Gulliver's Travels: Part One

by Jonathan Swift
Lemuel Gulliver travels to unusual and exotic lands in this unique blend of adventure and satire. Read the text here.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. diminutive
    very small
    However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who dare venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them.
  2. prodigious
    great in size, force, extent, or degree
    However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who dare venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them.
  3. expedient
    a means to an end
    The best expedient I could think of, was to creep into my house, which I accordingly did; and shutting the gate after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would suffer, and discharged my body of that uneasy load.
  4. inured
    made tough by habitual exposure
    By the same computation they provided me with sheets, blankets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had been so long inured to hardships as I.
  5. ponderous
    having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
    In one of these cells were several globes or balls of a most ponderous metal, about the bigness of our heads, and requiring a strong hand to lift them: the other cell contained a heap of certain black grains, but of no great bulk or weight, for we could hold above fifty of them in the palms of our hands.
  6. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    The natives came by degrees to be less apprehensive of any danger from me.
  7. provocation
    unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
    I had sent so many memorials and petitions for my liberty, that his Majesty at length mentioned the matter, first in the cabinet, and then in a full council; where it was opposed by none, except Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleased, without any provocation, to be my mortal enemy.
  8. edict
    a formal or authoritative proclamation
    Whereupon the Emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs.
  9. schism
    division of a group into opposing factions
    During the course of these troubles, the Emperors of Blefuscu did frequently expostulate by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a schism in religion, by offending against a fundamental doctrine of our great prophet Lustrog, in the fifty-fourth chapter of the Blundecral...
    When Swift uses this word, he is usually referring to the many divisions of the church, and it is also a source for his social commentary.
  10. encomium
    a formal expression of praise
    This great prince received me at my landing with all possible encomiums, and created me a Nardac upon the spot, which is the highest title of honor among them.
  11. grandeur
    the quality of being magnificent or splendid
    There were six ambassadors, with a train of about five hundred persons, and their entry was very magnificent, suitable to the grandeur of their master, and the importance of their business.
  12. maxim
    a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
    Although we usually call reward and punishment the two hinges upon which all government turns, yet I could never observe this maxim to be put in practice by any nation except that of Lilliput.
    This word is another reference to philosophical or mathematical consideration.
  13. extenuate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or degree of
    In the several debates upon this impeachment, it must be confessed that his Majesty gave many marks of his great lenity, often urging the services you had done him, and endeavoring to extenuate your crimes.
  14. impediment
    something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
    That the loss of your eyes would be no impediment to your bodily strength, by which you might still be useful to his Majesty.
  15. insatiable
    impossible to fulfill, appease, or gratify
    I stayed but two months with my wife and family; for my insatiable desire of seeing foreign countries would suffer me to continue no longer.
Created on Sat Mar 09 18:41:28 EST 2013 (updated Wed Jul 30 18:56:08 EDT 2025)

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