Short Story Unit Vocab Honors English I

Pancakes, Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Most Dangerous Game, and The Cask of Amontillado

amenity (noun)

something that adds to one’s comfort or convenience

condone (verb)

to forgive or overlook

cultivated (adjective)

refined or cultured in manner

disarming (adjective)

removing or overcoming suspicion, especially through the use of charm

droll (adjective)

amusingly odd or comical; funny

imperative (adjective)

absolutely necessary

quarry (noun)

the object of a hunt; prey

scruple (noun)

a feeling of uneasiness that keeps a person from doing something

solicitously (adverb)

in a manner expressing care or concern; carefully

tangible (adjective)

capable of being touched or felt; having actual form and substance

uncanny (adjective)

so remarkable as to seem supernatural; unusual

zealous (adjective)

intensely enthusiastic

rabid (adjective)

uncontrollable; fanatical

benign (adjective)

good; kindly

condiment (noun)

a sauce, relish, or spice used to season food

steel (verb)

to make strong; mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something

degenerate (noun)

a corrupt or vicious person

crass (adjective)

crude; unrefined

rakishly (adverb)

with a confident, carefree, and dashing look

distraught (adjective)

deeply upset and agitated

haggard (adjective)

looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry or suffering

craven (adjective)

cowardly; lacking the least bit of courage; contemptible fainthearted

abscond (verb)

to go away suddenly and secretly

aperture (noun)

an opening, such as a hole or a gap

immolation (noun)

death or destruction

impunity (noun)

freedom from penalty or harm

preclude (verb)

to make impossible, especially by taking action in advance

repose (verb)

to lie dead or at rest

subside (verb)

to decrease in amount of intensity; settle down

termination (noun)

an end, limit, or edge