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
In living frame the skies attain, Which mortals thus can scarcely gain.†
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 | 11 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Book 1 |
perish
40 uses
The queen, who loved her perished lord, For meet reply, the saint adored, And, of her husband long bereaved, She bore a son by him conceived.†
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 | 40 uses |
Library | 7 uses in 10 avg bks |
SAT®* | top 500 |
1st use | Book 3 |
scorn
116 uses
But the God's eye with scornful glare Fell terrible on him.†
scornful = full of strong disrespect or rejection
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
The suitors' puny might I spurned, And back the feeble princes turned.†
spurned = rejected as not good enough
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
By nature wise, his teacher's skill Has trained him to subdue his will.†
subdue = control or put down by force or intimidation
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
On Siva's head descending first A rest the torrents found: Then down in all their might they burst And roared along the ground.†
torrents = overwhelming amounts
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
He draws, I hear, from out the breast The valour of the mightiest.†
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 | 62 uses |
Library | 4 uses in 10 avg bks |
1st use | Book 3 |
wrath
130 uses
Whom, when his warrior wrath is high, Do Gods embattled fear and fly?†
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
Learn, trembler! that the valiant, they Who yield no step in battle fray, Will die a thousand deaths but ne'er An unavenged dishonour bear.†
yield = give
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
Ah, had the dame, as they implored, Been yielded to her injured lord, We had not mourned this day thy fall, And happy had it been for all.†
yielded = gave in, gave way, or gave up
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 |