Chapter 102 - A Bower in the Arsacides — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 102 - A Bower in the Arsacides

behooves

It is necessary or proper for; it is incumbent upon.

erudite

Having or showing great knowledge or learning.

Cetacea

The order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

leviathan

A very large sea creature; used throughout Moby-Dick as a synonym for the whale.

vertu

Objects of art or antiquarian interest, especially those that are rare or curious; also spelled "virtu."

verdant

Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and green.

hieroglyphics

Writing consisting of symbolic pictures, especially as used in ancient Egyptian and other systems; here, mysterious carved symbols.

warp and woof

The lengthwise (warp) and crosswise (woof) threads in weaving; figuratively, the fundamental structure of something.

shuttle

A device used in weaving to carry the woof thread back and forth between the warp threads.

trellised

Supported or intertwined on a framework of lattice; here used figuratively to mean entwined or interwoven.

admeasurements

The act of measuring; the dimensions or measurements obtained.

seignories

The territory or domain of a feudal lord; lordship over a particular area.

articulated

Having joints or segments connected so as to allow motion; here meaning the skeleton was assembled with movable connections.

verbatim

In exactly the same words; word for word.

colonnades

A row of evenly spaced columns; here used metaphorically to describe the passages between the whale's ribs.