A Long Walk to Water Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Chapters 1 through 18 of the book 'A Long Walk to Water'.

Thorns

a sharp pointed spine or prickle on a plant or branch

Droned

to talk in a dull, monotonous manner

Responsibilities

duties, obligations

Panic

sudden overwhelming fear

Dress

to prepare for cooking

Bush

a large uncleared area thickly covered with mixed plant growth, trees, etc., as a jungle

Rebels

one who opposes by force an existing government or ruling authority

Independence

freedom

Shrouded

covered, concealed

Relief

the easing of a burden

Terror

sheer fright

Mortars

a portable, muzzle loading cannon used to fire shells (bombs)

Gourd

the hard-shelled fruit of any various plants, whose dried shell is used for bowls and other utensils

Tribe

any group of people united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, community of customs and traditions, adherence to the same leaders, etc.

Artillery

large caliber weapons, such as cannon, howitzers, and missile launchers, that are operated by crews

Sympathy

the act or power of sharing the feelings of another

Scanned

to examine

Doubt

uncertainty

Daze

a stunned or bewildered condition

Feast

eat well or richly

Gingerly

with great care or caution

Honeycomb

a structure of rows of hexagonal wax cells, formed by bees in their hive for the storage of honey, pollen, and their eggs

Accent

mode of pronunciation, as pitch or tone, emphasis pattern, or intonation, characteristic of the speech of a particular person, group, or locality

Strides

a long step in walking

Inhabited

occupied, lived in

Makeshift

done or made using whatever is available, temporary

Solemn

serious

Rebelled

to reject or fight against

Nausea

stomach sickness

Exhausted

completely worn out

Wailing

a long, loud, high-pitched cry, as of grief or pain

Steady

firm, even, regular

Reeds

the stalks of various tall perennial grasses

Papyrus

a tall, aquatic plant native to the Nile valley

Prow

the bow or front part of a boat

Monotonous

boring, repetitive

Gauge

measure

Mangoes

the oblong, sweet fruit of a tropical tree

Ferried

transported, carried

Desperate

extreme

Relentless

severe, harsh

Eternal

never ending

Arid

without moisture

Parched

dried out by the head or excessive exposure to sunlight

Sobs

loud weeping

Tamarind

the fruit of a tropical Asian evergreen tree

Translated

to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one’s own

Revived

to restore to life

Vultures

any of various large birds of prey

Corpses

dead bodies

Refugee Camp

shelter for persons displaced by war or political oppression or for religious beliefs

Scythed

cut down

Mourn

to feel or express sorrow or grief

Numbness

loss of feeling

Grudgingly

reluctantly, unwillingly

Emaciated

to make or become extremely thin, especially as a result of starvation

Despair

hopelessness

Scavenging

to search for food

Chaos

a state of utter confusion and disorder

Surge

a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep

Merciless

cruel, pitiless

Earnestly

in a serious manner

Prodding

to poke or jab with or as if with something pointed

Stunned

shocked

Welter

a confusing mass; a jumble

Peril

danger

Misery

great suffering, wretchedness

Ration

a fixed amount

Rumor

gossip, hearsay

Administration

the management of any office, business, or organization

Siblings

brothers and sisters

Terminal

a station on the line of a public carrier, as in a city center or at an airport, where passengers embark or disembark and where freight is received or discharged

Frigid

extremely cold

Aquifer

an underground bed or layer of earth, gravel, or porous stone that yields water

Vague

unclear, uncertain

Relief agency

an organization dedicated to delivering aid

Clinic

a facility, often associated with a hospital or medical school that is devoted to the diagnosis and care of outpatients for title or no fee

Remote

secluded

Arrangements

plans, preparations

Frantic

desparate, frantic

Contaminated

impure, unclean

Digestive

pertaining to the breaking down of food

Guinea worms

a parasite found mostly in Africa infected through standing water

Pronunciation

a way of speaking a word that is understood

Reality

an actual thing or fact

Celebration

a joyous occasion for festivities

Disputes

disagreements, differences