Fahrenheit 451 Diction

stolid

showing little emotion or animation

gorging

greedily eating

minstrel

a singer or musician in medieval times who sang or recited lyrics or heroic poetry to musical accompaniment for the nobility

burnt-corked

a cork that has been partially burned, used to create "blackface"

flue

an outlet for smoke or heat

refracted

light deflected from a straight path

whiffed

struck out (as in a torch)

mausoleum

a large tomb

tallow

hard animal fat used for candles

moonstone

a creamy white or luminous blue coloured gemstone

tamped

packed down, pressed in

pulverized

smashed to bits

stratum

layer

contra sedative

a drug that works against the effects of her overdose of sleeping pills

puff adder

A type of venomous snake that is known to puff up to frighten and scare away predators

melancholy

sadness

cataract

clouding of the lens of the eye

apprenticeship

time spent as a novice learning a trade from a skilled worker

Boxtop

the upper portion of a product box, detached, and mailed as part of a claim for a radio premium or other advertising offer (proof of purchase)

conjure

summon into action or bring into existence

aggravating

irritating; annoying

olfactory

relating to the sense of smell

proboscis

the long snout of an animal

procaine

an anesthetic

cogs

a wheel or bar with a series of projections on its edge, which transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar. (like a wheel with teeth protruding from the rim)

multi-faceted

having many aspects

ballistics

the science of projectiles and firearms

antisocial

unfriendly, not enjoying the company of others

erected

built; established

proclivities

natural tendencies to behave in a certain way; predispositions

stoke

add fuel to; strengthen

sheath

a protective covering

odious

extremely unpleasant; repulsive

objectivity

personal neutrality

rollick

To move or act in a carefree, playful manner

snuffing

extinguishing

fervor

intense heat

gilt

page 38 "reading the gilt titles"

condemnation

an expression of strong disapproval

contempt

disrespect; scorn; disdain

heresy

the "crime" of holding a belief that goes against established doctrine

jargon

vocabulary distinctive to a particular group of people

fathoms

depths

gibbering

talking or making sounds unintelligibly

centrifuge

device to separate substances by spinning them at high speed

cacophony

a harsh, random mixture of sounds

pantomime

Acting without words (mime)

luminescent

glowing

feigning

faking

yammering

full of complaint; whiny OR make loud, repetitive noise

ruddy

having a healthy red color

abstractedly

deeply engrossed or preoccupied

pastepudding

something bland

intellectual

relating to the ability to think and understand ideas and information

philosophical

calm and wise; reasonable

melancholy

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause

pratfall

humiliating failure

sauterne

Bordeaux white wine

dictum

formal order

leaden

very heavy; like lead

breach

violation

pagan

A follower of a polytheistic religion

non-combustible

does not burn easily

sociology

the study of human society

bestial

beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

theremin

an electronic musical instrument

dike

A protective wall that controls or holds back water

gullet

throat

bewilderedly

in a confused manner

probing

searching or investigating

cadenced

dropped in pitch or tone of voice; with a rhythmic flow

suffused

gradually spread through or over

gorged

consumed to excess, overeat

dentifrice

toothpaste

saccharine

overly sweet

jowled

loose flesh about the jaw or throat

phonograph

record player

receptacle

container; vessel; holder

Pedants noun

those who flaunt their knowledge

convolutions

the folds in the cerebral cortex that increase the surface area of the brain

bombardier

a member of a bomber crew responsible for sighting and releasing bombs

scythe

a long-handled, bladed instrument used for harvesting crops

squanders

wastes in a reckless or foolish manner

pyres

a heap of combustibles for burning a corpse at a funeral site

profusion

abundance

loam

Rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt.

toil

to work hard

praetorian

Belonging to the elite bodyguard of Roman emperors

insidious

intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

treason

Betrayal of one's country

warded

guarded, protected

harlequin

clown

contemptible

despicable

gnat

a small biting fly

enameled

given a glassy covering or protective coating

quavered

spoke in a trembling voice

girdle

from fitting body suit type undergarment

certitude

certainty

filigree

lacy design

manifested

made evident or obvious; revealed