Literature G11 - 2- exam 3 - slaughterhouse 5

incinerate (v.)

to burn something completely to ashes

soliloquy (n.)

a speech where someone talks to themselves out loud, revealing their thoughts

grave (adj.)

very serious and important, not light or joking

pneumatic (adj.)

filled with air or gas; puffed-up or rounded with air

sneer (v.)

to smile or speak in a mean, mocking way

federalist (n.)

a supporter of the U.S. federal system or an early U.S. political party member

solemn (adj.)

serious, formal, and without smiling

bigotry (n.)

strong, unfair hatred of people who are different

unmitigated (adj.)

complete, absolute, not lessened at all

dilate (v.)

to widen or expand, especially eyes or pupils

piety (n.)

strong religious devotion or respect for God

magnanimous (adj.)

very generous and forgiving, especially to someone weaker

siege (n.)

a long attack where an army surrounds a place and cuts it off

senile (adj.)

showing mental weakness or confusion because of old age

spastic (adj.)

having jerky or uncontrolled muscle movements

corpse (n.)

a dead body, especially of a person

orchestrate (v.)

to carefully plan and arrange events

meek (adj.)

quiet, gentle, and easily pushed around

addled (adj.)

confused or mixed up in the head

ditch (v.)

to abandon or get rid of someone or something

fidelity (n.)

faithfulness or loyalty, especially to a person or duty

scathing (adj.)

extremely harsh and critical

crucifix (n.)

a cross with a figure of Jesus on it

punitive (adj.)

meant to punish or hurt as a penalty

retribution (n.)

deserved punishment or payback for a wrong

sock (v.)

to hit someone hard, usually with the fist

corporal (n.)

a low-ranking non-commissioned officer in the army

patina (n.)

a thin layer on a surface from age, or a look of age

androgynous (adj.)

having both male and female qualities, hard to tell which

rabbi (n.)

a Jewish religious leader or teacher

refractive (adj.)

able to bend light as it passes through

ghetto (n.)

a poor, crowded city area where a minority group lives

snot (n.)

mucus from the nose; also an insult for a rude person

haloed (adj.)

surrounded by a glowing ring or light, like a halo

festooned (adj.)

decorated with hanging ribbons, chains, or other ornaments

vertigo (n.)

a dizzy feeling that the world is spinning

balderdash (n.)

nonsense; silly or unbelievable talk

steer (n.)

a young male cow raised for beef

mosaic (n.)

a picture or design made from many small colored pieces

gaily (adv.)

in a cheerful, lively, or lighthearted way

jiggle (v.)

to move or shake with quick, small jerks

dismantle (v.)

to take something apart piece by piece

extrapolate (v.)

to guess or extend an idea using known information

sinuous (adj.)

having many curves and turns; winding and flexible

blob (n.)

a small, shapeless lump or drop of something

acrimonious (adj.)

bitter and angry in tone or language

madrigal (n.)

a short, old-style song for several voices

atrocity (n.)

a very cruel, shocking act, especially in war

telepathic (adj.)

able to communicate directly mind to mind

dinky (adj.)

small and unimpressive; kind of cheap or silly

shrill (adj.)

very high-pitched and piercing in sound

delouse (v.)

to remove lice from a person or clothing

scalding (adj.)

extremely hot, hot enough to burn

listlessly (adv.)

without energy or interest; in a tired, uncaring way

lethargic (adj.)

very sleepy or sluggish, lacking energy

lament (v.)

to express deep sadness or sorrow about something

swoon (v.)

to faint or almost faint, often from emotion

preposterous (adj.)

ridiculous, completely against common sense

ardently (adv.)

with strong passion or enthusiasm

booty (n.)

goods or valuables taken in war or by force

baroque (adj.)

overly fancy, detailed, or decorated

lynch (v.)

to kill someone, usually by hanging, without a legal trial

repercussion (n.)

an indirect result or consequence of an action

deodorant (n.)

a substance used to prevent or cover body smell

gibberish (n.)

meaningless or nonsense speech

baffle (v.)

to confuse or puzzle completely

epitaph (n.)

words written on a tombstone about the dead person

myriad (adj.)

very many; countless in number

groggy (adj.)

weak, unsteady, and not fully awake

impresario (n.)

a person who organizes and pays for plays, concerts, or shows

patronizing (adj.)

talking to someone as if they are stupid or below you

exult (v.)

to feel or show great joy or triumph

floridly (adv.)

in an overly fancy or flowery way

racket (n.)

a dishonest scheme or noisy activity

lament (n.)

an expression or song of sorrow

ascertain (v.)

to find out or make sure of something

amoretti (n.)

little cupids; small love figures used as decoration

palpate (v.)

to touch or press the body with the hands to examine it

abominable (adj.)

very bad, hateful, or disgusting

stagger (v.)

to walk unsteadily, as if about to fall

reel (v.)

to sway or spin, as if dizzy or shocked

acronym (n.)

a word made from the first letters of other words

britches (n.)

old-fashioned word for pants or trousers

gallows (n.)

a structure used for hanging people as punishment

elastic (adj.)

able to stretch and then return to its original shape

toboggan (n.)

a long, flat sled without runners used on snow

bucolic (adj.)

related to the peaceful countryside or farm life

stockyard (n.)

an enclosed place where animals are kept before slaughter

radiator (n.)

a metal device that gives off heat in a room

ravenous (adj.)

extremely hungry

diffident (adj.)

shy and lacking confidence

rap (v.)

to knock sharply or to talk or criticize

shabby (adj.)

worn out or run-down in appearance

lumber (v.)

to move in a slow, heavy, clumsy way

paranoid (adj.)

suspicious and fearful that others are out to harm you

halitosis (n.)

chronic bad breath

lugubriously (adv.)

in an exaggeratedly sad or gloomy way

impudent (adj.)

rude and disrespectful, not showing proper respect

petrified (adj.)

extremely frightened; frozen with fear

psychosomatic (adj.)

caused or made worse by the mind or emotions, not just the body