Things Fall Apart Vocab

Tone

The attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character (N.)

Introspective

Thinking deeply about your own thoughts or feelings. (Adj.)

Melachony

A gentle, deep sadness (Adj/N.)

Melodramatic

Overly emotional or dramatic. (Adj.)

Scholarly

Showing deep knowledge and serious study (Adj.)

Intuitively

Understanding something naturally without reasoning it out (Adv.)

Reminiscence

The act of remembering past experiences (N.)

Intractable

Very difficult to control or solve (Adj.)

Drape

To hang or cover something loosely (V.)

Pounce

To jump suddenly and aggressively (V.)

Improvident

Not planning ahead; careless about the future (Adj.)

Gourd

A hard-shelled fruit, often used as a container (N.)

Cowrie

A small shell used as money (N.)

Haggard

Looking tired, worn out, or distressed (Adj.)

Impending

About to happen soon (Adj.)

Intricate

Very detailed and complex (Adj.)

Vibrant

Full of life, energy, or intensity (Adj.)

Trill

A rapid, repeating sound (N.)

Ultimatum

A final demand with consequences if not accepted (N.)

Bellow

To shout loudly and deeply (V.)

Void

An empty hollow space (N.)

Abomination

Something considered extremely wrong or offensive (N.)

Contemptible

Dreserving hatred or disrespect (Adj.)

Reluctant

Unwilling or resistant (Adj.)

Dregs

The solid remains at the bottom of a liquid, the worst part (N.)

Stingy

Unwilling to share or spend (Adj.)

Tendrils

Thin curling parts of a plant used to climb or grip (N.)

Luxuriant

Growing thick and strong; rich and healthy (Adj.)

Tubers

Thick, underground plant parts that store food (N.)

Brusqueness

A rude or abrupt manner of speaking or behaving (N.)

Valediction

A farewell or goodbye, often pretty symbolic (N.)

Deftly

quickly and skillfully (Adv.)

Disquinting

Causing worry or unease

Dynamism

Energy, strength, & active power (N.)

Exacting

Demanding a lot of effort, care, or attention (Adj.)

Arduous

Very difficult & tiring (Adj.)

Poigant

Deeply emotional or touching; often sad (Adj.)

Deity

a god or goddess (N.)

Tentative

Unsure or not fully confident; cautions (Adj.)

Revel in

To take great pleasure or delight in something (V.)

Suppress

To hold back or control your feelings or actions (V.)

Prowess

Great skill or bravery, especially in strength or battle (N.)

Murmur

To speak softly or quietly (V.)

Chew the cud

When animals chew food again after swallowing it (V.)

Pulsation

A rhythmic throbbing or beating (N.)

Frenzy

While excitement or uncontrolled activity (N.)

Surge

To move suddenly & powerfully forward (V.)

Bout

a short period of a contest or activity (N.)

Taut

Stretched tight/full of tension (Adj.)

Disembodied

A sound that seems to come without a visible source (Adj.)

Feign

To pretend to feel or be something (V.)

Brittle

Hard but easily broken (Adj.)

Elusive

Hard to catch, define, or understand (Adj.)

Copiously

large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful (Adv.)

Valor

Great courage; usually in battle

Clinch the water

To settle or finalize something (V.)

Scald

To burn with hot liquid or steam (V.)

Succulent

Full, juicy, or attractive (Adj.)

Restrain

To hold back or control (N.)

Audacity

Boldness; often in a rude or shocking way. (N.)

Devoid of

completely lacking or without something (Adj.)

Malevolence

Ill will; desire to harm someone (N.)

Listless

lacking energy or enthusiasm (Adj.)

Guttural

A deep, rough sound coming from the throat (Adj.)

Pandemonium

Wild & noisy chaos (N.)

Notorious

Famous for something bad (Adj.)

Reclining

Leaning back in a relaxed position with your feet elevated (V.)

Voluble

Speaking a lot and easily (Adj.)

Delectable

Very delicious or delightful (Adj.)

Omen

A sign of something that will happen in the future can be good or bad. (N.)

Recoiled

suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, shock, or disgust (V.)

Gravely

Seriously, with deep concern (Adv.)

Beckons

Signals or calls someone to come closer (V.)

Prominent

Important or well-known (Adj.)

Sediment

Material, usually rock, that settles/accumulates over time (N.)

Tremendous

Shaking or quivering, often due to fear or emotion (Adj.)

Transfixed

Unable to move due to shock, fear, or amazement (V.)

Tumult

Loud, confused noise or disorder (N.)

Brandish

To wave or show something in a threatening way (V.)

Delirious

in a state of wild excitement or confusion (Adj.)

Inadvertent

Done accidentally; not intentionally (Adj.)

Requisite

Necessary, required (Adj.)

Diffused

Spread out over a wide area (V.)

Mirthless

without joy or happiness (Adj.)

Banished

sent away from a place as punishment (V.)

Fugitive

A person who's running away or escaping, usually from the law or danger (N.)

Woeful

Full of sorrow or misery (Adj.)

Terrain

The physical features of land (N.)

Audibly

In a way that can be heard (Adv.)

Excerment

Waste matter from the body (N.)

Dialect

A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. (N.)

Benevolently

In a kind and generous way (Adv.)

Derisive

Showing mockery or ridicule (Adj.)

Rollicking

Lively, fun, & full of energy (Adj.)

Enthralled

Completely fascinated or captivating (Adj.)

Parched

Extremely dry; lacking something deeply needed (Adj.)

Palate

The roof of the mouth (N.)

Impudent

Showing disrespect; rude & bold (Adj.)

Allegiance

The loyalty/obligation/commitment shown to a government, group, cause, or belief (N.)

Annihilation

complete destruction (N.)