Animal Farm Vocabulary

Ensconced (v)

settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place

¨Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw¨ (Orwell 4).

Stout (adj)

(of a person) somewhat fat or of heavy build

¨He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout¨ (Orwell 4).

Cynical (adj)

believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity 

He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark (Orwell 5).

Enmity (n)

the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

¨I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways¨ (Orwell 11).

Nimble (adj)

quick and light in movement or action; agile.

“The best known among them was a small fat pig named Squealer, with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements, and a shrill voice” (Orwell 16).

Shirk (v )

avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).

“Nobody shirked-or almost nobody” (Orwell 16).

Cryptic (adi)

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure.

“None of you has ever seen a dead donkey,’ and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer” (Orwell 16).

Indefatigable (adj)

(of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly.

“He was indefatigable at this” (Orwell 16).

Maxim (n)

a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

“Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim, namely: “Four legs good, two legs bad” (Orwell 16)

Perpetually (adv)

in a way that never ends or changes; constantly.

“Its owner was a Mr. Frederick, a tough, shrewd man, perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains” (Orwell 16).

Posthumously (adv)

after the death of the originator.

“There was also ‘Animal Hero, Second Class,’ which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep ”(Orwell 16).

Procure (v)

obtain (something), especially with care or effort.

“How these were to be procured” (Orwell 16).

Disinter (v)

dig up (something that has been buried, especially a corpse).

“The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun”(Orwell 16)