Chapter 85 - The Fountain — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 85 - The Fountain

mistifying (verb (present participle))

Melville's coined term meaning to cover or fill with mist; a playful blend of "mist" and "mystifying."

spiracle (noun)

A breathing hole; specifically, the blowhole on top of a whale's head through which it breathes.

vitality (noun)

The state of being alive and strong; the capacity for life and physical energy.

aerated (adjective)

Supplied with or exposed to air; having air mixed into a substance, especially blood.

anomalous (adjective)

Deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected; irregular or abnormal.

labyrinth (noun)

An intricate, maze-like network of passages or paths; any complex, winding structure.

distended (adjective)

Swollen or expanded from internal pressure; stretched or inflated beyond normal size.

leviathan (noun)

A large sea creature; in Moby-Dick, a synonym for the whale. From the biblical monster.

olfactories (noun (plural))

The organs or nerves associated with the sense of smell; the nasal sensory apparatus.

acridness (noun)

A sharp, harsh, or irritating quality; a caustic or biting property.

hypothesize (verb)

To propose an explanation or theory as a starting point for further investigation, without certainty.

ponderous (adjective)

Heavy and unwieldy; also, slow-moving or serious in manner, weighty in importance.

sublime (adjective)

Of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth; inspiring awe through grandeur or beauty.

incommunicable (adjective)

Impossible to communicate or share with others; beyond the reach of expression.

irradiate (verb)

To illuminate or light up; to shine light upon something, making it glow or become visible.

enkindling (verb (present participle))

Setting on fire; igniting or inspiring with light, warmth, or passion.