Glossary of Terms
alacrity
eagerness, readiness
astir
in movement
calico
flowered cloth
caliper
an instrument for measuring thickness
catacomb
underground tomb
chaff
the waste product from wheat
chummed
made friends with
circumvent
work around
commingling
mixing together
confab
(confabulation) conversation
crestfallen
disappointed, deflated
droll
amusing, provoking dry wit
duffer
incompetent, idiot
ebb
to decrease, diminish
emissary
messenger
ensign
flag or banner
entrails
organs, innards
errant
straying
estuary
a stream in which cold and hot water meet
exult
to celebrate, say with smugness
farcical
ridiculous
fecund
fertile
fisticuffs
using hands to box
fusillade
contemporaneous discharge of firearms
grubbing
obtaining in a sordid fashion
harlequin
a buffoon (stock character in light opera)
hummock
knoll
incontinent
unable to exercise self-control
inexorable
that which cannot be stopped
insoluble
something impossible to dissolve, break down to a smaller size
interloper
intruder
listlessly
without energy
litany
ceremonial or subscribed form of prayer
lugubrious
gloomy, mournful
magpies
loud birds attracted by bright things
meagre
small, lacking (also, meager)
mica
a shiny, black stone
moribund
near death
nautical
having to do with the ocean
ostentation
display of wealth, showing off
pendent
hanging, suspended
peroration
pompous speech
pestiferous
bringing disease
pestilence
an epidemic or widespread evil
prevaricator
liar
recondite
dealing with something profound or delicate
rend
to tear
requisite
necessary
sepulchre
tomb (also, sepulcher)
sheer
(nautical) to swerve, divert a boat from its path
somnambulist
sleepwalker
sordid
dirty, low
stanchion
a supporting pole or post
stand-offish
aloof, unfriendly
superciliousness
disdain, condescension
tenebrous
dark, gloomy
trenchant
piercing, perceptive
uncongenial
unpleasant, unfriendly
unscathed
unharmed
verandah
balcony, usually attached to a house
yarn
tale told by a sailor
yawl
a small boat
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