Chapter 56 - Of the Less Erroneous Pictures of Whales and the True Pictures of Whaling Scenes — Vocabulary
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville — key words and definitions
Vocabulary Words from Chapter 56 - Of the Less Erroneous Pictures of Whales and the True Pictures of Whaling Scenes
- contour (noun)
- The outline or shape of something, especially its external boundary or surface.
- profundities (noun)
- Great depths, especially of the ocean; also intellectual depth or insight.
- stoven (adjective)
- Broken in or crushed; past participle of "stave," meaning to smash a hole in.
- incomputable (adjective)
- Impossible to calculate or reckon; incalculable.
- precipice (noun)
- A very steep rock face or cliff; a dangerous or precarious situation.
- barnacled (adjective)
- Covered with barnacles; encrusted with shellfish that attach to submerged surfaces.
- pestilent (adjective)
- Causing annoyance or disease; noxious or harmful.
- leviathan (noun)
- A sea monster referenced in the Bible; anything enormous or powerful, especially a whale.
- tumultuous (adjective)
- Making a loud, confused noise; disorderly or agitated.
- conversant (adjective)
- Familiar with or knowledgeable about something through study or experience.
- pell-mell (adverb)
- In a confused, rushed, or disorderly manner.
- evinced (verb)
- Revealed or made evident; displayed clearly.
- tantamount (adjective)
- Equivalent in seriousness, value, or effect to something else.
- disparagement (noun)
- The act of speaking about someone or something in a disrespectful or belittling way.
- fac-similes (noun)
- Exact copies or reproductions of something, especially a document or image.