7th Grade Word List: Literature

magnify

v. increase in size, volume or significance

shrug

v. raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

stereotype

n. a conventional or formulaic conception or image

preliminary

a. denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important

crystallise

v. make or become definite and clear

scanty

a. lacking in amplitude or quantity

sober

a. completely lacking in playfulness

eloquence

n. powerful and effective language

antechamber

n. small room leading to main one

handmaiden

n. a personal maid or female attendant

lesser

a. of less size or importance
a. smaller in size or amount or value

bonnet

n. a hat tied under the chin

galosh

n. a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow

entrust

v. to give someone a thing or duty for which they are responsible

caparison

v. be decked out in rich decorative coverings

mingle

v. to bring or combine together or with something else

votive

n. a short thick candle used especially as a prayer offering or for decoration

fife

n. a small high-pitched flute

halberdier

n. a man armed with a weapon that is combined spear and battleax

mummery

n. performance by actors in a traditional masked mime, especially of a type associated with Christmas

droll

a. comical in an odd or whimsical manner

anecdote

n. a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

nocturnal

a. belonging to or active during the night
a. of or relating to or occurring in the night

to and fro

ad. back and forth

morass

n. a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

grumble

v. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

desolate

a. devoid of inhabitants and visitors

hovel

n. small crude shelter used as a dwelling

fata morgana

n. mirage, an optical effect that is sometimes seen at sea, in the desert

tipsy

a. unstable and prone to tip as if intoxicated

anew

ad. again but in a new or different way

thatched

a. covered with straw or similar material;

punch

n. a hot or cold drink that is usually a combination of hard liquor, wine, or beer and nonalcoholic beverages

chink

n. a small slit or fissure

hostelry

n. a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

resemblance

n. similarity in appearance or external or superficial details

burgher

n. a member of the middle class

pewter

n. any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead)

bustling

a. full of activity

pitcher

n. a large container, typically earthenware, glass, or plastic, with a handle and a lip

reverence

n. a feeling of profound respect for someone or something

writhing

a. making twisting, squirming movements or contortions of body

vassal

n. a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance

pestilence

n. a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague

cholera

n. an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food

roadstead

n. a sheltered stretch of water near the shore in which ships can ride at anchor

rascal

n. one who is playfully mischievous
n. a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

pluck

v. pull or pick off or out

gesticulation

n. a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion

procure

v. arrange for sexual partners for others
v. get by special effort

heathen

n. a person who does not acknowledge your god

stoop

v. debase oneself morally, act in an undignified, unworthy, or dishonorable way

slumber

n. a dormant or quiescent state

supple

a. bending or able to be bent easily; not stiff

saunter

v. walk leisurely and with no apparent aim

infirm

a. lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality

lyrical

a. suitable for or suggestive of singing
a. expressing deep emotion

plume

n. material that is worn as an ornament

stagnant

a. not growing or changing; without force or vitality

poignantly

ad. in way that evokes keen sense of sadness or regret

privation

n. a state of extreme poverty

pilgrimage

n. a journey to a sacred place

metamorphosis

n. a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft

firmament

n. the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

sloth

n. a mammal that moves slowly and lives in trees

circumjacent

a. surrounding

caldron

n. a very large pot that is used for boiling

fiery

a. characterized by intense emotion
a. like or suggestive of fire

arabesque

n. position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and arms outstretched in a conventional pose

germinate

v. cause to grow or sprout

enchantment

n. a very attractive and pleasing quality

every inch a

ad. fully and completely something; something in every detail

bestir

v. make physical or mental effort

bout

n. an occasion for excessive eating or drinking

oblige

v. provide a service or favor for someone
v. cause to be indebted

stout

a. fat and solid-looking, especially around the waist

avail

v. take or use
v. be of use to, be useful to

irrevocable

a. incapable of being retracted or revoked

booth

n. a small shop at a fair; for selling goods or entertainment

pillory

n. a wooden instrument of punishment on a post with holes for the wrists and neck

paroxysm

n. a sudden uncontrollable attack

suffocation

n. the condition of being deprived of oxygen
n. killing by depriving of oxygen

peep

n. a quick look

exhortation

n. a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action

unerringly

ad. without making errors

motley

a. consisting of many different types that do not appear to go together

phantasmagoria

n. a constantly changing medley of real or imagined images, as in a dream

oracular

a. of or relating to an oracle

lurid

a. horrible in fierceness or savagery
a. ghastly pale

revelation

n. act of making something known that was secret, or a fact that is made known

yonder

ad. at or in an indicated, usually distant, place

milliner

n. someone who makes and sells hats

spruce

a. tidy and clean in appearance

amiss

a. not functioning properly
ad. in an improper or mistaken or unfortunate manner

cue

n. a signal for someone to do something

fane

n. temple or shrine

peal

n. a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
v. ring recurrently

sanctuary

n. a consecrated place where sacred objects are kept
n. a shelter from danger or hardship

garret

n. floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

pious

a. strongly believing in religion, and living in a way that shows this belief

nought

n. the number 0 or zero

dilapidated

a. in deplorable condition

moulder

v. break down

boudoir

n. a lady's bedroom or private sitting room

scalding

a. very hot;

blister

n. swelling on a plant similar to that on the skin

beast of burden

n. an animal, such as a mule or donkey, that is used for carrying loads

gnaw

v. become ground down or deteriorate
v. bite or chew on with the teeth

excursion

n. wandering from the main path of a journey
n. a journey taken for pleasure

sedentary

a. requiring sitting or little activity

soliloquize

v. speak one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers

methinks

v. it seems to me;

buoyant

a. tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas

insipid

a. lacking taste or flavor or tang
a. lacking interest or significance or impact

boast

v. wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner

breakneck

a. dangerously or extremely fast

endow

v. give qualities or abilities to

twig

n. a small branch or division of a branch

shoot

n. a young branch or sucker springing from the main stock of a tree or other plant

vista

n. a pleasing view, especially one seen through a long, narrow opening

hurrah

n. a victory cheer

asunder

a. widely separated especially in space
ad. into parts or pieces

torrent

n. an overwhelming number or amount

stem

v. stop or restrict

consoling

a. serving to comfort someone

vaudeville

n. a variety show with songs and comic acts etc.

slyly

ad. in cunning manner;

epistle

n. a specially long, formal letter

botanist

n. a biologist specializing in the study of plants

incense

n. perfume or a similar fragrance

manifold

n. a collection of points forming a certain kind of set

emulation

n. effort or ambition to match or surpass person or achievement;

ephemera

n. something transitory; lasting a day

dispel

v. force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings

subterranean

a. being or operating under the surface of the earth

withered

a. lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

innate

a. being talented through inherited qualities

freak

n. a very unusual and unexpected event or situation

pliant

a. able to adjust readily to different conditions

chastisement

n. verbal punishment

accursed

a. under a curse

proprietor

n. (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

dame

n. informal terms for a (young) woman
n. a woman of refinement

benignant

a. pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence

condescension

n. a communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient

embroider

v. decorate with needlework
v. add details to

bawl

v. shout loudly and without restraint

paroquet

n. any of numerous small slender long-tailed parrots

uncouth

a. lacking refinement or cultivation or taste

discretion

n. knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

bower

n. a pleasant shady place under trees

pendent

n. branched lighting fixture; often ornate; hangs from the ceiling

bough

n. any of the larger branches of a tree

elegiac

a. expressing sorrow often for something past

infallible

a. incapable of failure or error

witticism

n. a remark that is both clever and humorous

ajar

a. slightly open

creak

v. make a high noise, usually caused by a stiff material such as wood or metal that is made to move slightly

tomcat

n. male domestic cat

powder-magazine

n. a compartment for the storage of ammunition and explosives

pinch

v. grip something tightly and sharply between finger and thumb

imbibe

v. receive into the mind and retain

crag

n. a steep rugged rock or cliff

tuft

n. a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass

heather

n. a low, spreading bush, usually with small pink, purple, or white flowers

tend

v. have care of or look after
v. manage or run

gnat

n. mosquito

audacious

a. disposed to venture or take risks

sore

a. painful or aching

ravenous

a. extremely hungry

pervade

v. spread or diffuse through

horrid

a. grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
a. exceedingly bad

profuse

a. produced or growing in extreme abundance

resemble

v. appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

filthy

a. disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter

sallow

a. unhealthy looking

whine

n. a long, high-pitched complaining cry

laudatory

a. expressing praise and commendation

repast

n. the food served and eaten at one time

rickety

a. lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality

sentry

n. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

whither

ad. to what place or state;

insatiable

a. impossible to satisfy

apothegm

n. a short pithy instructive saying

emissary

n. someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else

slumber

n. a dormant or quiescent state

ordain

v. make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on

imperishable

a. enduring forever