Vocabulary Unit 1: The River Why by David James Duncan

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Unit 1, based on the novel The River Why by David James Duncan.

Agnostic

Noun

1: one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god

2: a person who is unwilling to commit to an opinion about something.

Adjective: noncommittal, undogmatic.

Antithesis

Noun

1.a: the direct opposite

1.b: the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences

2: a difference or opposition between two things.

Conglomerate

Verb:

1: to gather into a mass or coherent whole

2: to accumulate.

Adjective: made up of parts from various sources or of various kinds.

Catharsis

Noun:

1: purification or cleansing of the emotions (such as pity and fear) primarily through art, or one that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

Cavalcade

Noun:

1.a: a procession of riders or carriages

1.b: a procession of vehicles or ships

2: a dramatic sequence or procession: series.

Contrive

Verb:

1.a: devise, plan

1.b: to form or create a device/plan in an artistic or ingenious manner

2: to solve difficult problems with tricks

Fray

Noun:

1: a usually disorderly or extended fight, struggle, or dispute.

Harbor

Verb:

1.a: to give shelter or refuge to

1.b: to be the home or habitat of

2: to hold especially persistently in the mind: cherish.

Intuit

Verb:

1: to know by intuition

Inexplicable

Adjective:

1: incapable of being explained, interpreted, or accounted for.

Ply

Verb:

1.a: to use or wield diligently

1.b: to practice or perform diligently

2: to keep furnishing or supplying something to

Precocious

Adjective:

1: exceptionally early in development or occurrence

2: exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age.

Swath

Noun:

1: a row of cut grain or grass left by a scythe or mowing machine

2: a long broad strip or belt

3: a stroke by a scythe

4: a space devastated (as if) by a scythe.

Transmogrify

Verb:

1: to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect.

Trudge

Verb:

1: to walk slowly with a lot of effort, especially over a difficult surface or while carrying something heavy.

Abashed

Adjective:

1: made to feel uncomfortable, disconcerted, or embarrassed by something that has happened or been done or said.

Unabashed

Adjective:

1: not abashed: undisguised, unapologetic.

Scathe

Verb:

to do harm to someone or something, specifically to scorch or sear.

Unscathed

Adjective:

1: wholly unharmed: not injured.

Vilify

Verb:

1: to utter slanderous and abusive statements against: defame

2: to lower in estimation or importance.

make someone like a villian

Intimation

Noun:

An indirect, usually subtle suggestion, indication, or hint.

Verb: Intimate.

Cogitate

Verb:

transitive verb: to ponder or meditate on usually intently

intransitive verb: to meditate deeply or intently.

Innocuous

Adjective:

1: producing no injury: harmless

2: not likely to give offense or to arouse strong feelings or hostility: inoffensive, insipid.

Loquacious

Adjective:

1: full of excessive talk: wordy

2: given to fluent or excessive talk: garrulous.