"Things Fall Apart" Vocab Hupton

harmattan (noun)

A dry, dusty seasonal wind that blows across West Africa from the Sahara.

improvident (adjective)

Not planning ahead; spending or using resources carelessly.

cowries (noun)

Small sea shells once used as money in parts of Africa.

emissary (noun)

A person sent on a mission as a representative or messenger.

capricious (adjective)

Changing suddenly and unpredictably; impulsive.

incipient (adjective)

Beginning to happen or develop; in an early stage.

dreg (noun)

the sediment of liquids

dynamism (noun)

Energy, force, or strong activity; vigorous movement.

subdue (verb)

To overcome, bring under control, or defeat.

disembodied (adjective)

Separated from a body; existing without a physical form.

feigned (adjective)

Pretended or fake.

coiffure (noun)

A hairstyle or arrangement of hair.

listless (adjective)

Lacking energy or enthusiasm; tired or sluggish.

guttural (adjective)

Deep or harsh-sounding, often from the throat.

esoteric (adjective)

Understood by only a small group with specialized knowledge.

voluble (adjective)

Speaking easily, fluently, and at length.

cassava (noun)

A tropical root plant used as a major food source.

rend (verb)

To tear or split apart violently.

mirth (noun)

A feeling of amusement, joy, or laughter.

harbinger (noun)

A sign that something is coming; a forerunner.

callow (adjective)

Inexperienced and immature.

miscreant (noun)

A person who behaves badly or does wrong.

abomination (noun)

Something that is hated or considered morally wrong.

ostracize (verb)

To exclude someone from a group or society.

debar (verb)

To prevent or exclude from having something.

quarry (noun)

an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.

abominable (adjective)

Very bad, unpleasant, or hateful.

indignity (noun)

Humiliation or loss of dignity or respect.

dispensation (noun)

A system, permission, or special arrangement given by authority.

expedient (adjective)

tending to promote some proposed or desired object

parsonage (noun)

The house where a minister or priest lives.

palaver (noun)

A long discussion, often unnecessary or complicated.

sonorous (adjective)

Deep, rich, and full in sound.

sacrilege (noun)

The violation or misuse of something sacred.

superfluous (adjective)

More than is needed; unnecessary.