4th Grade Word List - Literature

mischievous

a. deliberately causing harm or damage

fright

n. an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger

mole

n. a small usually brown spot on the skin

grin

n. a facial expression produced by grinning especially in pleasure or amusement

pervert

v. change the inherent purpose or function of something

splinter

n. a group or faction broken away from a parent body

shudder

n. an almost pleasurable sensation of fright
v. tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

tickle

v. touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness

garret

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

tendril

n. slender stem-like structure by which some twining plants attach themselves to an object for support

foliage

n. leaf-like architectural ornament
n. plant leaves collectively

farthing

n. a former British bronze coin worth a quarter of a penny

wondrous

ad. extremely well
a. extraordinarily good or great

gauze

n. a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave

repose

n. freedom from activity
n. the absence of mental stress or anxiety

beckon

v. signal with the hands or nod
v. summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture

unwonted

a. out of the ordinary

cankered

a. affected by a malign or corrupting influence

crooked

a. irregular in shape or outline

hasten

v. act or move at high speed

bawl

v. shout loudly and without restraint

mantle

n. a loose sleeveless cloak or shawl, worn especially by women

congenial

a. pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or inclination

countenance

n. the appearance conveyed by a person's face

clamber

v. climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling

thatch

v. cover (a roof or a building) with straw or a similar material

sentry

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

foster-brother

n. a male who is not a son of your parents but who is raised by your parents

melancholy

a. sad and pensive

toll

v. sound or cause to sound with a slow, uniform of strokes, as a signal or announcement

tuck

v. push, fold or turn something so as to hide them or hold them in place

frock

n. a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

thrice

ad. three times

drip

v. fall in drops

gibberish

n. unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing

forthwith

ad. without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

lackey

n. a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
n. a male servant, especially a footman

trance

n. a state of mind in which consciousness is fragile and voluntary action is poor or missing, like in deep sleep

equipage

n. equipment for particular purpose; carriage and horses with attendants;

shabby

a. showing signs of wear and tear
a. mean and unworthy and despicable

privy

a, sharing in the knowledge of something secret or private

cavalier

n. aa dashing and attentive man, especially one acting as a lady's escort

compliment

n. a remark or act expressing praise and admiration

satin

n. a smooth fabric of silk or rayon

muff

n. a warm tubular covering for the hands

bade

v. (past tense of bid) utter a greeting or farewell to

postilion

n. person who rides leading nearside left-hand side horse of team or pair drawing coach

plump

a. having a full rounded shape

magpie

n. long-tailed black-and-white crow

egress

n. the action of going out of or leaving a place

caldron

n. a very large pot that is used for boiling

spit

n. a skewer for holding meat over a fire

lath

n. a narrow thin strip of wood used as backing for plaster

rabble

n. a disorderly crowd
n. a disorganized or confused collection of things

tether

v. tie with a rope (or light chain)

coo

v. cry softly, as of pigeons

abode

n. housing that someone is living in

draught

n. a serving of drink (usually alcoholic)

flask

n. bottle that has a narrow neck

sup

n. a small amount of liquid food

legging

n. a garment covering the leg (usually extending from the knee to the ankle)

fret

v. worry unnecessarily or excessively

wad

v. compress (a soft material) into a lump or bundle

bramble

n. any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines

heath

n. a tract of level wasteland; uncultivated land with sandy soil and scrubby vegetation

haberdine

n a cod salted and dried

diminutive

a. very small

stiff

a. having a strong physiological or chemical effect

vanquish

v. come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

endue

v. give qualities or abilities to

thither

ad. to or toward that place; away from the speaker

outpost

n. an outlying branch or position of a main organization or group

porcupine

n. relatively large rodents

resplendent

a. having great beauty and splendor

benumb

v. make numb or insensitive

thaw

v. go from a frozen to a liquid state

Hereupon

ad. after or as result of this

hind

n. a female deer, especially an adult female red deer

damsel

n. a young unmarried woman

tramp

v. move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

lament

v. express sorrow, mourning, or regret

verdure

n. the lush appearance of flourishing vegetation
n. green foliage