CHAPTER 1 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from CHAPTER 1

explicit (adjective)

Stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt.

lozenges (noun)

Diamond-shaped or rhombus-shaped figures; here, small diamond-shaped grave markers.

exceedingly (adverb)

To a very great degree; extremely.

religiously (adverb)

With unwavering faithfulness or devotion; here, meaning with complete and earnest belief.

nettles (noun)

Wild plants with jagged leaves covered in stinging hairs that cause a painful rash on contact.

dykes (noun)

Embankments or ditches built to control or hold back water, especially on marshland.

leaden (adjective)

Dull, heavy, and grey in color, like lead; often used to describe an overcast sky or sluggish water.

ravenously (adverb)

With extreme hunger; in a voraciously greedy manner.

earnestly (adverb)

In a sincere and serious manner, showing deep feeling or conviction.

wittles (noun)

A dialectal pronunciation of "victuals," meaning food or provisions.

partickler (noun)

A dialectal pronunciation of "particular," meaning a specific detail or point.

pecooliar (adjective)

A dialectal pronunciation of "peculiar," meaning distinctive, unique, or belonging exclusively to.

wain (adjective)

A dialectal pronunciation of "vain," meaning useless or without success.

faltered (verb)

Spoke hesitantly, with a trembling or unsteady voice.

eluding (verb)

Skillfully escaping or avoiding someone or something.

gibbet (noun)

A gallows or wooden frame on which the bodies of executed criminals were hung as a public warning.

pollards (noun)

Trees that have been cut back to the trunk to encourage a dense head of new growth.