Vocabulary

veldt

grassland

thatched

straw covered

glade

an open space in the middle of a forest

odor

an unpleasant smell

vultures

large scavenging birds; also, greedy persons who prey on others

jaunt

pleasure trip

pelt

fur of an animal

bolted

jerked, moved suddenly, ran fast

appalled

shocked, horrified

bemused

lost in thought

emanations

thoughts

subsided

Settled down; became less active or intense

rut

negative pattern of behavior

contraptions

a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe.

agate

a type of quartz with clouded or colored stripes.

joviality

being jolly; happy

lurking

hiding or moving about in a secret and sly manner

bouquet

a bunch of flowers

flue

a pipe or channel for smoke

insufferable

unbearable

intersperse

to distribute among

conjuring up

bring into existence with one's imagination

persecuted

subjected to ill treatment due to race, religion, etc.

creature comforts

material items that provide a sense of comfort

rapping

repeated knocking

relish

great enjoyment

spoor

trail or droppings of a wild animal

fuse box

a box housing the electrical switches for a building.

wailed

cried loudly

engrossed

absorbed; deeply involved in/with

Defendant

person accused of a crime

Defense

lawyer who defends the person accused of the crime

Prosecution

A government body that brings charges against a person accused of breaking the law

Presumption of Innocence

innocent until proven guilty

Witness

person who gives information regarding the case in the courtroom

Testimony

information given by the witness in the courtroom under oath

Oath

a swearing to tell the truth

Perjury

lying under oath in a courtroom

Evidence

information legally presented at a trial intended to convince the judge or jury in favor of the defense or prosecution

Jury

group of 12 people selected by the lawyers to listen in court and give a verdict of guilty or not guilty

Impartial

unbiased, not favoring either side

Voir Dire

jury selection process

Verdict

decision made as to guilt or non-guilt of defendant

Sentence

punishment given by a judge for a crime

Unanimous

everyone agrees on the decision

Hung jury

when all 12 jurors cannot agree

Acquittal

when a defendant is found "not guilty"

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

The level of proof required to convict a person of a crime

Homicide

unlawful killing

Capital Punishment

the death penalty

malice aforethought

intention to kill

base

immoral

transgression

an act against a law, rule or code

glistening

to shine or sparkle

portal

a large doorway

mandate

an official order to do something

larder

pantry

indivisible

cannot be divided

vials

small bottles

wretch

a miserable person

traitor

someone who betrays your trust

vocation

profession

lashed

whipped

hymn

religious song or poem

alliance

a joining together for some common purpose

solitude

the state of being alone

vindicate

to clear from blame

endeavor

a serious attempt or effort

edict

an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority

atone

to make amends

defile

to make unclean, impure

summit

the highest point

avert

turn away

deigned

to do something considered beneath one's dignity.

eugenics

practice of selective breeding to improve the human race

falter

start to lose strength or momentum

fraternity

brotherhood

furrows

long narrow ditch made in the ground

perish

to die

pyre

heap of material for burning a dead body

reprimanded

scolded, official criticism

taut

tight

no heed

no attention

ravine

steep, narrow valley

defied

challenged

hedge

a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

plough

to prepare a field for planting

garments

clothes

vice

bad or immoral behavior or habits

virtue

behavior showing high moral standards

dread

fear

palpable

noticeable

taint

pollute

tangible

real

indolent

inactive

report

bang or shot

recede

withdraw

peril

danger

vigor

strength

lacerate

slash