Dictionary

Delve

To reach inside a bag, container, etc. To search for something.

Lenghts

The size or measureof something from one end to the other.

Upon

=On

Used to emphasize that there is a large number or amount of something

Salute

To touch of your head with the fingers of your right hand to show respect, especially used in the armed forces.

Mourn

to feel and show that you are sad because somebody has died; to feel sad because something no longer exists or is no longer the same.

Ballyhoo

Unnecessary noise and excitement.

Leisurley

Done without hurrying.

Boast

To talk in a way that shows you are too proud of something that you have or can do.

Steadily

Gradually and in an even and regular way.

Without changing or being interrupted.

Scope

The opportunity or ability to do or achieve something.

Achieve

To succeed in reaching a particular goal, status or standard, especially by making an effort for a long time.

Astonish

​To surprise somebody very much.

Striking

Interesting and unusual enough to attract attention.

Very attractive, often in an unusual way.

Subtle

Not very obvious or easy to notice.

Behaving or organized in a clever way, and using indirect methods, in order to achieve something.

Good at noticing and understanding things.

Insight

An understanding of what something is like.

The ability to see and understand the truth about people or situations.

Venal

Prepared to do things that are not honest or moral in return for money.

Portrayal

The act of showing or describing somebody/something in a picture, play, book, etc.; a particular way in which this is done.

Pin

To attach something onto another thing or fasten things together with a pin, etc.

Compelling

That makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting.

Tale

A story created using the imagination, especially one that is full of action and adventure.

Insight

An understanding of what something is like.

The ability to see and understand the truth about people or situations.

Clog

To block something or to become blocked.

Riveting

​So interesting or exciting that it holds your attention completely.

Sidekick

A person who helps another more important or more intelligent person..

Perhaps

Used when you want to make a statement or opinion less definite.

Enthral

​If something enthrals you, it is so interesting, beautiful, etc. that you give it all your attention.

Murky

(of people’s actions or character) not clearly known and suspected of not being honest.

(of air, light, etc.) dark and unpleasant because of smoke, fog, etc.

(of a liquid) not clear; dark or dirty with mud or another substance.

Treat

to pay for something that somebody/you will enjoy and that you do not usually have or do

to use a chemical substance or process to clean, protect, preserve, etc. something

to give medical care or attention to a person, an illness, an injury, etc.

to deal with or discuss something in a particular way

to consider something in a particular way.

to behave in a particular way towards somebody/something.

Temper

If somebody has a temper, they become angry very easily.

A short period of feeling very angry.

The way that you are feeling at a particular time.

Linger

To stay somewhere for longer because you do not want to leave; to spend a long time doing something.

To continue to exist for longer than expected.

Upright

Behaving in a moral and honest way.

Placed in a vertical position.

Not lying down, and with the back straight rather than bent.

Neat

Tidy and in order; carefully done or arranged.

Liking to keep things tidy and in order; looking tidy or doing things in a tidy way.

Lean

To rest on or against something for support.

To bend or move from a straight position to a sloping position.

Unravel

(of a system, plan, relationship, etc.) to start to fail or no longer stay together as a whole.

Bush

A plant that grows thickly with several hard stems coming up from the root

Dot

A symbol like a full stop used to separate parts of a domain name, a URL or an email address

A small round mark, especially one that is printed

Faint

Very small; possible but unlikely

That cannot be clearly seen, heard or smelt

Feeling weak and tired and likely to become unconscious

Not enthusiastic

Tinge

something (with something) to add a small amount of colour to something

to add a small amount of a particular emotion or quality to something

Regard

To think about somebody/something in a particular way.

Sacred

Very important and treated with great respect; that must not be changed or challenged

Connected with God or a god; considered to be holy

Thrive

​To become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc.

Pamper

To take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as possible

Press

Newspapers and magazines

Scrutiny

Careful and complete examination

Dimished

In a way that is very bad or that shocks people.

Beater

An old car that is in bad condition

A person who hits someone

A person employed to drive birds and animals out of bushes, etc., into the open, so they can be shot for sport

A tool used for beating things

Conman

A man who tricks others into giving him money, etc.

Manslaughter

The crime of killing somebody illegally in circumstances that make it a less serious crime than murder (for example because it was not deliberate or not planned in advance)

Pleased

Feeling happy about something

Meaningless

Without any purpose or reason and therefore not worth doing or having

Threaten

To say that you will cause trouble, hurt somebody, etc. if you do not get what you want

Unavoidable

Impossible to prevent

Straighten

to become straight; to make something straight

Reckless

Showing a lack of care about danger and the possible results of your actions

Blanket

a large cover, often made of wool, used especially on beds to keep people warm

a thick layer or mass of something

Billing

the act of preparing and sending bills to customers

the position, especially an important one, that somebody is advertised or described as having in a show, etc.

Regret

used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation

to feel sorry about something you have done or about something that you have not been able to do

Blustery

​(of weather) with strong winds

Lay

to put somebody/something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully

Troublesome

causing trouble, pain, etc. over a long period of time

Annoyed

Slightly angry

Quarrel

an angry argument or disagreement between people, often about a personal matter

Pompous

showing that you think you are more important than other people, especially by using long and formal words

Underneath

used to talk about somebody’s real feelings or character, as opposed to the way they seem to be

under or below something else, especially when it is hidden or covered by the thing on top

Gaol

= Jail

Outrageous

Offensive and unacceptable

Libel

the act of printing a statement about somebody that is not true and that gives people a bad opinion of them; the statement that is printed

Gable

the upper part of the end wall of a building, between the two sloping sides of the roof, that is like a triangle in shap

Rooftop

the outside part of the roof of a building

Glimpse

a sight of somebody/something for a very short time, when you do not see the person or thing completely

Afford

(usually used with can, could or be able to, especially in negative sentences or questions)

to have enough money to be able to buy or do something

Smack

to hit somebody with your open hand or an object, especially as a punishment

Indeed

used to add information to a statement

used after very and an adjective or adverb to emphasize a statement, description, etc.

Foreseeable

that you can predict will happen; that can be foreseen

Hesitate

to be slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain or nervous

Byline

a line at the beginning or end of a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine that gives the writer’s name

Slight

Very small in degree

Despicable

Very unpleasant or evil

Stock market

The business of buying and selling shares in companies and the place where this happen; a stock exchange

Sneer

to show that you have no respect for somebody by the expression on your face or by the way you speak

Naught

Synonym of nothing

Sail

to control or travel on a boat with a sail, especially as a sport

(of a boat or ship or the people on it) to travel on water using sails or an engine

Baerly

a join made by tying together two pieces or ends of string, rope, etc.

Dock

a part of a port where ships are repaired, or where goods are put onto or taken off them

a piece of equipment to which a laptop, smartphone or other mobile device can be connected, to provide access to a power supply or so that it can be used with a printer, a keyboard, speakers, etc.

a group of docks in a port and the buildings around them that are used for repairing ships, storing goods, etc.

a wall or platform built out into the sea, a river, etc., where boats can be tied and where people can get on and off boats

a raised platform for loading vehicles or trains

the part of a court where the person who has been accused of a crime stands or sits during a trial

a wild plant of northern Europe with large thick leaves that can be rubbed on skin that has been stung by nettles to make it less painful

Desperate

(of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous

feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others

(of an action) giving little hope of success; tried when everything else has failed

needing or wanting something very much

Appear

to give the impression of being or doing something

to begin to exist or be known or used for the first time

to start to be seen

to act as somebody’s lawyer in court

to be present in court in order to give evidence or answer a charge

to be written or mentioned somewhere

to arrive at a place

to take part in a film, play, television programme, etc.

to be published or broadcast

Noon

12 o’clock in the middle of the day

Tied up

to close something with a knot; to be closed or fastened with a knot

to attach a boat to a fixed object with a rope

Wharf

a flat structure built next to the sea or a river where boats can be tied up and goods unloaded

Picturesque

(of language) producing strong mental images by using unusual words

​(of a place, building, scene, etc.) pretty, especially in a way that looks old-fashioned

Gliding

The sport of flying in a glider

Glider

a light aircraft that flies without an engine

Mainsail

the largest and most important sail on a boat or ship

Graceful

polite and kind in your behaviour, especially in a difficult situation

moving in an attractive way that shows control; having a smooth, attractive form

Tack

the equipment that you need for riding a horse, such as a saddle and bridle

a long, loose stitch used for holding pieces of cloth together temporarily, before you sew them finallythe equipment that you need for riding a horse, such as a saddle and bridle

a short pin with a large round, flat head, used especially for fastening paper to a board or wall

a small nail with a sharp point and a flat head, used especially for fixing a carpet to the floor

the direction that a boat with sails takes as it sails at an angle to the wind in order to fill its sails

the way in which you deal with a particular situation; the direction of your words or thoughts

Helmsman

a person who controls the direction in which a boat or ship moves

Lone

without a husband, wife or partner to share the care of children

without any other people or things

Bother

to interrupt somebody; to talk to somebody when they do not want to talk to you

to annoy, worry or upset somebody; to cause somebody trouble or pain

to spend time and/or energy doing something

Tangled

complicated, and not easy to understand

​twisted together in an untidy way

Tanned

having a brown skin colour as a result of being in the sun