Short Story Unit 1: Vocabulary

Short Story Unit 1: Vocabulary Story: “The Long Exile” (Tolstoy)

1. troika- (NOUN)a Russian wagon pulled by 3 horses

2. czar-(NOUN) an emperor or king

3. flog(ged)- (VERB) to beat with a whip or a stick

4. knout- (NOUN) a whip used in the beating of criminals

5. samovar- (NOUN) a metal pot used for heating water for tea

6. Siberia- (NOUN) region in Russia noted for its cold temperatures and isolation from the rest of the country. Used as a place to send criminals. Used also in modern language to indicate a place of punishment.

7. mirth- (NOUN) amusement or laughter

8. fortnight (NOUN) 14 days and nights (2 weeks) Short Story Unit 1: Vocabulary Story: “Tuesday Siesta” (Marquez)

1. interminable-(ADJECTIVE)- unending, having no limits

2. conscientious (ADJECTIVE)- paying careful attention to details

3. serenity (NOUN)- calm, tranquil

4. oppressive- (ADJECTIVE)- causing discomfort by being excessive, intense, unjustly harsh

5. permeated (VERB)- to pass into or through every part of, saturate

6. spinster (NOUN)- a woman still not married beyond the usual age of marrying

7. inscrutable (ADJECTIVE)- incapable of being investigated or analyzed; not easily understood Short Story Unit 1: Vocabulary Story: “The Norwegian Rat” (Mahfouz)

1. calamity (NOUN)- great misfortune or disaster

2. proliferation (NOUN)- a rapid and often excessive spread or increase

3. eminent (ADJECTIVE)- high in station, rank or prominence

4. morass (NOUN)- a tract of low, soft, wet ground (marsh)

5. negligent (ADJECTIVE)- guilty of laziness, or careless, not tending to

6. laudable (ADJECTIVE)- deserving praise

7. annihilated (VERB)- to reduce to utter ruin, destroy

8. affliction (NOUN)- state of pain, distress or grief

9. maxim (NOUN)- expression of a general truth or principal

10. pallid (ADJECTIVE)- pale, faint or deficient in color

11. imminent (ADJECTIVE)- likely to occur at any moment

12. voracity (ADJECTIVE)- devouring or craving in great quantities

13. stupefaction (NOUN)- state of being overwhelmed or amazed

14. meticulously (ADJECTIVE)- showing extreme care in all details Short Story Unit 1: Vocabulary Story: “The Piece of String” (Maupassant)

1. surmounted (VERB)- to get on top of, to prevail

2. clamorous (ADJECTIVE)- vigorous in demands or complaints; loud outcry

3. yokel (NOUN)- rustic, country bumpkin

4. malice (NOUN)- desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another person

5. rheumatism (NOUN)- disorder in back or arms/legs characterized by pain and stiffness

6. Angelus-(NOUN)- a series of prayers recited in morning, midday, evening

7. denouement- (NOUN)- the outcome of a problem

8. rouge (NOUN)- relating to red, usually makeup for cheeks and lips