| Term | Definition |
|---|
| dismal | depressing in character or appearance |
| decent | enough to meet a purpose |
| commenced | started |
| victuals | any substance that can be used as food |
| middling | to a moderately sufficient extent or degree |
| fidgety | unable to relax or be still |
| considerable | large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree |
| broad | very large in expanse or scope |
| skiff | any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor |
| carcass | the dead body of an animal |
| ornery | having a difficult and contrary disposition |
| ingots | blocks of metal that are cast in a particular shape for convenient handling |
| lath | a narrow thin strip of wood used as backing for plaster or to make latticework |
| numbskull | a dull-witted or stupid person |
| hifaluting | pompous; bombastic; haughty; pretentious |
| frills | ornamental objects of no great value |
| chinks | narrow openings, as between planks in a wall |
| nabob | a wealthy man (especially one who made his fortune in the Orient) |
| palaver | to talk profusely and idly |
| roust | to awaken from a state of sleep |
| abreast | alongside each other, facing on the same direction |
| quicksilver | the metallic element mercury |
| haggled | bargained; argued over terms |
| brash | offensively bold |
| craw | a pouch in many birds and some lower animals that resembles a stomach for storage and preliminary maceration of food |
| varmint | any usually predatory wild animal considered undesirable |
| starboard | the right side of a ship when facing forward |
| careen | move sideways or in an unsteady way |
| plunder | destroy and strip of its possession |
| gaudy | tastelessly showy |
| dauphin | formerly, the eldest son of the King of France and direct heir to the throne |
| aggravate | make worse; irritate |
| abolitionist | one who opposes the practice of slavery |
| blubbering | sobbing noisily |
| slouch | an incompetent person |
| pensive | dreamily or wistfully thoughtful |
| rack | stretch to the limits |
| impaired | diminished in strength, quality, or utility |
| frivolous | not serious in content or attitude or behavior |
| decanter | a bottle with a stopper |
| sideboard | a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room |
| junket | a trip taken by an official at public expense |
| pommel | a knob, as on the hilt of a sword |
| temperance | abstinance from excess |
| cipher | convert ordinary language into code |
| shuck | material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds |
| oppression | the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority: "after years of oppression they finally revolted" |
| haughty | having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy |
| dissipate | to scatter in various directions |
| histrionic | characteristic of acting or a stage performance |
| muse | reflect deeply on a subject |
| commence | to start; begin |
| brazen | unrestrained by convention or propriety |
| bray | laugh loudly and harshly |
| soliloquy | a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections |
| recollection | the process of remembering (especially the process of recovering information by mental effort) |
| bodkin | a dagger with a slender blade |
| calamity | an event resulting in great loss and misfortune |
| contagion | the communication of a disease, attitude, or emotional state among a number of people |
| hue | the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength |
| consummation | the act of bringing to completion or fruition |
| ponderous | having great mass and weight and unwieldiness |
| imperative | requiring attention or action |
| lanky | ungracefully tall and thin |
| acquit | pronounce not guilty of criminal charges |
| pluck | courage or resolution in the face of difficulties |
| indifferent | showing no care or concern in attitude or action |
| obsequies | funeral rites or ceremonies |
| pallet | a mattress filled with straw or a pad made of quilts |
| stealthy | marked by quiet and caution and secrecy |
| shoal | of little depth, as water; shallow |
| coarse | conspicuously and tastelessly indecent |
| nigh | near in time or place or relationship |
| trifling | not worth considering |
| fagged | drained of energy or effectiveness |
| cravat | neckwear worn in a slipknot with long ends overlapping vertically in front |
| blubber | to sob noisily |
| hew | strike with an axe |
| audacious | disposed to venture or take risks |
| impudent | improperly forward or bold |
| putrified | in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor |
| embattled | prepared for battle |
| addle | mix up or confuse |
| fret | worry unnecessarily or excessively |
| rummage | search haphazardly |
| huffy | quick to take offense; touchy |
Combine with other sets
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