Gulliver's Travels Vocabulary List

abhor

To detest or hate.

abound

To be plentiful or exist in large numbers.

abuse

To use wrongly or improperly; to misuse.

accompany

To go somewhere with someone as a companion.

acquaintance

A person one knows slightly but who is not a close friend; a person known to one.

accoutre

To clothe or equip in something noticeable or impressive.

adhere

To stick fast to something; to follow a practice or belief.

advance

To move forward in a purposeful way.

adorn

To make more beautiful or attractive.

allowance

Consideration or regard; taking something into account.

alliance

A formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

amity

A friendly relationship.

amuse

To entertain or provide enjoyable occupation.

amply

In a plentiful or sufficient manner.

anchor

To drop a heavy object attached to a cable or chain to keep a ship from drifting.

ashore

To or on the shore or land from the water.

attorney

A person, typically a lawyer, appointed to act for another in business or legal matters.

behold

To see or observe something, especially a thing of impressive form.

benevolence

The quality of being well-meaning; kindness or generosity.

betwixt

Between.

bid

To command or order; to utter a greeting.

blameless

Innocent of any wrongdoing; without fault.

bridle

The headgear used to control a horse.

breach

An act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct.

brook

A small stream.

bulk

The mass or magnitude of something large; the greater part or majority.

carriage

A four-wheeled horse-drawn passenger vehicle.

caution

Care taken to avoid danger or mistakes; prudence.

censure

To express severe disapproval of someone or something, typically in a formal statement.

chart

A sheet of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram; a map used for navigation.

chastity

The state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or especially from all, sexual intercourse.

chop about

To change direction suddenly, especially used in reference to the wind.

cloak

An outdoor overgarment, typically sleeveless.

commerce

The activity of buying and selling; social dealings or communication.

command

To give an authoritative order.

commence

To begin or start.

compel

To force or oblige someone to do something.

comply

To act in accordance with a wish, command, or requirement.

conceal

To keep from sight; hide.

conceive

To form or devise a plan or idea in the mind; to imagine.

confess

To admit that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way.

confine

To keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of space, scope, or time.

conjecture

An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information; a guess.

conjure

To make a solemn appeal to a person; to implore or entreat.

conspiracy

A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.

conspire

To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act.

contradict

To deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite.

convert

To cause a person to change their beliefs, especially religious ones; to change in form.

copulate

To engage in sexual intercourse.

cord

Thin, flexible string or rope.

court

The establishment, retinue, and courtiers of a sovereign.

creature

Any living thing that can move independently; an animal.

creek

A narrow area of water flowing into the land from the sea; a small inlet.

crew

A group of people who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, or project.

dare

To have the courage to do something; to defy.

dart

A small pointed missile.

defile

To sully, mar, or spoil the purity of something.

degree

The amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present.

degenerate

To decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally.

depart

To leave, especially on a journey.

deportment

A person's behavior or manners.

depose

To give evidence or testify on oath.

desolate

A place deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness.

desperate

Feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is extremely bad.

detestable

Deserving intense dislike; hateful.

detect

To discover or identify the presence or existence of something.

devout

Having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment.

discharge

To shoot or fire a weapon.

disgust

A feeling of revulsion or strong disapproval.

dispute

To argue about something; a disagreement or debate.

distant

Far away in space or time.

distributive

Concerned with the supply or distribution of goods.

divine right

The doctrine that a monarch derives their right to rule directly from God.

docile

Ready to accept control or instruction; submissive.

domestic affairs

Issues or activities relating to the home or to a country's internal matters.

dozen

A group or set of twelve.

embrace

To hold someone closely in one's arms, especially as a sign of affection.

endure

To suffer patiently something painful or difficult.

enslave

To make someone a slave; to cause to lose freedom of choice or action.

entertain

To provide hospitality for; to give attention or consideration to an idea.

entitle

To give someone a legal right or a just claim to receive or do something.

entreat

To ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something.

exact

Not approximated in any way; precise and accurate.

exalt

To hold someone or something in very high regard; to make noble or high.

excellence

The quality of being outstanding or extremely good; a virtue or strength.

execrable

Extremely bad or unpleasant.

exile

The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

expedition

A journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose.

fabulous

Extraordinary; hard to believe or occurring in fables.

faint

To lose consciousness for a short time because of a temporarily insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.

falsity

The state of being untrue; a lie.

farthest

At or to the greatest distance in space or time.

favourable

Expressing approval; advantageous or helpful.

fetch

To go for and then bring back someone or something.

fidelity

Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.

fleet

A group of ships sailing together, engaged in the same activity, or under the same ownership.

folly

Lack of good sense; foolishness.

forbear

To politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; to refrain.

formality

Rigid observance of rules of convention or etiquette.

fortunately

In a way that results from good luck; luckily.