A Storm of Swords: Prologue–Chapter 12

by George R.R. Martin
The battle for control of the kingdom of Westeros continues in the third volume of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 12, Chapters 13–26, Chapters 27–40, Chapters 41–54, Chapters 55–68, Chapter 69–Epilogue

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 Clash of Kings, A Dance with Dragons
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. scabbard
    a sheath for a sword or dagger or bayonet
    "The light that brings the dawn," others answered, and more swords were pulled from scabbards.
  2. sheath
    a protective covering, as for a knife or sword
    Steel whispered on leather faint as hope as Chett eased his dagger from its sheath.
  3. don
    put on clothes
    The ravens were flapping and screaming, flying about their cages and banging off the bars, and all about the camp the brothers of the Night's Watch were rising, donning their armor, buckling on swordbelts, reaching for battleaxes and bows.
  4. sanctity
    the quality of being holy
    I wonder what the High Septon would have to say about the sanctity of oaths sworn while dead drunk, chained to a wall, with a sword pressed to your chest.
  5. bandy
    exchange blows
    "It is Lady Catelyn I serve. And she commanded me to deliver you safe to your brother Tyrion at King's Landing, not to bandy words with you. Be silent."
    "Bandy" also means "discuss lightly" but Brienne is not a woman who enjoys light discussions. Because her focus is on being a warrior, her use of the verb "bandy" would connect to fighting. Additionally, Brienne sees most of Jaime's words as insulting blows to her and life itself because they're coming out of the mouth of a monster guilty of many crimes.
  6. cretin
    a person of subnormal intelligence
    They did defeat me with swords, you chinless cretin.
  7. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
    In his day Ser Robin Ryger had been a notably tenacious fighter, but his day was done--he was of an age with Hoster Tully, and had grown old with his lord.
  8. parry
    blocking a lunge with a circular motion of the sword
    An oar was not a sword, but the blade could break a man's face if well swung, and the shaft could be used to parry.
  9. evasive
    deliberately vague or ambiguous
    "His Grace took a wound storming the Crag," Maester Vyman said, still evasive, "but writes that it is no cause for concern, and that he hopes to return soon."
  10. dub
    raise to knighthood
    Them of us as survived the fight at the winch towers got ourselves dabbed by the High Septon and dubbed by the Kingsguard.
    "Dub" also means "give a nickname to"--this definition would not apply to the example sentence, but once dubbed, a warrior gains a "Ser" in front of his name and can go on to earn other titles based on his actions as a knight. Because he had killed Aerys, Jaime was dubbed "Kingslayer" although he would argue that the deeds of "Barristan the Bold" are what he had modeled himself after.
  11. condolence
    an expression of sympathy with another's grief
    I hear you're commander of the City Watch. Shall I offer congratulations or condolences?
  12. insensate
    devoid of feeling and consciousness and animation
    "Maester Frenken is not so determined to keep me insensate."
  13. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
    "A dead enemy is a joy forever," Tyrion said blithely, though Ser Mandon was not his true enemy.
  14. churlish
    having a bad disposition; surly
    The Tyrell marriage had been Tyrion's notion, in point of fact, but it would seem churlish to try to claim that now.
  15. lithe
    moving and bending with ease
    He seemed taller than he'd been when she'd first met him, but still so lithe and graceful, and Sansa had never seen another boy with such wonderful eyes.
  16. chuff
    blow hard and loudly
    Chunky Ser Kennos of Kayce, who chuffed and puffed every time he raised his longsword, seemed to be holding his own against Osney Kettleblack, but Osney's brother Ser Osfryd was savagely punishing the frog-faced squire Morros Slynt.
  17. disarray
    untidiness, especially of clothing and appearance
    The free folk. If his brothers were to catch them in such disarray, many of them would pay for that freedom with their life's blood.
  18. bane
    something causing misery or death
    He was First Ranger by then, and the bane of all my people.
  19. squall
    sudden violent winds, often accompanied by precipitation
    When a sudden squall had enveloped them six days into the voyage, she heard them through the hatches; the horses kicking and screaming, the riders praying in thin quavery voices each time Balerion heaved or swayed.
    As a verb, "squall" means "make high-pitched whiny noises" and could describe the sounds the horse are making, but the word is used as a noun in the example sentence to explain the reason why the horses are squalling on the ship.
  20. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    At first Groleo had wanted the dragons caged and Dany had consented to put his fears at ease, but their misery was so palpable that she soon changed her mind and insisted they be freed.
  21. venal
    capable of being corrupted
    "A queen must listen to all," she reminded him. "The highborn and the low, the strong and the weak, the noble and the venal. One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found."
  22. obstinacy
    resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
    His obstinacy made her angry.
    Compare this noun with the adjective "tenacious" in this list. Both words connect to stubbornness, but as seen in the example sentences, a tenacious person is often seen more positively than an obstinate one.
  23. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    And if he is sincere in his devotion to your cause, he will not begrudge you three shiploads of trade goods.
  24. fickle
    marked by erratic changeableness in affections
    The Lannisters had taken him from the flank, and his fickle bannermen had abandoned him by the hundreds in the hour of his greatest need.
  25. doff
    remove
    Gone, all gone, he thought dully, remembering how fat Hal's white belly always showed beneath his grease-stained doublet, the long scar the fish hook had left across Will's face, the way Jate always doffed his cap at the women, be they five or fifty, highborn or low.
    Compare with "don" in this list. The two verbs are antonyms. Similarly, the descriptions surrounding the verbs show opposite moods: in one, the brothers of the Night's Watch are alert and donning their armor for bloody battle; here, the battle is over and Davos is dully remembering how a fallen friend used to doff his cap to show his gentle respect for women.
  26. elusive
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    He'd searched for hidden passages too, knowing the Spider must have ways of coming and going unseen, but those had proved equally elusive.
    Compare with "evasive" in this list. The adjectives can be synonymous, but the Latin root "ludere" gives "elusive" a more playful tone, while "evasive" measures are often taken to avoid danger. Maester Vyman was being evasive about Robb's wound because he had been commanded not to speak to Catelyn. Here, the hidden passages were built for evasion, but Tyrion was not in danger when he was looking for their elusive locations.
  27. disposition
    your usual mood
    I have such a delicate disposition, and your scar is so dreadful to look upon...
  28. conclave
    a confidential or secret meeting
    Thank the archmaesters of Oldtown, those who wished to insist on Pycelle's restoration on the grounds that only the Conclave may make or unmake a Grand Maester.
  29. egress
    the act or means of going out
    He did require a means of secret egress, should he ever be trapped by his enemies, but that door does not connect with any other passages.
  30. paragon
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind
    "I know their reasons. What are yours? The honor of serving beside such paragons as Meryn Trant and Boros Blount?"
Created on Sat Jan 11 21:38:18 EST 2014 (updated Mon Oct 01 17:02:08 EDT 2018)

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