Glossary of Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes
Chapter I
Section 1
Pg. 1
Wharves
(wharf)- a landing place for ships to load or unload cargo
Quarrel
– to argue
Cocks
- roosters
Malt –
grain (usually barley) that is used for brewing
Granaries
– storehouses for grain
(Ship)
Holds – spaces below a ship’s deck for storing cargo
Hovels
– miserable dwellings
Halters
– a rope or leather strap fastened around a horse’s head
Lowed –
to make the sound of cattle (moo)
Weather
vanes – rotating blade that indicates the direction of the wind
Steeples
– tall towers with spires (thin points) on top, especially found on churches
Pg. 2
Feeble
– weak, without strength, force, or effectiveness
Stout –
too round or fat
Bellows
– yells
Penetrate
– to make a way into, or pierce
Pertly
– cheeky, lively
Wallowing
– indulging oneself
Pg. 3
Breeches
– pants
Wry –
twisted into a expression of disgust, disappointment, or mockery
Lank –
Tall and lean; long and limp
Swinish
– pig-like
Lorded
– domineered; made others obey
Infernally
– detestably, tiringly
Blandly
– plainly
Pg. 4
Flaccid
– hanging loosely; not firm
Parasitic
– living on or drawing nourishment from another
Servitude
– the condition of being forced to work for others without freedom
Autocratic
– having unlimited power
Pg. 5
Brackish
– slightly salty
Annealing
– toughening (glass or metal) by heating and then cooling
Subdued
– overcome, under control
Bustling
– making a show of hurrying
Pg. 6
Conventional
– traditional
lingering
– staying a long time, especially as if reluctant to leave
halo –
ring of light shone around the head
wages –
regular payment to an employee
pg. 7
formidable
– difficult to do or overcome
hearth
– floor of a fireplace
elegance
– tasteful appearance or style
ethereal
– light and delicate in appearance; heavenly
apoplectic
– intense enough to threaten
stays –
wires supporting the corset
prissy
– prim, snobby
pg. 8
buxom –
plump and healthy looking
spindly
– long or tall and thin
maturity
– having reached full growth or development
hemp –
a plant from which coarse fibers for cloth are obtained
Pg. 9
innumerable
– too many to be counted
artisan
– a skilled manual workman in an industry or trade
gauge –
a standard measure of contents; i.e. thickness or metal
crucible
– a pot in which metals are melted; a test
Section 2
Pg. 10
Befitted
- suited
Venerable
– worthy of deep respect because of age, associations, etc
Remote
– far away from civilization
Groping
– searching blindly
Deacon
– a clergyman ranking below a priest; a layman attending to church business
Pious –
devout in religion; virtuous
Gruel –
thin porridge
Petticoat
– female’s undergarment
Genteel
– affectedly polite
Pg. 11
Scalded
– injured or pained with hot liquid; to heat near boiling point
Sluggards
– a slow or lazy person
Surging
– To move forward like waves
Graven
- carved
Agape –
open-mouthed
Pg. 12
Haughty
– proud of oneself; looking down on others
Expound
– to set forth or explain in detail
Sulky –
sullen, silent, bad tempered
Wrathfully
– done in extreme anger
Section 3
Pg. 14
Patron
– landowner, one who pays for the work of an artist.
Splayed
– spread apart or slanted
Gadroon
– ornamental pattern in silver
Pg. 15
Reverie
– a daydream
Arrogantly
– done in a proud or overbearing way
Pg. 16
Gig – a
light, two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage
Unobtrusively
– going unnoticed
Affluence
– riches or wealth
Sprigged-
decorated with small branches or flowers
Soldering
– cementing metal parts together
Pg. 17
Garland
– a wreath of flowers hung as decoration
Repousse
– patterns made in silver by hammering on the reverse side.
Intricate
– very complicated
Pg. 18
Protuberant
– bulging outward from a surface
Vulgarity
– lacking in refinement or poor taste
Pg. 19
August
– majestic, imposing
Mincing
– cutting into small pieces with a knife
Solemnly
– done without smiling
Patronage
– support given by a patriot
Diligent
– hard working; putting in effort
Esquire
– a courtesy title placed after a surname
Section 4
Pg. 21
Flagon
– tall glass used for drinking
Leisurely
– without hurrying
Pg. 22
Solitude
– state of isolation
Lamentable
- regrettable
Section 5
Pg. 23
Dire –
dreadful terrible; predicting trouble; extreme or urgent
Abroad
– away from one’s own country; out and about
Pg. 24
Perspiration
- sweat
Baptized
– to give a Christian name
Pg. 26
Frilly
– an unnecessary extra
Bow-legged
– outward curvature of legs
Sluts –
a slovenly, lazy woman
Pg. 27
Currants
– dried fruit of a small seedless grape
Pg.28
Gentlefolk
– people of good family
Section 6
Pg. 30
Halting
– spoken hesitantly
Fatigue
– tiredness from hard work
Whist –
card game for two players
Mum – silent
