Actions |
Study Words from Animal Farm |
pop-hole | |
n. a small opening through which an animal may pass |
lurch | |
v. move abruptly |
scullery | |
n. a small room next to the kitchen |
fluttering | |
a. flying unsteadily or hovering; |
boar | |
n. a male pig n. the male of any of several mammals |
barn | |
n. an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals |
ensconce | |
v. fix firmly |
benevolent | |
a. generous in providing aid to others |
tush | |
n. a long pointed tooth |
perch | |
n. support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place, especially for a bird |
cud | |
n. a wad of something chewable as tobacco n. food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again |
foal | |
n. a young horse v. give birth to a foal |
brood | |
n. a family of young animals, especially of a bird |
duckling | |
n. young duck n. flesh of a young domestic duck |
feebly | |
ad. in way that lacks strength or force; |
mare | |
n. female equine animal; female of a horse |
flirt | |
v. talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions |
mane | |
n. long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck |
purr | |
v. make a soft swishing sound |
raven | |
n. a large heavily built crow with mainly black plumage |
till | |
v. work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation |
sturdy | |
a. strongly and solidly built |
confinement | |
n. the condition of being in childbirth |
grumble | |
v. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath |
knacker | |
n. someone who buys up old horses for slaughter |
foxhound | |
n. medium-sized glossy-coated hounds developed for hunting foxes |
tyranny | |
n. a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator n. dominance through threat of punishment and violence |
falter | |
v. walk unsteadily |
astray | |
ad. far from the intended target ad. away from the right path or direction |
trotter | |
n. foot of a pig or sheep especially one used as food |
dissentient | |
a. in opposition to majority or official opinion; n. person who opposes majority or official opinion; |
clime | |
n. a region considered with reference to its climate |
hearken | |
v. listen; used mostly in the imperative |
unison | |
n. corresponding exactly n. (music) two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves |
pellet | |
n. a solid missile discharged from a firearm n. a small sphere |
vivacious | |
a. vigorous and animated |
nimble | |
a. moving quickly and lightly a. mentally quick |
shrill | |
a. high-pitched and piercing |
whisk | |
v. brush or wipe off lightly |
expound | |
v. add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way |
apathy | |
n. an absence of emotion or enthusiasm |
linseed | |
n. the seed of flax used as a source of oil |
unfailing | |
a. without error or fault; |
tormentor | |
n. person who inflicts severe mental or physical suffering on someone |
thrash | |
v. beat (a person or animal) repeatedly and violently with a stick or whip |
croak | |
v. utter a hoarse sound, like a raven |
in a body | |
ad. all together; as a group |
castrate | |
v. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate v. deprive of power, vitality, or vigor |
caper | |
v. skip or dance about in a lively or playful way |
knoll | |
n. a small natural hill |
ecstasy | |
n. a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion |
gambol | |
v. run or jump about playfully |
spinney | |
n. a small area of trees and bushes |
butt | |
v. hit (someone or something) with the head or horns |
reproach | |
v. accuse someone of |
scullery | |
n. a small room next to the kitchen |
unanimous | |
a. acting together as a single undiversified whole a. in complete agreement |
udder | |
n. mammary gland of bovids (cows and sheep and goats) |
toil | |
v. work extremely hard or incessantly |
drawback | |
n. a feature that renders something less acceptable; a disadvantage or problem |
rein | |
n. one of a pair of long straps used to control a horse |
wisp | |
n. small thin or twisted bunch |
dole | |
v. distribute shares of something |
grudge | |
v. accept or admit unwillingly |
chaff | |
n. husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing |
thresh | |
v. separate grain from (a plant), typically with a flail or by the action of a revolving mechanism. |
cockerel | |
n. a young domestic cock; not older than one year |
grumble | |
v. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath |
shirk | |
v. avoid one's assigned duties v. avoid dealing with |
flagstaff | |
n. a tall staff or pole on which a flag is raised |
paddock | |
n. a usually enclosed area used especially for pasturing or exercising animals |
indefatigable | |
a. (of a person or their efforts) persisting tirelessly |
twig | |
n. a small branch or division of a branch |
propulsion | |
n. a propelling force |
bleat | |
v. (of a sheep, goat, or calf) make a characteristic wavering cry |
whelp | |
v. (of a female dog) give birth to (a puppy) |
wean | |
v. detach the affections of v. gradually deprive (infants and young mammals) of mother's milk |
windfall | |
n. fruit that has fallen from the tree |
mingle | |
v. bring or combine together or with something else |
taproom | |
n. room in which alcoholic drinks are available on tap |
cannibalism | |
n. the practice of eating the flesh of your own kind |
tractable | |
a. readily reacting to suggestions and influences a. easily managed (controlled or taught or molded) |
pail | |
n. a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top |
contemptible | |
a. deserving of scorn, mean, despicable |
flog | |
v. beat severely with a whip or rod |
irrepressible | |
a. impossible to repress or control |
skirmish | |
n. a minor fight in war usually incidental to larger movements |
prod | |
v. urge on; cause to act |
lash | |
v. bind with a rope, chain, or cord v. beat severely with a whip or rod |
hobnail | |
n. a short nail with a thick head; used to protect the soles of boots |
ambush | |
v. wait in hiding to attack |
pellet | |
n. a solid missile discharged from a firearm n. a small sphere |
stallion | |
n. uncastrated adult male horse |
gore | |
v. wound by piercing with a sharp or penetrating object or instrument |
ignominious | |
a. (used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame |
paw | |
v. feel or scrape with a paw or hoof |
sentimentality | |
n. excessive tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia |
manger | |
n. a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed |
impromptu | |
a. no advance preparation |
hawthorn | |
n. a spring-flowering shrub or small tree |
unanimous | |
a. acting together as a single undiversified whole a. in complete agreement |
confer | |
v. grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right) |
posthumous | |
a. occurring or coming into existence after a person's death |
pretext | |
n. a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason |
blithely | |
ad. in way that shows casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper |
prance | |
v. cause something to bound spring forward |
breeches | |
n. short trousers fastened just below the knee, now chiefly worn for riding a horse |
gaiter | |
n. covering for ankle and lower leg; |
canvass | |
v. solicit votes from |
liable | |
a. held legally responsible a. subject to legal action |
silage | |
n. grass or other green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions |
slag | |
n. stony waste matter separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore |
cartage | |
n. conveyance of something in cart or other vehicle; |
knoll | |
n. a small natural hill |
chaff | |
n. the husks of corn or other seed |
mangel | |
n. a beet of a variety with a large root, cultivated as feed for livestock |
conjure | |
v. summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic |
incubator | |
n. an enclosed apparatus providing a controlled environment for the care and protection of small babies |
knuckle | |
n. a joint of a finger when the fist is closed |
whimper | |
n. a complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way |
crank | |
n. a part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa |
cog | |
n, a tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear |
contemplate | |
v. look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought |
dynamo | |
n. generator consisting of a coil that rotates between the poles of an electromagnet causing a current to flow |
manger | |
n. a container (usually in a barn or stable) from which cattle or horses feed |
restive | |
a. being in a tense state a. impatient especially under restriction or delay |
procure | |
v. get by special effort |
indifferent | |
a. being neither good nor bad |
sordid | |
a. morally degraded a. unethical or dishonest |
sidelong | |
a. (used especially of glances) directed to one side with or as if with doubt or suspicion or envy |
bay | |
v. (of a dog, especially a large one) bark or howl loudly |
expulsion | |
n. the act of expelling or projecting or ejecting n. squeezing out by applying pressure |
forelock | |
n. a lock of a horse's mane that grows forward between the ears |
articulate | |
a. having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently |
moonshine | |
n. foolish talk or ideas |
watchword | |
n. a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group n. a slogan used to rally support for a cause |
disinter | |
v. dig up for reburial or for medical investigation, of dead bodies |
reverent | |
a. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration a. showing great reverence for god |
gruff | |
a. deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion |
disperse | |
v. separate (light) into spectral rays v. cause to separate |
sly | |
a. marked by skill in deception |
growl | |
v. utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds |
grudge | |
v. accept or admit unwillingly |
quarry | |
n. a place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or have been extracted |
crowbar | |
n. a heavy iron lever with one end forged into a wedge |
topple | |
v. overbalance or become unsteady and fall slowly |
superintendence | |
n. management or arrangement of activity or organization |
toil | |
n. productive work, especially physical work done for wages |
mat | |
v. form into a tangled mass |
cockerel | |
n. a young domestic cock; not older than one year |
extravagant | |
a. recklessly wasteful a. unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings |
arable | |
a. (of farmland) capable of being farmed productively |
upkeep | |
n. activity involved in maintaining something in good working order |
paraffin | |
n. any of various mixtures of similar hydrocarbons including mixtures that are semisolid or oily |
manure | |
n. any animal or plant material used to fertilize land especially animal excreta usually with litter material |
timidly | |
ad. in manner that shows lack of courage or confidence |
intermediary | |
n. a negotiator who acts as a link between parties |
traceable | |
a. able to be found or discovered |
shrewdly | |
ad. in way that shows sharp powers of judgement |
sly | |
a. marked by skill in deception |
reconcile | |
v. accept as inevitable v. restore friendly relations between |
prosper | |
v. make steady progress, be at the high point in one's career |
sty | |
n. a pen for pig |
repose | |
n. freedom from activity, work or responsibility n. the absence of mental stress or anxiety |
plod | |
v. walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud |
perpendicular | |
n. a straight line at right angles to another line |
imposing | |
a. impressive in appearance |
with one accord | |
ad. all together |
twitch | |
v. toss with a sharp movement so as to cause to turn over in the air |
sheer | |
a. nothing other than; unmitigated |
malignity | |
n. desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm |
ignominious | |
a. deserving or bringing disgrace or shame |
indignation | |
n. a feeling of righteous anger |
knoll | |
n. a small natural hill |
sleet | |
n. partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow) |
spite | |
n. a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone |
clamp | |
n. a heap of potatoes or other root vegetables stored under straw or earth |
edible | |
a. suitable for use as food |
chaff | |
n. seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds |
embolden | |
v. give encouragement to |
cannibalism | |
n. the practice of eating the flesh of your own kind |
infanticide | |
n. murdering an infant n. a person who murders an infant |
procure | |
v. get by special effort |
clutch | |
n. a group of eggs fertilized at the same time, laid in a single session and (in birds) incubated together |
pullet | |
n. flesh of a medium-sized young chicken suitable for frying |
thwart | |
v. hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of |
rafter | |
n. one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof |
capitulate | |
v. surrender under agreed conditions |
coccidiosis | |
n. disease of birds and mammals that chiefly affects intestines |
duly | |
ad. at the proper time |
spinney | |
n. a small area of trees and bushes |
seasoned | |
a. (of wood) made suitable for use as timber by adjusting its moisture content |
curdle | |
v. turn from a liquid to a solid mass |
stupefied | |
a. as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise |
doom | |
n. an unpleasant or disastrous destiny |
frisk | |
v. search as for concealed weapons by running the hands rapidly over the clothing and through the pockets |
lurk | |
v. wait in hiding to attack |
cower | |
v. show submission or fear v. crouch or curl up |
sternly | |
ad. with sternness; in a severe manner |
whimper | |
v. cry weakly or softly |
shriek | |
v. utter a high-pitched piercing sound or words, especially as an expression of terror, pain, or excitement |
countenance | |
n. a person's face or facial expression |
whereat | |
ad. at which |
slunk | |
v. (past tense of slink) move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, |
tumult | |
n. the act of making a noisy disturbance |
ringleader | |
n. a person who initiates or leads an illicit or illegal activity |
bonfire | |
n. a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration |
treachery | |
n. betrayal of a trust n. an act of deliberate betrayal |
retribution | |
n. the act of taking revenge n. a justly deserved penalty |
huddle | |
v. crowd or draw together |
fidget | |
v. move restlessly |
swish | |
v. move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound |
whinny | |
n. the characteristic sounds made by a horse |
lumbering | |
a. slow and laborious because of weight |
brood | |
n. a family of young animals, especially of a bird, produced at one hatching or birth |
toil | |
v. work extremely hard or incessantly |
take aback | |
v. make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected |
square | |
v. make compatible; reconcile |
meddle | |
v. intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly |
retinue | |
n. the group following and attending to some important person |
swill | |
n. kitchen refuse and scraps of waste food mixed with water for feeding to pigs |
skulk | |
v. avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill |
magistrate | |
n. a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law |
title-deed | |
n. a legal deed or document constituting evidence of a right, especially to ownership of property |
flog | |
v. beat with a cane v. beat severely with a whip or rod |
spur | |
n. a structure that holds up or serves as a foundation for something else |
clamour | |
v. utter or proclaim insistently and noisily |
contemplate | |
v. look thoughtfully for a long time at |
scoundrel | |
n. a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately |
machination | |
n. a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends |
nocturnal | |
a. belonging to or active during the night |
gander | |
n. mature male goose |
privy | |
a. informed about something secret or not generally known |
nightshade | |
n. plant related to potato, having poisonous black or red berries |
decorate | |
v. award a mark of honor, such as a medal |
forsook | |
v. (past tense of forsake) leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch |
gambol | |
v. run or jump about playfully |
ecstasy | |
n. a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion |
beatifical | |
a. blissfully happy |
fill | |
n. an amount of something which is as much as one wants or can bear |
flimsy | |
a. lacking solidity or strength |
hullabaloo | |
n. a loud, continued noise or mixture of noises |
treacherous | |
a. tending to betray |
sentinel | |
n. a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event |
conciliatory | |
a. making or willing to make concessions |
sally | |
v. make a military sortie |
wistful | |
a. having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longings |
vile | |
a. morally reprehensible; extremely unpleasant |
contemptible | |
a. deserving of contempt or scorn |
heed | |
v. pay close attention to n. paying particular notice |
gore | |
v. wound by piercing with a sharp or penetrating object or instrument |
flank | |
n. the side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip |
bay | |
v. (of a dog, especially a large one) bark or howl loudly |
hearse | |
n. a vehicle for carrying a coffin to a church or a cemetery |
bowler | |
n. a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim |
dejected | |
a. affected or marked by low spirits |
impart | |
v. bestow a quality on v. transmit (knowledge or skills) |
lamentation | |
n. the passionate and demonstrative activity of expressing grief n. a cry of sorrow and grief |
contrive | |
v. put or send forth v. make or work out a plan for; devise |
paddock | |
n. pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race |
poultice | |
n. a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material, applied to relieve soreness and inflammation |
of late | |
ad. recently |
superannuated | |
a. incapacitated or disqualified for active duty by advanced age |
shrill | |
a. (a voice or sound) high-pitched and piercing |
turnip | |
n. widely cultivated plant having a large fleshy edible white or yellow root |
sow | |
n. an adult female pig |
litter | |
n. the group of young animals born to an animal at one time |
piebald | |
a. having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly |
waft | |
v. be driven or carried along, as by the air |
mash | |
n. a mixture of ground feeds for livestock |
tureen | |
n. large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews |
spontaneous | |
a. performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without external stimulus |
precinct | |
n. a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes |
devotee | |
n. an ardent follower and admirer |
by and large | |
ad. on the whole, in general |
proclaim | |
v. declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles |
complicity | |
n. guilt as an accomplice in a crime or offense |
stratagem | |
n. an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade |
inflict | |
v. impose something unpleasant |
contemptuously | |
ad. without respect; in a disdainful manner |
gill | |
n. a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces |
falter | |
v. walk unsteadily |
hide | |
n. body covering of a living animal |
haunch | |
n. a buttock and thigh considered together, in a human or animal |
bray | |
n. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey or mule |
prance | |
v. cause (a horse) to bound spring forward |
hush | |
n. a silence |
knacker | |
n. someone who buys up old horses for slaughter |
trot | |
v. proceed or cause to proceed at a pace faster than a walk |
canter | |
n. a horse's gait resembling but slower than a gallop |
matchwood | |
n. very small pieces or splinters of wood |
indignantly | |
ad. in manner indicating anger or annoyance at something perceived as unfair |
oration | |
n. a formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion |
lamented | |
a. mourned for |
interment | |
n. the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave |
crate | |
n. a rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping |
inebriate | |
n. a chronic drinker |
long since | |
ad. long ago, for a long time |
morose | |
a. showing a brooding ill humor |
taciturn | |
a. habitually reserved and uncommunicative |
filial | |
a. having or assuming the relation of a child or offspring |
frugal | |
a. avoiding waste |
speculate | |
v. talk over or review in an idle or casual way and with an element of doubt or without sufficient reason |
sapling | |
n. young tree |
neigh | |
v. make a characteristic sound, of a horse |
stroll | |
v. walk leisurely and with no apparent aim |
haughty | |
a. having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy |
huddle | |
v. crowd or draw together |
nuzzle | |
v. dig out with the snout |
tug | |
v. pull (something) hard or suddenly |
tat | |
v. make lacework by knotting or looping |
deputation | |
n. a group of representatives or delegates |
eminent | |
a. standing above others in quality or position |
jug | |
n. bottle, vase |
incumbent | |
a. necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility a. currently holding an office |
sentiment | |
n. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty |
prevail | |
v. continue to exist |
subsist | |
v. support oneself |
pamper | |
v. treat with excessive indulgence |
malignant | |
a. dangerous to health; characterized by progressive and uncontrolled growth (especially of a tumor) |
subversive | |
a. in opposition to a civil authority or government n. a radical supporter of political or social revolution |
linger | |
v. move to and fro v. remain present although waning or gradually dying |
hitherto | |
ad. up to this or that time |
suppress | |
v. put out of one's consciousness v. reduce the incidence or severity of or stop |
hearty | |
a. showing warm and heartfelt friendliness |
dregs | |
n. the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds |
flit | |
v. move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart |
bang | |
v. strike violently |