Deep Water – Key Vocabulary and Concepts

Flashcards covering important vocabulary, places, people, and concepts from William O. Douglas’s essay “Deep Water.”

Deep Water

An autobiographical excerpt by William O. Douglas recounting his near-drowning and conquest of the fear of water.

William Orville Douglas

American jurist (1898-1980); longest-serving U.S. Supreme Court Justice and author of the essay ‘Deep Water’.

Of Men and Mountains

Douglas’s autobiography from which the lesson ‘Deep Water’ is taken.

Y.M.C.A.

Young Men’s Christian Association; its swimming pool is where Douglas’s misadventure occurred.

Yakima

A city in Washington State; Douglas’s hometown and location of the dangerous Yakima River.

Yakima River

Fast-flowing river in Washington that Douglas’s mother warned him against because of frequent drownings.

Treacherous

Deceitful or dangerously unpredictable; used to describe unsafe water bodies.

Water wings

Inflatable arm bands that help beginners stay afloat while learning to swim.

Subdued

Overcome, quieted, or brought under control.

Surf

The breaking waves of the sea or ocean close to shore.

Revived

Brought back to life or consciousness; restored.

Bruiser

A tough, aggressive person who enjoys a fight; describes the boy who threw Douglas into the pool.

Ducked

Pushed or plunged someone under water.

Bob

To make a quick, short, up-and-down movement, like floating briefly to the surface.

Tinge

A slight coloring or trace of something; a hint.

Flailed

Waved or swung limbs wildly, especially when struggling in water.

Throbbed

Felt pain in rhythmic beats.

Stark

Severe, harsh, or absolute; often used of terror or reality.

Pounding

Repeated heavy beating, as of the heart or surf.

Limp

Lifeless or lacking firmness; without muscle control.

Oblivion

The state of being unaware or unconscious of one’s surroundings.

Wobbly

Unsteady or shaky.

Cascades

Waterfalls or series of small waterfalls.

Canoes

Narrow, light boats propelled by paddles.

Slack

To reduce in intensity or become looser; also a decrease in speed or tension.

Shed

To cast off or remove.

Vestiges

Traces or remnants of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.

Miniature

Very small in scale.

Crawl stroke

Also called freestyle; a basic swimming stroke involving alternating arm strokes and flutter kicks.

Breast stroke

Swimming stroke in which arms sweep out and legs perform a frog kick while the swimmer’s head periodically surfaces.

Side stroke

Swimming stroke performed lying on one side with asymmetric arm and leg movements.

Back stroke

Swimming stroke performed face-up, using alternating arm strokes and flutter kicks.

Pulley

A wheel with a grooved rim through which a rope passes; used by the instructor to secure Douglas during lessons.

Aquaphobia

Extreme or persistent fear of water; the condition Douglas battled.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd President of the United States; personal friend of Douglas and the one who nominated him to the Supreme Court.

Associate Justice

A member of the U.S. Supreme Court other than the Chief Justice; Douglas’s position for 36 years.

Courage

The mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty; central theme of Douglas’s narrative.

“All we have to fear is fear itself.”

Famous line from Roosevelt’s inaugural address, echoed by Douglas to highlight that fear, not death, is the real enemy.

Wentworth Lake

New Hampshire lake where Douglas tested his newly acquired swimming confidence.

Conrad Meadows

Area in the Cascades where Douglas finally proved to himself that all traces of fear were gone.