Things Fall Apart Vocabulary in Context

improvident

not having or showing foresight; thoughtless

interim

the intervening time

incipient

in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop

quavering

shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion

guttural

(of a speech sound) produced in the throat; harsh-sounding.

meager

Lacking in quantity or quality

wily

skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully

mirth

amusement, especially as expressed in laughter

brusqueness

a quick and slightly rude manner or way of speaking

prosperous

successful in material terms; flourishing financially, bringing wealth and success

ordain

order or decree (something) officially

foo-foo

dough made from boiled and ground plantain or cassava, used as a staple food in parts of western and central Africa

elusive

difficult to find, catch, or achieve

espy

catch sight of

harmattan

a very dry, dusty easterly or northeasterly wind on the West African coast, occurring from December to February

locust

a large and mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion, and it migrates in vast swarms that cause extensive damage to crops

harbinger

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

bout

A short period of intense activity of a special kind

taut

stretched or pulled tight; not slack

anough

Obsolete form of “enough”

devoid

entirely lacking or free from

sprightly

lively; full of energy

coiffure

a person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one

plantain

a low-growing plant that typically has a rosette of leaves and a slender green flower spike, widely growing as a weed in lawns

ailing

in poor health

bargain

an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other

approbation

approval or praise

astride

with a leg on each side

gnashed

grind (one's teeth) together, typically as a sign of anger

audacity

a willingness to take bold risks.; rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence

tremulous

shaking or quivering slightly

saltpeter

(sodium/potassium nitrate), a commonly occurring impurity in salt that is a common food preservative and additive

tumult

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people

cunning

having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion

notorious

well known for bad or unfavorable quality or deed

impenetrable

impossible to pass through or enter

compound

something that is composed of two or more different separate elements

snuff bottle

snuff bottles were used during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco

callow

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature

ostracize

exclude someone from a society or group

requisite

a thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end

esoteric

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

sheath

a cover for the blade of a knife or sword

abomination

a thing that causes disgust or hatred

evangelism

the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness

fugitive

someone who escaped a place and/or is hiding

ostracize

exclude (someone) from a society or group

condemned

sentenced to a particular punishment, especially death

zeal

great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

idolatrous

worshiping idols or treating someone or something as an idol

commissioner

a person appointed to a role on or by a commission or a representative of the supreme authority in an area

abomination

a thing that causes disgust or hatred

tumult

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people

tuber

specialized storage stem of certain seed plants

dispensation

a system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time

desecrated

treated (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violated

erect

rigidly upright or straight

sacrilege

violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred

superfluous

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

sizable

big

sullen

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy

Ignorance

lack of knowledge or information