English 1-12

1. haranguing (v) scolding or ranting in an angry way

…an orator of the Inner Party, a small lean man with disproportionately long arms and a large, bald skull over which a few lank locks straggled, was haranguing the crowd.

2. feral (adj) resembling a wild animal

One minute more, and the feral roars of rage were again bursting from the crowd.

3. meritorious (adj) deserving reward or praise

On the contrary, war hysteria is continuous and universal in all countries, and such acts as raping, looting, the slaughter of children, the reduction of whole populations even to boiling and burying alive, are looked upon as normal, and, when they are committed by one’s own side and not by the enemy, meritorious.

4. fecundity (n) fruitfulness and fertility

Eurasia is protected by its vast land spaces, Oceania by the width of the Atlantic and the Pacific, Eastasia by the fecundity and industriousness of its inhabitants. 

5.inimical (adj) tending to obstruct or harm

Inefficient nations were always conquered sooner or later, and the struggle for efficiency was inimical to illusions.

6. ruminant (n) an even-toed ungulate mammal that chews the cud regurgitated from its rumen. The ruminants comprise the cattle, sheep, antelopes, deer, giraffes, and their relatives; a contemplative person; a person given to meditation.

It is like the battles between certain ruminant animals whose horns are set at such an angle that they are incapable of hurting one another. NOTE: ruminant is used as an adjective here.

7. assailed (v) physically attacked or strongly criticized

Now, however, the concept of human brotherhood began to be assailed by people who were not yet in positions of command…

8. avaricious (adj) having or showing extreme greed for wealth or material gain

As compared with their opposite numbers in past ages, they were less avaricious, less tempted by luxury, hungrier for pure power…

9. omnipotent (adj) having unlimited power

Oceanic society rests ultimately on the belief that Big Brother is omnipotent and that the Party is infallible.

10. infallible (adj) incapable of making mistakes or being wrong

See above.

11. ossified (v) ceased to grow; became stagnant or rigid

All past oligarchies have fallen from power either because they ossified or because they grew soft.

12. copiously (adv) abundantly in large quantity

She leant forward and vomited copiously on the floor.