A Clash of Kings: Chapters 28–41

by George R.R. Martin
In the second volume of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, six rival houses continue to battle to rule the kingdom of Westeros.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 13, Chapters 14–27, Chapters 28–41, Chapters 42–55, Chapters 56–69

Here are links to our lists for other volumes in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: A Game of Thrones, A Storm of Swords, A Dance with Dragons
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ensnare
    catch in or as if in a trap
    Thrashing and growling at the net, trying to rip free, Summer was only ensnaring himself worse.
  2. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Even abed, he worked well into the morning—reading by the flickering light of a candle, scrutinizing the reports of Varys's whisperers, and poring over Littlefinger's books of accounts until the columns blurred and his eyes ached.
  3. behest
    an authoritative command or request
    "I am come at Her Grace's behest, not to drink with you, Imp."
  4. rebuff
    reject outright and bluntly
    "Yes. Her Grace bids me inform you that Ser Jacelyn Bywater defied a command issued in the king's own name."
    Which means that Cersei has already ordered Bywater to release Pycelle, and been rebuffed.
  5. defiance
    intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
    The defiance went from Lancel all at once. The young knight fell to his knees a frightened boy.
  6. wile
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
    Tyrion reflected on the men who had been Hand before him, who had proved no match for his sister's wiles.
  7. provender
    a stock or supply of foods
    Now she was fled, and the small household she'd left could not begin to tend the needs of all the knights, lords, and highborn prisoners Lord Tywin had brought, so the Lannisters must forage for servants as well as for plunder and provender.
  8. bulwark
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
    Within that mighty bulwark, the kitchens and stables and yards sheltered safe from wind and wave.
  9. hector
    talk to or treat someone in a bossy or bullying way
    Beneath the tight-trimmed beard his heavy jaw clenched hard, yet he did not hector her about titles.
  10. taut
    subjected to great tension; stretched tight
    Stannis clenched his jaw, his face taut.
  11. presume
    take liberties or act with too much confidence
    Stannis frowned at her. "You presume too much, Lady Stark. I am the rightful king, and your son no less a traitor than my brother here. His day will come as well."
  12. taunt
    a cruel or scornful remark
    "My lords!" Catelyn said. "We ought to be hammering out the terms of an alliance, not trading taunts."
    The verb "hammer" is used to connect to the medieval image of a blacksmith and his forge; this can also be seen in Catelyn's earlier thought: "It would be no easy thing to forge a peace between these brothers" (as a verb, "forge" means "create by hammering"). Although unintended by Catelyn, it could also be seen as a taunt, since the brothers are now fighting over a throne that their older brother had won with his warhammer.
  13. paltry
    contemptibly small in amount or size
    And you will destroy me? With what, pray? That paltry rabble I see there huddled under the castle walls?
    Compare with "meager" in the list for the Prologue-Chapter 13. Both adjectives refer to a very small amount, but "paltry" is more insulting (it used to mean "trash"). In the example sentences, "meager" is used by the narrator to describe the turnout for Joffrey's tourney, while "paltry" is used by Renly to show he's not afraid of Stannis's "rabble" ("a disorderly crowd of people") because in contrast, he has the support of much bigger, more loyal, and better disciplined armies.
  14. cumbersome
    difficult to handle or use, especially because of size or weight
    His great mass of foot he had left behind at Bitterbridge with his young queen, his wagons, carts, draft animals, and all his cumbersome siege machinery, while Renly himself led his knights and freeriders in a swift dash east.
  15. diminish
    decrease in size, extent, or range
    Leave him unblooded and he will only grow stronger, while your own power is diminished by battle.
  16. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    Joffrey stood in the center of the throng, winding an ornate crossbow.
    The choice of an ornate crossbow shows a lot about Joffrey's character: the ornate aspect of it shows how the king likes to flaunt his wealth; and the fact that it's a long-distance weapon shows that he's not much of a warrior; later, his uncle/father, who is dishonorably known as the Kingslayer but is respected for his skill with a sword, says to another young boy: "The crossbow is a coward's weapon."
  17. wanton
    unprovoked or without motive or justification
    Wanton brutality is no way to win your people's love...or your queen's.
  18. reconcile
    bring into consonance or accord
    No marriage will reconcile Stark and Lannister after all that has happened, I fear.
  19. abomination
    a person who is loathsome or disgusting
    Bastards were common enough, but incest was a monstrous sin to both old gods and new, and the children of such wickedness were named abominations in sept and godswood alike.
  20. beseech
    ask for or request earnestly
    She went to the Maid and beseeched her to lend her courage to Arya and Sansa, to guard them in their innocence.
  21. breach
    an opening, especially a gap in a dike or fortification
    We'll strengthen the defenses. Pits and spikes, caltrops scattered on the slopes, every breach mended.
  22. baleful
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    When the direwolf raised his head, his eyes glowed red and baleful, and water streamed down from his jaws like slaver.
  23. decimate
    kill in large numbers
    He did not like this news; he had counted on the brothers Baratheon decimating each other in bloody battle.
    Compare with "demolish" in the list for Chapters 14-27. Both verbs connect to destruction, but to demolish is to completely destroy, usually structures (the Latin "de" means "apart" and "moliri" means "to build"); to decimate is to kill a portion of a population (the Latin "decimus" means "tenth" and "decimate" comes from the Roman solution to punishing groups of rebellious soldiers without destroying their armies: 1 out of 10 gets killed by other 9).
  24. simper
    smile in an insincere, unnatural, or coy way
    Varys gave him a simpering smile. "You would win, my lord.
  25. adverse
    contrary to your interests or welfare
    "You'd find it easier to buy a lord than a chicken, I daresay. Of course, lords cluck prouder than chickens, and take it ill if you offer them coin like a tradesman, but they are seldom adverse to taking gifts...honors, lands, castles..."
  26. peevish
    easily irritated or annoyed
    "By rights I should have my sister's command," he admitted, uncomfortably aware of how peevish that sounded.
  27. surfeit
    the state of being more than full
    "Let my uncle Aeron see to it. I'll give him six ships, all but Foamdrinker and Sea Bitch, and he can burn and drown to his god's surfeit."
  28. buffet
    strike, beat repeatedly
    Rhaegal and Viserion were fighting over a scrap of meat, buffeting each other with their wings as smoke hissed from their nostrils.
    In Middle English, "buffe" means "blow"--this can be seen in the dragons' physical beating of each other and in the blow to Cersei's ego when her order was rejected (see "rebuff" in this list). Here, "buffet" could be a pun: when used as a noun with a long a sound (in its verb form, the stress is on the first syllable), it means "a meal set out at which guests help themselves"--the dragons are buffeting each other over a buffet of snake meat that Dany had chopped up and cooked for them.
  29. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    She could not be oblivious to the unrest around them, but his sister always believed in putting on the brave show.
  30. turmoil
    violent agitation
    Yet by evenfall the city was still in turmoil, though Bronn reported that the fires were quenched and most of the roving mobs dispersed.
Created on Sat Jan 11 21:12:22 EST 2014 (updated Mon Oct 01 16:59:27 EDT 2018)

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