Master and Man Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Master and Man

forestall (verb)

To prevent or obstruct something by acting in advance; to get ahead of a competitor.

dexterity (noun)

Skill and grace in physical movement, especially with the hands.

turbulent (adjective)

Characterized by conflict, disorder, or violent agitation.

crupper (noun)

The hindquarters or rump of a horse.

forelock (noun)

The lock of hair that grows from the front of a horse's head, falling between the ears.

shaft-bow (noun)

A curved wooden arch (Russian: duga) mounted above a horse's collar to connect the shafts of a sledge or cart.

drugget (noun)

A coarse woven fabric used as a floor covering or blanket.

girdled (adjective)

Encircled or fastened with a belt or band around the body.

vestibule (noun)

An entrance hall or lobby between the outer door and the interior of a building.

verst (noun)

An old Russian unit of distance equal to approximately 0.66 miles or 1.07 kilometers.

sagacity (noun)

The quality of having keen mental discernment and good judgment; wisdom.

disintegration (noun)

The process of breaking apart into smaller parts or losing unity and cohesion.

samovar (noun)

A large metal urn with a spigot, traditionally used in Russia for heating water to make tea.

icons (noun)

Sacred religious images, typically painted on wooden panels, venerated in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

penthouse (noun)

A lean-to shed or shelter with a sloping roof attached to the side of a building.

peremptorily (adverb)

In a commanding, authoritative manner that permits no contradiction or refusal.

desyatins (noun)

A Russian unit of land measurement equal to approximately 2.7 acres or 1.09 hectares.

animated (adjective)

Full of energy, excitement, or liveliness.

stealthily (adverb)

In a cautious, secretive manner designed to avoid detection.

unrest (noun)

A state of anxious agitation or troubled disturbance of mind.

submissiveness (noun)

The quality of being ready to yield to the authority or will of others; meekness.

tapers (noun)

Slender candles, especially those burned before religious images in a church.

solemn (adjective)

Deeply serious, earnest, and full of gravity or awe.

toil (noun)

Exhausting physical labor or prolonged hard work.