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Unit 1: Selection Vocabulary 3

This list covers "The Conjure-Man Dies: A Mystery Tale of Dark Harlem," "The Monkey’s Paw," and Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science.
18 words 211 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. voracious
    excessively greedy and grasping
    Along swung boys in camels’ hair beside girls in bunny and muskrat; broad, flat heels clacked, high narrow ones clicked, reluctantly leaving the disgorging theaters or eagerly seeking the voracious dance halls.
  2. concentrated
    intensely focused
    Its concentrated gloom was only intensified by an occasional spangle of electric light, splashed ineffectually against the blackness, or by the unearthly pallor of the sky, into which a wall of dwellings rose to hide the moon.
  3. profoundly
    to a great depth psychologically
    It was about an hour before midnight that one of the doors rattled and flew open, revealing the bareheaded, short, round figure of a young man who manifestly was profoundly agitated and in a great hurry.
  4. profusion
    the property of being extremely abundant
    Dr. Archer, in passing, had an impression of a young man as long and lean as himself, of a similarly light complexion except for a profusion of dark brown freckles, and of a curiously scowling countenance that glowered from either ill humor or apprehension.
  5. incline
    lower or bend, as in a nod or bow
    Finding no sign of another lighting fixture, he directed the instrument in his hand toward the figure in the chair and saw a bare black head inclined limply sidewise, a flaccid countenance with open mouth and fixed eyes staring from under drooping lids.
  6. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    He removed the instrument, disconnected first one, then the other, rubber tube at their junction with the bell, blew vigorously through them in turn, replaced them, and repeated the operation of listening.
  7. articulate
    characterized by clear expressive language
    Jinx became articulate. “He didn’t do nothin’ the whole time I was in there. Nothin’ but talk. He tol’ me who I was and what I wanted befo’ I could open my mouth..."
  8. radical
    far beyond the norm
    Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.
  9. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
    The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth.
  10. consequence
    the outcome of an event
    "Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud," said the sergeant-major, "but I warn you of the consequences."
  11. credulity
    tendency to believe readily
    His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords.
  12. compensation
    the act of making amends for service, loss, or injury
    "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."
  13. apathy
    the trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things
    But the days passed, and expectation gave place to resignation—the hopeless resignation of the old, sometimes miscalled, apathy.
  14. will
    a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
    He is good with his hands and good with his men, “possessing an iron will as well as an iron frame,” according to his doctor.
  15. conduct
    behave in a certain manner
    The ways in which he deals with others, conducts himself, and makes plans will all change.
  16. fuse
    any igniter used to initiate the burning of a propellant
    The fat end is for tamping—packing down—loose powder. The other end comes to a sharp, narrow point and is for poking holes through the gunpowder to set the fuse.
  17. forge
    a workplace where metal is worked by heating and hammering
    Phineas’s tamping iron is very smooth to the touch, smooth from the blacksmith’s forge as well as from constant use.
  18. routine
    an unvarying or habitual method or procedure
    They follow a strict routine.
Created on Fri Nov 13 08:26:32 EST 2020 (updated Tue Dec 01 15:20:50 EST 2020)

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