Book XXIV — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Book XXIV

gibbering (verb (present participle))

Making rapid, inarticulate, chattering sounds, often associated with fear or agitation.

asphodel (noun)

A type of pale-flowered plant of the lily family; in Greek mythology, the meadow of asphodel is the region of the Underworld where ordinary souls reside.

chaunted (verb (past tense))

An archaic spelling of "chanted"; to have sung or recited in a melodious, sustained tone.

dirge (noun)

A mournful song, hymn, or poem composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person.

tambour (noun)

A circular frame used for holding fabric taut while it is being embroidered.

pall (noun)

A cloth, often black, spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb; a burial shroud.

cloister (noun)

A covered walkway or colonnade, typically in a religious or palace setting; here used for the great hall’s colonnaded space.

thongs (noun)

Narrow strips of leather or hide used for binding, fastening, or as a simple protective wrapping.

bondsman (noun)

A person bound in service to another; a slave or serf.

unsavoury (adjective)

Unpleasant in appearance or smell; here meaning unkempt and poorly groomed.

sallied (verb (past tense))

Made a sudden charge or sortie out from a defensive position against an enemy.

covenant (noun)

A solemn, binding agreement or compact between two or more parties, often made with divine witness.

reclaimed (verb (past participle))

Made land fit for cultivation through sustained effort; brought wasteland into productive use.

resins (noun)

Sticky aromatic substances secreted by trees, used in ancient funerary rites to preserve and perfume the body during cremation.

raiment (noun)

Clothing or garments, especially those that are fine or ceremonial.