Snap shot words Meaning

Chapter 1 The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Alfalfa – a flowering plant

Armenian – official language of Armenia branch

Capricious – inconsistent change of mood

City Dweller – a person who lives in a city

Comical – funny

Consequently – as a result

Dawned – appeared

Daybreak – dawn

Descendant – a system that develops from an earlier simple version

Enormous – huge

Fury – anger

Garoghlanian – an Armenian tribe

Irrigation ditches – manmade channel used to deliver water to homes, industries and other uses

Leap out – jump out from a place

Longings – an aching desire

Magnificence – extremely beautiful

Orchards – a piece of land of the plantation of fruits

Parlour – a sitting space in a house

Pious – religious

Reared – raised

San Joaquin Valley – one of the long interior valleys of California

Snorted – breathed out

Streak – race

Surrey – a country in South-East England

Trot – proceed with something

Vagrant – a person without a settled home or work

Vazire – a name

Vineyard – plantation of grapevines used in winemaking

 

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Chapter 2 The Address

Acquaintance – stranger or social contact

Beckoned – signaled

Chink – narrow opening

Crick – cramp or spasm in muscles

Cumbersome – unmanageable

Enamel – an opaque or semi-transparent substance that is a type of glass

Endured – suffered

Fleetingly – for a short time

Hanukkah – The Feast of Lights, a Hebrew festival in December

Jamb – side post of a window, fireplace or doorway

Jingling – ringing

Liberation – Liberty or Freeing

Lugging – carry a heavy object with great effort

Midst – middle

Muggy – humid

Musty – stale

Pewter plate – plate made of a gray alloy of tin

Pityingly – feeling sorrow

Reprovingly – critically

Vain – hopeless

 

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Chapter 3 Ranga’s Marriage

Annayya- (in Kannada) a respectful term for an elder

Bharatvarsha- India

Brahmarandhra- (in Kannada) the soft part in a child’s head where skull bones join later. Here, used as an idiomatic expression to convey the extreme potency of sourness. In Sanskrit, “Brahmarandhra” means the hole of Brahman. It is the dwelling house of the human soul. Behold- see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature)

Cartographer- a person who draws or produces maps

Considerate- thoughtful, concerned

Cowries- a marine mollusc which has a glossy, brightly patterned domed shell with a long, narrow opening

Flea-pestered dog- A flea- pestered dog does not stick to one place but keeps roaming everywhere.Flea-pestered means being infested by fleas and ticks which can cause uncontrollable itching in animals

Girija- female (here)

Harikatha- Story of Lord

Janewara- (in Kannada) the sacred thread worn by Brahmins

Kalyana- beautiful, lovely, auspicious in Sanskrit

Karigadabu- a South Indian fried sweet filled with coconut and sugar

Like a flock of sheep- a group of people behaving in the same way or following what others are doing

Madhavacharya- an exponent of Vedantic philosophy from South India

Marvellous- causing great wonder; extraordinary

Palmyra- palm tree

Paraphernalia- trappings associated with a particular institution or activity that are regarded as superfluous

Rambling- (of writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential

Rare breed- a person or thing with characteristics that are uncommon among their kind; a rarity

Sahib- a polite title or form of address for a man

Shrivelled- shrunken and wrinkled; especially as a result of loss of moisture

Threshold- a strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway and crossed in entering a house or a room

Troupe- a group of dancers, actors or other entertainers who tour to different venues

Tutored- taught

Vijaya- Victory

Vivaha- Marriage

 

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Chapter 4 Albert Einstein at School

Biographer- a person who writes an account of someone else

Expelled- officially make someone leave a school or any other organisation

Expulsion- the action of forcing someone to leave an organisation

Howling- making a howling sound

Lodgings- temporary accommodation or a room rented out to someone, usually in the same residence as the owner 

Mincing words- to speak vaguely or indirectly

Miserable- unhappy

Rebellion- the action or process of resisting authority, control or convention

Squalor- the state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty and neglect

Stalked out- to leave (some place) in a haughty, stiff or threatening manner

Wailing- crying with pain or anger

 

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Chapter 5 Mother’s Day

Aghast- filled with horror or shock

Astounded- shock or greatly surprise

At sixes and sevens- in a state of total confusion and disarray

Barmy- mad; crazy

Beckons- making a gesture with the hand, arm or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow

Bewildered- perplexed and confused; very puzzled

Briskly- in an active, quick or energetic way

Chuckling- laugh quietly or inwardly

Clot- a foolish or clumsy person

Complacently- showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements

Concussion- a violent shock as from a heavy blow

Contempt- the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration

Cracking- fast

Dubiously- with hesitation or doubt

Eating out of your hand- be submissive

Far-fetched- unlikely and unconvincing; implausible

Fathead- a stupid person

Flustered- agitated or confused

Fluttering- trembling

Glowering- have an angry look on one’s face

Glumly- moody or unsociable attitude

Grimly- bitter, hard manner

Guffaw- a loud and hearty laugh

Hastily- with excessive speed or urgency; speedily

Incisive- intelligently analytical and clear thinking

Indignantly- in a manner indicating anger or annoyance at something perceived as unfair

Laconic- using very few words

Nasty- very bad or unpleasant

Piecan- referring a foolish person

Pompous- affectedly grand, solemn, or self-important

Resent- feel bitterness or indignation at a circumstance, action or person

Rummy- a card game

Settee- long upholstered seat for more than one person, typically with a back and arms

Sinister- giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen

Snooker- a game played with cues on a billiard table in which the players use a cue ball (white) to pocket the other balls (fifteen red and six coloured) in a set order

Solemn- formal and dignified; characterized by deep sincerity

Staggered- astonish or deeply shock

Stout- a kind of strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley

Sulkily- a disagreeable mood

Thoughtless- (of a person or their behaviour) not showing consideration for the needs of other people

Tiddly- slightly drunk

Ushering- showing or guide someone somewhere

 

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Chapter 6 The Ghat of the Only World

Abiding- a memory lasting a long time; enduring

Accoutrements- other things that were needed for the activity

Anguished- experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical pain or suffering

Assiduous- taking great care that everything is done as well as it can be

At odds- in conflict or at variance

Brimming- be full of a particular quality, feeling, etc

Buckled- bend and give way under pressure or strain

Calcutta- Kolkata

Cavernous- vast; huge; large; spacious

Conceive- form a plan or idea in the mind

Conviviality- the quality of being friendly and lively

Dour- unfriendly

Ecumenical- involving or uniting members of different religions

Envoy- a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission

Exactitude- the quality of being very accurate and careful

Fanaticism- the quality of being fanatical; extremism

Feigned – simulated or pretended; insincere

Feudal system- Under this system, a peasant or worker received a piece of land in return for serving a lord or king

Fixture- set firmly in place

Foyer- an entrance hall or other open area in a building used by the public

Frosty- freezing; very cold

Gregariousness- fond of the company of others; sociable

Groggier- dazed, weak or unsteady, especially from illness, intoxication, sleep or a blow

Heeng- asafoetida; a staple ingredient used in Indian cooking

Impede- delay or prevent something by obstructing it; hinder

Imperative- giving an authoritative command

Inextricably- in a way that is impossible to separate

Innocuous- not harmful or offensive

Jocularity- said or done as a joke

Lorca- Garcia Lorca is Spain’s most deeply appreciated and highly revered poet and dramatist

Lucid- understandable

Malignant- uncontrollable; dangerousBereavement- loss; deprivation; grief; sorrow

Metrical- relating to or composed in poetic metre

Minaret- a slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer

Mos-lem- Muslim

Mundane- lacking interest or excitement; dull

Mundane- lacking interest or excitement; dull

Nationalist- a person who strongly identifies with their own nation and vigorously supports its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.

Poignance- the quality of evoking a keen sense of sadness

Preambles- a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction

Prefigured- be an early indication or version of (something)

Prefigured- be an early indication or version of something

Prowess- skill or expertise in a particular activity or field

Quizzical- indicating mild or amused puzzlement

Rapture- a feeling of intense pleasure or joy; ecstasy; bliss

Repartee- conversation or speech characterised by quick witty, comments or replies

Sorcerer- a person who claims or is believed to have magical powers; wizard

Subdued- quiet and rather reflective or depressed

Sutures- a stitch or row of stitches holding together the edges of a wound or surgical incision

Swoon- be overcome with admiration, adoration or other strong emotion

To speak in a bardic register- A poetic style

Transmute- change in form, nature or substance

Transmute- change in form, nature or substance

Trivial- of little value or importance

Unmitigated- absolute; unqualified

Voyage- a long journey involving travel by sea or in space

Wildean- relating to or characteristic of Oscar Wilde or his works, especially in being witty and epigrammatic

 

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Chapter 7 Birth

Asphyxia- a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death; suffocation

Awful – very

Bach- used as a term of endearment, often after a personal name

Blind- a screen for a window, especially one on a roller or made of slats

Broodingly- preoccupied with depressing, morbid, or painful memories or thoughts

Burly- (a person) large and strong; heavily built

Cinder- a small piece of partly burnt coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it

Consternation- a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexcited

Convulsive- violent; uncontrollable

Dismal- causing a mood of gloom or depression

Draggled- dirty or wet, typically from being trailed through mud or water

Driller- someone who works at the drilling controls on the rig floor

Ebbing- (of an emotion or quality) gradually decrease

Ether- used as an anaesthetic

Ewer- a large jug with a wide mouth, formerly used for carrying water

Faltered- lose strength or momentum

Flaccid- lifeless

Frantic- conducted in a hurried, excited, and disorganized way

Fret- be constantly or visibly anxious; worry

Giddy- weak

Haggard- looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering

Haste- excessive speed or urgency of movement or action; hurry

Hastily- with excessive speed or urgency; hurriedly

Heave- produce a sigh

Hypodermic- relating to the region immediately beneath the skin

Idyllic- like an idyll; extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque

Iridescent- showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles

Lethargy- lack of energy and enthusiasm

Lolled- hang loosely

Midwife- a person, typically a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth

Morbidly- (with reference to a disturbing or unpleasant interest or activity) in an abnormal and unhealthy manner

Muddled- not arranged in order; untidy

Overwrought- in a state of anxiety; tired

Pallid- (of a person’s face) pale, typically because of poor health

Pallida – suffocation or unconscious condition caused by lack of oxygen and excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, accompanied by paleness of the skin, weak pulse, and loss of reflexes

Pigmy- little (here)

Plunging- falling steeply

Probing- inquiring closely

Queer- strange; odd

Resentful- feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly

Resuscitate- revive someone from the unconsciousness

Rustle- make a soft, muffled crackling sound

Scullery- a small kitchen or room at the back of a house used for washing dishes and other dirty household work

Shrewish- (of a woman) bad-tempered or aggressively assertive

Slashed- slit

Smiled faintly- smiling with less energy or a smile that lacks spirit

Snatch- manage to take (here)

Sodden- saturated with liquid, especially water; soaked through

Sopping- saturated with liquid; wet through

Sordidly- meanly selfish, self-seeking

Stark- complete

Stout- (of a person) rather fat or heavy build

Stumbling- tripping or losing balance while walking; moving with difficulty

Surgery- a place where a doctor, dentist or other medical practitioner treats or advises patients

Tallow- the hard fat of animals melted and used to make soap, candles etc.

Unavailing- achieving little

Unsparingly- generous

Whimpered- say something in a low, feeble voice that expresses fear, pain, or unhappiness

Wince- make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress

Ye- an old written form of the word ‘the’

 

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Chapter 8 The Tale of Melon City

Against the Crown- questioning the power, integrity and honesty of the state

Amendments- a minor change or addition designed to improve something

Arch- a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.

Architect- a person who designs buildings and in many cases also supervises their construction

Counsel- advice, especially that given formally

Customary- according to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances

Decree- an official order that has the force of law

Edify- instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually

Frown- a facial expression indicating disapproval, displeasure, or concentration, characterized by a furrowing of one’s brows.

Gallows- a structure, typically of two uprights and a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals

Halt- bring or come to an abrupt stop

Heralds- an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and (historically) to make proclamations, carry official messages, and oversee tournaments

Just- based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair

Laissez faire- the policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering

Masons- a person skilled in cutting, dressing, and laying stone in buildings

Mused- say to oneself in a thoughtful manner

Noose- a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and used to trap animals or hang people

Ordain- order (something) officially

Placid- calm

Pondered- think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion

Proclaim- announce officially or publicly

Proclaimed- announce officially or publicly.

Quavering- (of a person’s voice) shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion

Quivering- trembling or shaking with a slight rapid motion

Rejoice- feel or show great joy or delight

Reverently- with deep and solemn respect

Saw red- became angry

Scaffold- a raised wooden platform used formerly for the public execution of criminals.

Span- Celebrating or commemorating a victory

Spectators- onlookers

Summon- order someone to be present

Thoroughfare- a main road in a town

Triumphally- Celebrating or commemorating a victory

Unruly- disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control