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Tale of two cities • superlative - Of the highest order, quality, or degree; surpassing or superior to all others. • sublime - Characterized by nobility; majestic. • gallantly - Smartly or boldly stylish; dashing: • waylaid - To lie in wait for and attack from ambush • potentiate - To make potent or powerful • illustrious - Well known and very distinguished; eminent • turnkey - The keeper of the keys in a prison; a jailer. • pilferer - To steal (a small amount or item). • myriads - Constituting a very large, indefinite number; innumerable: • capitulated-To surrender under specified conditions; come to terms • tremulous-Marked by trembling, quivering, or shaking. • substratum-A foundation or groundwork. • adjuration-An earnest, solemn appeal. • eddy-A current, as of water or air, moving contrary to the direction of the main current, especially in a circular motion • constitute-To be the elements or parts of; compose: • profound-Situated at, extending to, or coming from a great depth; deep. • unfathomable-Difficult or impossible to understand; incomprehensible • inexorable-Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless: • inscrutable-Difficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable • evince-To show or demonstrate clearly; manifest • sinister-Suggesting or threatening evil: • cadaverous-Suggestive of death; corpse like • accost-To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request • admonish-To reprove gently but earnestly. • obscurity-Deficiency or absence of light; darkness. • valise-A small piece of hand luggage • levity-Lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate; frivolity • claret-A dry red wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. • pier-glass-A tall mirror, especially one placed between windows. • pecuniary-Of or relating to money • implore-To appeal to in supplication; beseech • indignant-Characterized by or filled with indignation • disconcerted-To upset the self-possession of; ruffle. • billet-A short, thick piece of wood, especially one used as firewood. • squalid-Dirty and wretched, as from poverty or lack of care. • gaunt-Thin and bony; angular • martial-Of, relating to, or suggestive of war. • implacable-Impossible to placate or appease • triumvirate-Government by triumvirs. • doleful-Filled with or expressing grief; mournful • languish-To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor. • incumbent-Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: • garret-A room on the top floor of a house, typically under a pitched roof; an attic. • haggard-Appearing worn and exhausted; gaunt. • frock-A woman's dress. • lethargy-A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy. • discernible-Perceptible, as by the faculty of vision or the intellect • postilion-One who rides the near horse of the leaders to guide the horses drawing a coach. • emigrant-Of or relating to emigrants or the act of emigrating. • interpose-To insert or introduce between parts. • loiter-To stand idly about; linger aimlessly. • consign-To give over to the care of another; entrust. • calamity-An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster • implore-To appeal to in supplication; beseech • wield-To handle (a weapon or tool, for example) with skill and ease • descry-To catch sight of (something difficult to discern • repudiate-To reject the validity or authority of • impassive-Devoid of or not subject to emotion • menace-A possible danger; a threat • despondent-Feeling or expressing despondency; dejected. • tribunal-A committee or board appointed to adjudicate in a particular matter • misgiving-To arouse suspicion or apprehension in • amiable-Friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured and likable. • supersede-To take the place of; replace. • stalwart-Having or marked by imposing physical strength. • akin-Having a similar quality or character; analogous. • inclement-Showing no clemency; unmerciful. • jocose-Given to joking; merry. • warp-To turn or twist (wood, for example) out of shape. • cockade-An ornament, such as a rosette or knot of ribbon, usually worn on the hat as a badge • capricious-Characterized by or subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable • recompense-To award compensation to • inscribe-To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. • purveyor-One that furnishes provisions, especially food. • denounce-To condemn openly as being evil or reprehensible • cavalier-A gallant or chivalrous man, especially one serving as escort to a woman of high social position; a gentleman • furtive-Characterized by stealth; surreptitious • cant-Monotonous talk filled with platitudes • livid-Discolored, as from a bruise; black-and-blue. • enumerate-To count off or name one by one; list • luminous-Emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light. • prevaricate-To stray from or evade the truth; equivocate • countenance-Appearance, especially the expression of the face • profligate-Given over to dissipation; dissolute. • proscribe-To denounce or condemn • armorial-Of or relating to heraldry or heraldic arms. • cessation-A bringing or coming to an end; a ceasing • prodigious-Impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous • abridge-To reduce the length of (a written text); condense. • encumbrance-One that encumbers; a burden or impediment. • articulate-Endowed with the power of speech. • acquiesce-To consent or comply passively or without protest • forlorn-Appearing sad or lonely because deserted or abandoned. • ascertain-To discover with certainty, as through examination or experimentation • doctrine-A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma • elicit-To bring or draw out (something latent); educe. • inveteracy-Firmly and long established; deep-rooted • vice-In place of; replacing • reproach-To express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in (someone) • emphatic-Expressed or performed with emphasis • cravat-A scarf or band of fabric worn around the neck as a tie. • advocate-To speak, plead, or argue in favor of • epicure-person devoted to sensuous pleasure and luxurious living • ardent-Expressing or characterized by warmth of feeling; passionate • rapturously-filled with great joy or rapture; ecstatic. • lave-To wash; bathe • ruminate-To turn a matter over and over in the mind. • sundry-Various; miscellaneous • retributive-Of, involving, or characterized by retribution; retributory • expiation-The act of expiating; atonement. Rime of the ancient mariner • rime – ➀ a thin coating of frost formed on cold objects exposed to fog or cloud ➁ a rhyme • eftsoons – soon after • spake – past tense of speak (archaic) • weal – ➀ a raised reddened area on the skin caused by a blow, scratch, or pressure (see wheal) ➁ a general state of well-being, prosperity, and happiness (literary) • smote – (past tense of) to affect somebody strongly or disastrously, or afflict somebody with something • nought – noun: (see also naught) nothing at all (archaic or literary) adverb: not in the least (archaic) adjective: worthless in character or behavior (archaic) • aught – anything whatever (archaic literary) • kirk – (Scottish) a church • ere – before or earlier in time than (archaic or literary) • twain – two (archaic or literary) • bark – a small sailing ship with masts whose sails are fixed breadthways (square) except for the last mast, which has its sail running lengthwise (fore-and-aft) (see also barque) • unslaked – not satisfied or quenched ? • gossamer – something delicate, sheer, and filmy (especially fine cobwebs, or a good fabric or gauze) • sheen – a bright, softly shining surface or appearance (especially in literature, applied to clothing) • albatross – a large long-winged seabird that inhabits cool southern oceans and spends most of its life in flight • aver – to assert or allege something confidently (formal) • specter – a ghostly presence or apparition • nether – located in a low or lower position or under something (formal) • ghastly – horrifying, shocking, or very upsetting • sultry – oppressively hot and damp • hoar – white or grayish white in color, usually as a result of age or frost (literary) • sere – dry and withered (archaic or literary) • discern – to see something that is not very clear or obvious • abate – to lessen or make something lessen gradually (formal or literary) • penance – self-punishment or an act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a sin • expiate – to make amends, show remorse, or suffer punishment for having done something wrong • rood – a crucifix, especially one mounted at the entrance to the choir or chancel of a church • seraph – an angel of the highest rank in the traditional medieval hierarchy of nine categories of angels. In the Book of Isaiah they are described as having six wings. • shrieve – to shrive or shrive somebody (archaic) • shrive – in christianity, to hear somebody’s confession of sins and give the person absolution the odyssey • fealty – loyalty or allegiance shown to anyone • fen – low-lying, inland marshy area, now often drained and cultivated because of its nutrient-rich soil • surmise – to conclude that something is the case on the basis of only limited evidence or intuitive feeling • epic –a lengthy narrative poem in elevated language celebrating the adventures and achievements of a legendary or traditional hero, for example, homer’s • invocation – a calling upon a greater power such as god or a spirit for help • aegis – in greek mythology, the shield of zeus or athena • draconian – unjustly harsh or severe • elysian – full of or giving great pleasure and delight • hector – to speak to somebody in a loud, threatening, or domineering tone intended to intimidate • iridescent – marked by or showing rainbow colors that appear to move and change as the angle at which they are seen changes • jovial – cheerful in mood or disposition • lethargic – physically slow and mentally dull as a result of tiredness, disease, or drugs • martial – typical of or suitable for soldiers, the military life, or war • mentor – somebody, usually older and more experienced, who provides advice and support to, and watches over and fosters the progress of, a younger, less experienced person • nemesis – a bitter enemy, especially one who seems unbeatable • siren – a mounted warning device that produces a loud wailing sound when a current of compressed air or steam is forced through a rotating perforated disk • stygian –unremittingly dark and frightening, as hell is imagined to be • amazon – in greek mythology, a member of a group of women warriors who lived in scythia or elsewhere at the northern limits of the world. They fought in the trojan war on the side of troy. • ambrosial – delightful to taste or smell • atlas – a book containing maps and vital statistics relating to geographic regions • bacchanalian – of or relating to ancient roman festivities in honor of bacchus (the classical god of wine) that involved orgiastic rites • laconic – using very few words • tantalize – to tease or torment people by letting them see, but not have, something they desire • odyssey – a long series of travels and adventures • protean –variable or continually changing in nature, appearance, or behavior Post a comment in response: |
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