by David Alric
carnage n. slaughter; massacre
carpe diem phrase (Latin) seize the day; take action; go for it
cassava n. a tropical plant, also called manioc, with an edible starchy root
cataract n. a rough waterfall, often across rocks; rapids
causeway n. a raised road or path crossing water, mud, swamp, etc
cavort v. to jump around; to caper; to prance
cf. abbrev. (Latin) confer; compare; see. Used to guide the reader to another source of information
chassis n. the steel frame of a vehicle
cite v. to refer to; to mention; to quote
cliché n. a word or expression that has lost its force through overuse
cluster v. to gather round in a close group
coarse adj. Chapters 2, 18: vulgar; indelicate; ribald; adj. Chapters 4, 15: rough; unrefined
cock-a-hoop adj. boastful; crowing; in high spirits
cocktail n. a drink mixed from different elements, usually alcoholic and usually drunk before meals
coincidence n. the simultaneous chance occurrence of events that are apparently connected
commonplace n. ordinary; everyday; common
commune v. to communicate closely
compass n. an instrument used to find direction by means of a magnetized needle that points north
comply v. to agree with or submit to rules, conditions or requirements; to be obedient
composure n. calmness; serenity; tranquillity
comprehension n. understanding
compromise n. a settlement arrived at by choosing something between two extremes
compunction n. mercy; regret; remorse
concession n. a right to land, or to conduct a certain activity, granted by a government or other authority
concierge n. a caretaker or attendant
concur v. to agree
condone v. to pardon; to overlook; to forgive
condor n. a species of large vulture found (principally) in the South American Andes
confer v. to bestow upon; to endow; to grant
confidential adj. secret; private
conscience n. the feeling of what is right or wrong; a sense of morality
conscript v. to enrol for military service
conservateur n. (French) warden; guardian; custodian
console v. to comfort; to bring solace
consternation n. worry; concern; anxiety
contorted adj. twisted
contrive v. to arrange; to manage
convalescence n. a period of recovery from illness
conviction n. a state of feeling convinced; feeling sure or certain about something
coordinates n. sets of numbers that define an exact location
cope v. to manage; to deal with a situation; to succeed (often in the face of difficulty)
coy adj. shy; demure, usually in a provocative manner
crackdown n. a policy of strict enforcement; the imposition of severe measures
craton n. a part of the earth’s crust that has been geologically stable for many millions of years
credence n. belief (in); acceptance
Cretaceous Period n. the last period of the Mesosoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods, 144–65 million years ago
crucial adj. decisive; critically important
crustacean n. one of a class of animals having a carapace or shell
cryptid n. a cryptozoological term for a creature rumoured to exist but not recognized by mainstream science
crystal n. a substance with a characteristic regular shape that results from the specific internal arrangement of its atoms or molecules
culminate v. to end; to bring to a final stage
curator n. person in charge of a museum, department, etc.
dastardly adj. cowardly; sneaky; mean; contemptible
data pl.n. facts; measurements; observations; recordings
daunting adj. frightening; disheartening; intimidating
dejected adj. downcast; despondent; miserable
demise n. death
denizen n. a person or animal living in a place; an inhabitant; a resident
desperado n. a desperate or reckless person
destination n. the place where a journey is planned to end
deterrent n. something that deters or puts off; something that prevents or restrains
devour v. to eat greedily or voraciously; to consume
diplomatic adj. Chapter 12: sensitive; delicate; tactful; adj. Chapter 20: pertaining to diplomacy or affairs of state
disable v. to put out of action; to make ineffective
disarming adj. reducing or counteracting suspicion; reassuring
disembodied adj. without a body; lacking a body
disparaging adj. contemptuous; insulting; belittling
dispel v. to drive away; to disperse
disperse v. to leave a gathering; to break up; to scatter
distort v. to twist out of shape; to deform; to contort
distraught adj. very upset; agitated; distracted
divert v. to change the direction of someone or something; to turn aside
DNA n. deoxyribonucleic acid. The substance in cells of which genes are made and which can be used to identify species and individuals
dock v. to subtract or remove
domain n. land or area owned or dominated by a person, family or group
double take n. a repeated, delayed, or exaggerated reaction to a given event or situation
dough n. (slang) money
down a peg phrase “to take down a peg” means to diminish another’s self-esteem or importance
DRC abbrev. Democratic Republic of Congo
dugout canoe n. a boat made by hollowing out a log
dung n. droppings; excrement; faeces; ‘poo’
duo n. a pair; a twosome
duplicity n. deception; doubledealing
e.g. abbrev. exempli gratia (Latin). This means ‘for example’. Now frequently simplified to e.g.
ebb v. to fall away; to recede; to decline
ebony adj. a hard, black wood
edible adj. eatable
eerie adj. mysteriously frightening; spooky
elaborate v. to give more detail in a story or account; to expand upon
elation n. extreme happiness; joy
elevated adj. high up
eloquent adj. fluent and persuasive
emanate (from) v. to come from; to originate from
embarrass v. to cause to feel self-conscious; to disconcert; to fluster
embed v. to fix in firmly; to stick into
embellishment n. an improving detail or adornment
ember n. glowing fragment of wood (etc.) in a dying fire
emphatic adj. forceful; definite
en route adv. (French) on the journey; along the way
encounter n. a meeting, especially one that is unexpected
encroach v. to intrude or spread gradually
endeavour v. to try; to attempt to attain something
energize v. to provide with energy; to stimulate
engulf v. to completely surround; to overwhelm; to swallow up
enigmatic adj. puzzling; mysterious
enlist v. to engage support or service for a task or venture
enmity n. hostility; discord; ill will; antagonism
enthral v. to enchant; to spellbind
entice v. to attract with a reward; to allure
entreaties pl.n. pleas; earnest requests; supplications
epilogue n. a short postscript
equator n. an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth at 0 degrees latitude. It divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
erode v. to wear away
erstwhile adj. former. In Chapter 9 his erstwhile companions means the people who used to be his companions
erudite adj. learned; scholarly
escarpment n. a long, broad, very steep slope
espionage n. spying
esteem n. respect; high regard
etc. abbrev. et cetera (Latin). This means ‘and the rest’; ‘and so forth’; ‘and the others’
eventuality n. a possible event or outcome; a contingency
eviscerate v. to remove all internal organs; to disembowel
excavate v. to dig out; to remove (earth, etc.); to make a hole or cavity
exile v. to expel from home or country; to banish
exotic adj. possessing strange beauty or quality; having unusual allure
expansively adv. extravagantly; all-inclusively; widely
explore v. to travel into unknown territory
expostulation n. argument; reasoning
exquisite adj. particularly beautiful; attractive with delicate, refined qualities
extort v. to obtain money (or favours) by threats, intimidation or violence
extraction n. taking out; removal; withdrawal
extra-curricular adj. taking plavce outside the normal course of duties or activities
fabulous adj. based upon fable or myth
facilities pl.n. the equipment and buildings required for the conduct of some activity
faculty n. a university department
fading adj. slowly disappearing; diminishing
fag n. (slang) cigarette
fake adj. false; not genuine; spurious
falter v. to speak hesitantly, haltingly, or with uncertainty; to stammer or stutter
fauna n. all the animals living at a particular time, or in a particular place
FCO n. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
feasible adj. possible
feral adj. wild or savage, especially after being previously tame or domesticated
ferret n. a variety of polecat used for hunting rabbits and rats, renowned for its ability to seek out hidden creatures. We use the phrase “ferret out” to mean the discovery of hidden information by persistent investigation
feverishly adv. desperately; energetically; restlessly
fiancée n. a female to whom one is engaged to be married (male: fiancé)
fictitious adj. not real; made up; imaginary
fiddle v. Chapter 8: to falsify; to cheat; v. Chapter 11: to rearrange; to experiment with the controls
fitful adj. occurring in irregular spells. A fitful sleep (Chapters 1&2) is broken and restless
flawless adj. without any defect or imperfection
flora n. all the plant life living in a particular place or at a particular time
flog v. (slang) to sell
fogey n. an old-fashioned, fussy, “uncool” person
foment v. to instigate; to stir up; to cause trouble
foolhardy adj. rash; heedlessly adventurous
forage v. to search for food
ford v. to cross a river
fortitude n. courage; endurance
fortuitously adv. by happy circumstance; by accidental good fortune
foster v. to bring up and care for another’s child
fragment n. a portion of something larger; a broken-off piece
Francophone n. one who speaks French
fraternity n. brotherhood
Frau n. a German title equivalent to Mrs.
fray n. a disturbance; a fight or brawl
freak n. an abnormal or deformed creature; a monstrosity
frenzy n. wild excitement; frantic activity
fret v. to worry; to be distressed
frisk v. to feel or pat to check for concealed weapons
frustrate v. to stop; to prevent; to hinder; to thwart; to annoy
fuselage n. the main body of an aircraft
gem n. a precious stone
geology n. the study of the history, structure and composition of the Earth
gesticulate v. to send a message or signal by using body movements (usually of the hands or head)
gesture n. something done or said to make a point or to emphasize something
get out of jail free card phrase a passport to freedom (derived from the name of a card in a popular board game)
ghastly adj. horrible; hideous
gig n. (informal) an event or performance
gingerly adv. in a timid or cautious manner
glade n. a clearing or open space in a wood
glean v. to obtain in small pieces; to gather gradually; to garner
gleeful adj. merry; happy, particularly because of another’s misfortune
glimpse v. to catch sight of briefly or incompletely
glitch n. a malfunction, often of unknown cause
glossary n. an alphabetical list of terms relating to a particular subject, topic or field, with explanations and definitions
glow v. to emit a steady light; to shine evenly
gorge n. a deep ravine
gouge v. to dig out; to scoop; to make a hole
GPS n. global positioning system. A worldwide location and navigation system based upon satellite signals
grapple v. to struggle in close combat; to come to grips with someone or something
greypod see Lucy’s Lexicon
grille n. a grating of metal bars that admits cooling air
ground-breaking adj. novel; making a new advance
gruesome adj. horrible; ghastly; repugnant
guerrilla n. a member of an irregular group fighting against some official force
gully n. a small valley; a channel; a fissure between rocks
gung-ho adj. keen to engage in activity, often to excess
guts pl.n. Chapter 10: intestines; bowels; entrails; pl.n. (slang) Chapter 19: courage; pluck; daring
hack v. to gain unauthorized entry to a computer system
hark v. (archaic) to listen
harmony n. agreement; accord
hassle n. trouble; worry; nuisance
haughty adj. arrogant; exalted
hazardous adj. dangerous; involving risk
hearken v. (archaic) to listen; to pay attention
heftier adj. bigger; stronger; bulkier
henceforth adv. (archaic) from now on
henchman n. a supporter; an attendant or servant
hero-worship v. to feel intense admiration for; to adulate
herpetological adj. relating to reptiles and amphibians
hesitant adj. uncertain; irresolute; wavering
hijack v. to take by force; to steal (particularly a vehicle)
hinder v. to hamper; to prevent; to get in the way
hist interj. (archaic) an exclamation attracting attention, or warning others to be silent
hither adv. (archaic) towards this place; to here
Hogwarts see notes on the names in the book
Holy Grail n. the bowl or chalice used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The phrase is now often used to describe something that is very highly sought after or aspired to
homage n. an act or display of respect or allegiance to one of superior status
Homo sapiens n. the scientific name of modern mankind
hostage n. a person held captive as a security for a ransom or the fulfilment of stated conditions
hot-wire v. (slang) to start an engine without a key by bypassing the ignition switch
huddle v. to nestle closely together
hue n. a colour or a shade of colour
hue and cry n. the public pursuit of a suspected criminal
huffily adv. resentfully; angrily
hulk n. the abandoned body or frame of a vessel or vehicle.
hunch v. Chapter 18: to crouch or bend; n. Chapter 21: an intuition; a guess
hypnotism n. the process of inducing sleep or an altered state of mind
immemorial adj. very ancient; from a time too long ago to be remembered
impart v. to give to; to bestow upon
impassive adj. not revealing any emotion
impenetrable adj. not possible to get through
imperial units pl.n. standards or definitions legally established in Great Britain for distances, weights, measures, etc.<
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implicate v. to show to be involved
implications pl.n. effects or results that might not at first be obvious
import n. significance
impregnable adj. unable to be broken into
impunity n. immunity from unpleasant consequences
inaccessible adj. not reachable; unapproachable
inaudible adj. unable to be heard
incessant adj. never stopping; continual
incinerate v. to burn; to reduce to ashes
inconspicuous adj. not easily seen
incorporate v. to include
incriminating adj. suggestive of guilt
indigenous adj. belonging to a particular region or country; native to that part
indisposed adj. sick, but usually not seriously so. In Chapter 7 the word is used in a slightly ironic sense
initiate v. to start; to begin
inexplicable adj. not possible to explain
infamous adj. notorious
inferiority complex n. a disorder in which a desire to be noticed conflicts with a fear of humiliation
ingestion n. eating or drinking
innocuous adj. harmless
insurance policy n. a protection against a possible contingency
insurgency n. uprising; rebellion
insurrection n. insurgency; uprising
intently adv. very attentively
interminable adj. endless
intervening adj. between
interwoven adj. interlaced; entwined
intravenous adj. into a vein; within the venous system
intrepid adj. fearless; bold; daring
intrusive adj. encroaching in an unpleasant manner
intuitively adv. instinctively
irksome adj. annoying; bothersome
ironic adj. surprising or incongruous in a slightly amusing or sarcastic way
IT abbrev. information technology
ivory n. the hard, creamy dentine in the tusks of elephants, rhinos, walruses etc. Its value makes it highly sought after by poachers
jail-bird n. one who has spent time in prison, especially repeatedly
jeopardy n. danger; peril; risk
jet lag n. the fatigue experienced after rapidly crossing several time zones
kaleidoscope n. an optical toy which produces complex symmetrical patterns of frequently changing shapes and colours
kidnap v. to abduct someone and keep them captive
kimberlite n. an igneous rock often containing diamonds
kin n. relatives; kindred; a group related by blood ties
landline n. a wire or cable for telecommunications. It is usually more reliable than a mobile network
lavish adj. extravagant; luxurious; prodigal