The House of the Scorpion Vocab (10E) Flashcards

Page 138, 34 terms

aristocrats

a member of an aristocracy, especially a noble.

swanky

elegant or ostentatious

plankton

the microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or freshwater. (consisting chiefly of diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, and the eggs and larval stages of larger animals)

refugee

a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.

loafing

idling one's time away, typically by aimless wandering or loitering.

presume

to take for granted, assume, or suppose.

contradictory

asserting the contrary or opposite; contradicting; inconsistent; logically opposite.

purgatory

a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven.

shimmering

shining with a soft, slightly wavering light.

infirmary

a place for the care of the infirm, sick, or injured; hospital or facility serving as a hospital.

deliberation

careful consideration before decision.

lackey

a servant, especially a liveried footman or manservant.

anemia

a quantitative deficiency of the hemoglobin.

foxglove

a tall Eurasian plant with erect spikes of flowers, typically pinkish-purple or white, shaped like the fingers of gloves. It is a source of the drug digitalis.

arsenic

a grayish-white element having a metallic luster, vaporizing when heated, and forming poisonous compounds.

oasis

a small fertile or green area in a desert region, usually having a spring or well.

weevil

a small beetle with an elongated snout, the larvae of which typically develop inside seeds, stems, or other plant parts.

chupacabra

an animal said to exist in parts of Latin America, where it supposedly attacks animals, especially goats.

retching

making the sound and movement of vomiting.

scouring

cleaning or brightening the surface of (something) by rubbing it hard, typically with an abrasive or detergent.

alacran

an animal the same class as spiders that has a tail with a sting (a scorpion)

lavish

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

typhoid

an infectious, often fatal, febrile disease, usually of the summer months, characterized by intestinal inflammation and ulceration.

excursions

a short trip or outing to some place, usually for a special purpose and with the intention of a prompt return:

impassive

without emotion; apathetic; unmoved.

clone

a cell, cell product, or organism that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived.

laddie

a young lad; boy

incense

an aromatic gum or other substance producing a sweet odor when burned, used in religious ceremonies, to enhance a mood, etc.

pact

an agreement, covenant, or compact.

trough

a long, narrow, open receptacle, usually boxlike in shape, used chiefly to hold water or food for animals.

laudanum

an alcoholic solution containing morphine, prepared from opium and formerly used as a narcotic painkiller.

oblivion

the state of being completely forgotten or unknown.

ricocheted

the motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting from a surface one or more times as a result of a glancing blow.

ibises

large wading birds with a long down-curved bill, long neck, and long legs.