Esk (esk), a river in Scotland flowing into the Solway Firth.
espouse (es-pouz'), make one's own; marry.
essay (e-sa'), try,
essence (es'ens), substance.
essential (e-sen'shal), indispensably necessary.
estate (es-tat'), possession; wealth.
estranged (es-tranjd'), indifferent.
eternal (e-tur'nal), endless; perpetual.
Eternal City, Rome.
ether (e'ther), an extremely fine fluid, lighter than air, supposed to pervade all space beyond the atmosphere of the earth.
ethereal (e-the're-al), spiritlike; heavenly.
Evan (e'van),
Evangeline (e-van'je-len), the gentle Acadian maiden, and subject of the poem.
evangelists (e-van'jel-istz), writers of the gospels.
evince (e-vins'), show clearly.
ewe-necked (u'nekt'), having a thin, hollow neck.
excess (ek-ses'), that which exceeds the ordinary limit, extravagance.
exclusive (eks-kloo'siv), shutting out others.
execration (ek'se-kra'shun), a cursing;
execution (ek'se-ku'shun), carrying to effect.
executive (eg-zek'u-tiv), a chief magistrate or officer who administers the government; the governing person.
exempt (eg-zempt'), free.
exertion (eg-zur'shun), effort.
exhausted (eg-zos'ted), tired out, wearied.
exit (ek'sit), departure of a player from the stage after performing his part.
expanse (eks-pans'), extent, a continuous area.
expedition (eks'pe-dish'un), excursion, voyage.
expert (eks-purt'), skillful.
expire (ek-spir'), die.
explicit (eks-plis'it), distinctly stated, clear.
expostulation (eks-pos'tu-la'shun), earnest reasoning or remonstrance.
express (eks-pres'), exact, clear,
exterior (eks-te'ri-er), outside.
exterminate (eks-tur'mi-nat), drive away, root out.
external (eks-tur'nal), outside, foreign.
extract (eks'trakt), a selection; short part of a book or writing.
extravagance (eks-trav'a-gans), want of moderation, lavishness.
extremity (eks-trem'i-ti), greatest peril.
extricate (eks'tri-kat), free.
exult (eg-zult'), be in high spirits; triumph.
facile (fas'il), ready.
faculty (fak'ul-ti), mental power.
fain (fan), willingly.
fallow (fal'o), land plowed but not seeded.
Faneuil Hall (fan'l), a building in Boston, Massachusetts, where Revolutionary orators frequently addressed public meetings.
fantastic (fan-tas'tik), grotesque; imaginary.
"fatal sisters," this refers to the three Fates of Greek mythology, "spinners of the thread of life." The first, Clotho, spins the thread of life, the second, Lachesis, determines its length, and the third, Atropos, cuts it. The Greek Fates have their counterpart in the Norse Norns.
Fata Morgana (fa'ta mor-ga'na), a mirage at sea. The spectator on shore sees images of men, houses, and ships, sometimes on the sea; so-called because formerly regarded as the work of a fairy of this name.
Father of Waters, a fanciful name given by the Indians to the Mississippi River.
fathom (fath'um), find the depth of; measure of length containing six feet.
Fatigue (fa-teg'), weariness from labor or exertion.
Federal (fed'er-al), a friend of the Constitution of the United States at its adoption.
feign (fan), pretend.
feint (fant), pretense.
Felician, Father (fe-lish'an),
felicity (fe-lis'i-ti), happiness.
fell (fel), a rocky hill.
felloe (fel'o), the outside rim of a wheel supported by the spokes.
felon (fel'un) one guilty of a crime.
Fenwick (fen wik), a Scotch family.
Feroe (fer'o), a group of islands in the North Sea between the Shetlands and Iceland.
fervently (fur'_vent-li), earnestly.
festoons (fes-toonz'), green vines or leaves hanging in a curve, garlands.
fettered (fet'erd), bound.
feudal (fu'dal), the feudal ystem, by which the holding of land depended upon rendering military service to the king or feudal lord during the Middle Ages.
filch (filch), steal.
filial (fil'yal), dutiful as a child to his parent.
film (film), a thin, slight covering.
finance (fi-nans'), public money.
"finny herd," a school of fish.
firmament (fur'ma-ment), heavens.
"fishing smack," a small sloop-rigged vessel used for fishing along the coast.
flag-bird, a poetic word for standard.
flagon (flag'un), a vessel with a narrow mouth for holding liquor.
flail (flal), a wooden instrument for threshing out grain by hand.
"flame pennons," (flam-pen'un), swallow-tailed flags.
flank (flank), the side of an animal, between the ribs and hip.
flaunt (riant), display with pride or in a showy manner.
Flemish (flem'ish), pertaining to Flanders, One of the provinces of Belgium. A favorite subject of Flemish painters was the family group around the fireside.
Flimen (flim''n),
floundering (floun'der-ing), tossing and tumbling.
flurry (flur'i), hurry.
flux (fluks), the setting in of the tide toward the shore.
fondling (fond'ling), caressing.
Fontaine quibout (fon-tan'ke-boo),
Foolish Virgins, this refers to the parable of the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25; 1-13.
foolscap (foolz'kap), long folio writing paper named from its watermark, the fool's cap and bells.
ford (ford), a place where water may be crossed on foot by wading.
forebode (for-bod'), foretell despondingly.
forfeit (for'fit), lose the right to a thing by some error or crime.
formidable (for'mi-da-b'l), alarming, dangerous.
Forsters (for'sterz), a Scotch family.
Fortunate Isles, imaginary isles where the souls of the good are made happy.
foster (fos'ter), encourage; support
fouled (fould), entangled.
fowler (foul'er), one who hunts wild fowl.
fragile (fraj'il), frail, weak.
Franks, a Germanic people on the Rhine river, who afterward founded the French monarchy.
fraternal (fra-tur'nal), brotherly
fraught (frot), mixed.
frenzied (fren'zid), furious, wild.
frequent (fre-kwent'), visit often.
fret work (fret'wurk'), ornamental raised work, as carving.
frigate (frig'ate), formerly a warship.
Froissart (froi'sart), a celebrated French chronicler who wrote a history of the fourteenth century.
frontier (fron'ter), the boundary or limits of a country.
frugal (froo'gal), thrifty.
fudge (fuj), nonsense.
"funeral pile," a pile of wood upon which the dead are burned.
funereal (fu-ne're-al), mournful.
furrows (fur'oz), wrinkles.
fustian (fus'chan), See note
futurity (fu-tu'ri-ti), time to come.
Gabriel La jeunesse (ga'bri-el la-zhu-nes'),
Galilee (gal'i-le), a lake in the northern province of Palestine.
gall (gol), chafe, annoy.
gallant (ga-lant'), a man attentive to ladies. In "Lochinvar" pronounced gal'lant on account of meter.
galliard (gal'yard),
galligas'kins (gal'i-gas'kinz), loose hose; leather leg guards.
gallows (gal'oz), guilty, ready to be executed.
Gambia (gam'bi-a), an English colony in western Africa along the river Gambia. "The chief of Gambia's golden shore" is a line in a school book, "The American Preceptor," which was used when Whittier was a boy.
gambol (gam'bol), a sportive prank; a frolic.
gambrel-roofed (gam'brel), a curved roof.
gaping (gap'ing), yawning.
garrulous (gar'oo-lus), wordy; chattering.
Gaspereau (gas-per-o'), a river in King's county, Nova Scotia, flowing into the Basin of Minas.
Gates of Hercules (hur'ku-lez), the Strait of Gibraltar.
gauge (gaj), estimate; a measure.
gauger (gaj'er), an officer, whose business it is to find the contents of casks.
gauntlet (gant'let), a long glove covering the wrist.
genial (je'ni-al; jen'yal), cheerful, kindly.
genie (je'ni), a good or evil spirit. Pl. genii.
genius (jen'yus), one who has high mental powers.
Gentile (jen'tll), one who is not a Jew.
geometric (je'e-met'trik), referring to the figures used in geometry, the branch of mathematics which treats of the measurement of lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.
Georgius Secundus (jor'jus sek-und'us), George the Second, king of Great Britain.
germinate (jur'mi nat), bud, sprout.
gesture (jes'tur), a movement of the face, body, or limbs to express ideas.
Ghent (gent), capital of province of east Flanders, Belgium.
ghoul (gool), an oriental demon, supposed to feed upon dead human bodies. In "The Bells" pronounced gol on account of rhyme.
gigantic (ji-gan-tik), large.
gill (gil), a deep narrow valley through which a river flows.
glade (glad), a cleared space in a forest.
gladiator (glad'i-a'ter), in ancient Rome a swordsman who fought in the arena with other men or animals.
glebe (gleb), turf, sod.
gleed (gled), a burning coal.
gloaming (glom'ing), twilight.
gloat (glot), stare or gaze earnestly often with a feeling of cruelty.
Glynn (glin), a county in southeastern Georgia.
goad (god), a pointed instrument to urge on a beast.
gorgeous (gor'jus), showy, magnificent.
gory (gor'i), bloody.
gowd (god: good), the Scotch name for gold.
Graemes (gramz), the name of a Scotch clan, sometimes spelled Graham.
grampus (gram'pus), a large toothed fish, valued for its oil.
granary (gran'a-ri), a storehouse for grain.
grandeur (gran'dur), majesty, loftiness.
Grand Pre' (gran-pra'), a village in King's county, Nova Scotia. The woll means "great meadow."
grapple (grap'l), seize.
grave (grav), cut letters or figures on a hard substance with a chisel.
grayling (gray'ling), a fish somewhat like a trout.
Great Harry, the name of a ship.
grenadier (gren'a-der'), in olden times a soldier armed with grenades, iron shells filled with powder and thrown among the enemy. The word is now applied to a member of the Grenadier Guards.
Greve (grav),
grewsome (groo'sum), frightful.
groat (grot), an old English silver coin worth four pence.
groin (groin), bring together in a curve.
guaranty (gar'an-ti), security.
guid (giid),
guinea stamp (gin'i), the mark or impress upon a guinea-an old English coin worth about five dollars.
guise (giz), shape; cloak.
gundalow (gun'da-le), another form for gondola (gon'do-la).
gyratory (ji'ra-te-ri), winding, whirling around a central point.
Habersham (hab'er-sham), a county in northeast Georgia. The Chattahoochee rises in this county.
habit (hab'it), a garment; behavior,
Hagar (ha'gar), See Genesis 21, 14-21.
hake-broil (hak-broil), a seafish like the cod, cooked over a beach fire.
Half-Moon, name of a boat on which Henry Hudson entered New York bay and explored the Hudson river.
Hall, a county in northern Georgia intersected by the Chattahoochee river.
halloo (ha-loo'), call.
hallow (hal'e), consecrate, make holy.
Hampton Falls (hamp'tun), a town in Rockingham county, New Hampshire, seven miles north of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
hapless (hap'les), unfortunate.
Hapsburg (haps'burg), a princely German family to which Maria Louise, wife of Napoleon, belonged.
harangue (ha-rang'), an address or speech to a crowd.
harbinger (har'bm-jer), a forerunner; usher in.
harem (ha'rem), a family of wives belonging to one man.
harpy (har'pi), one of the three daughters of Neptune and Terra, having a woman's face and body and sharp claws like a vulture; a buzzard.
Hasselt (has'elt), a town in Belgium. haunch (hanch), the hip, part of body between the ribs and thigh.
Haverhill (ha'ver-il), city in Essex county, Massachusetts.
hazard (haz'ard), chance; danger, risk.
heather (heth'er), a small, evergreen flowering shrub with rose-colored flowers native to Scotland and northern Europe.
heave (hev), force from the breast, as a sigh.
Hebrides (heb'ri-dez), islands off the western coast of Scotland.
Helicon (hel'i-kon), a famous mountain in Greece.
Helseggen (hel-seg 'n),
helter-skelter (hel'ter-skel'ter), in hurry and confusion.
henpecked (hen'pekt'), governed by one's wife.
herald (her'ald), usher in; announce.
herbage (ur'baj; hur'baj), grass, pasture.
hereditary (he-red'i-ta-ri), passing from an ancestor to a descendant.
Hermes (hur'mez), an ancient Egyptian wiseman, "the scribe of the gods," who interpreted the truth of the gods to the people. In Greek mythology, the messenger of the gods.
hermit (hur'mit), one who has retired from society and lives in solitude.
hern (hern), short form for heron, a water bird.
Herve Riel (hur-va're-el')
hilarious (hi-la'ri-us), noisy; merry.
hilt (hilt), the handle of a sword.
Hindostan (hin'doo-stan), the central peninsula of Asia.
hoary (hor'i), gray with age.
Hoeyholm (ho'a-hom)
Hogue (hog), See note.
hold (hold), a castle, stronghold.
hollas (ho-loz'), calls out.
holster (hol'ster), a horseman's case for a pistol.
Holy Grail (ho'li gral), the cup or bowl from which Christ drank at the Last Supper.
Holy Supper, Christ's last supper with His disciples.
horde (hord), a wandering tribe; a vast multitude.
hospitality (hos'pi-tal'i-ti), the practice of entertaining friends and strangers with kindness.
hostage (hos'taj), a person who remains in the hands of another for the fulfilment of certain conditions; pledge.
housings (houz'ingz), pl. trappings; a cover for a horse's saddle.
hover (huv'er), hang fluttering in the air.
Huddup (hu-dup'), a New England interjection addressed to a horse meaning "Get along."
hue (hu), color; "hue and cry," a loud outcry with which thieves were anciently pursued.
Huguenot (hu'ge-not), a French Protestant of the sixteenth century.
hurry-skurry (hur'ri-skur'ri), confused bustle.
husbandman (huz'band-man), a tiller of the soil, a farmer.
Hydra (hi'dra), in classical mytholology, the water serpent with nine heads slain by Hercules: each head, on being cut off, became two.
Hymeneal (hi'me-ne'al), referring to marriage; from Hymen, the Greek god of marriage.
hypothesis (hi-poth'e-sis), something not proved, but taken for granted for the purpose of argument.
hyssop (his'up), a fragrant plant whose leaves have a strong taste.
Ibrahim (e'bra-hem), the Arabic for Abraham.
ideal (i-de'al), an imaginary standard of perfection; faultless.
identity (i-den'ti-ti), sameness, the being the same.
"I dew vum," a mild New England oath, "I do vow."
idyl (i-dil), a short poem describing country life.
Iflesen (ef-la'sen)
ignoble (ig-no'b'l), not noble, low.
ignominy (ig'no-min-i), dishonor.
Illah (e'la), the Arabic for "the God." "La illah illa Allah" means "Allah is the God."
illconcerted (il-kon-sur'ted), poorly-planned and executed.
illimitable (i-lim'it-a-b'l), vast, immeasurable.
illuminate (i-lu'mi-nat), brighten with light.
illusion (i-lu'zhun), an unreality.
imbibe (im-bib'), receive, absorb.
imbue (im-bu'), tinge deeply.
immemorial (im'e-mo'ri-al), extending beyond reach of memory or record.
immortal (i-mor'tal), lasting forever.
immutable (i-mu'ta-b'l), unchangeable.
impede (im-ped'), hinder.
impediment (im-ped'i-ment), hindrance.
impel (im-pel'), urge on, drive.
impending (im-pend'ing), overhanging, threatening.
impenetrable (im-pen'e-tra-b'l), cannot be entered.
imperceptible (im'per-sep'ti-b'l), not easily seen or noticed.
imperious (im-pe'ri-us), haughty, kingly.
impetuous (im-pet'u-us), rushing violently; hasty.
implacable (im-pla'ka-b'l), not to be pacified; unforgiving.
importtune (im'por-tun'), urge constantly.
imposition (im'po'-zish'un), deceit; fraud.
imposture (im-pos'tur), cheat; trick.
imprecation (im'pre-ka'shun), a curse; an evil wish.
impulse (im'puls), a mental force directly urging to action.
impunity (im-pu'ni-ti), freedom from punishment or injury.
inanimate (in-an'i-mat), without life.
inarticulate (in'ar-tik'u-lat), without voice, indistinct.
incantation (in'kan-ta'shun), a magical charm said or sung.
incessant (in-ses'ant), continuing without interruption.
incident (in'si-dent), event.
incident to, in connection with.
inclement (in-klem'ent), severe; stormy.
incompetent (in-kom'pe-tent), unfit; incapable.
incomprehensible (in-kom'pre-hen'si-b'l), cannot be understood.
incongruous (in-kon'grob-us), unsuitable, unfit.
incredible (in-kred'i-b'l), hard to believe.
inculcate (in-kul'kat), teach; instill.
Ind (ind), short form for India.
indefinable (in'de-fin'a-b'l), cannot be described.
independent (in'de-pen'dent), free; self-reliant.
indiscreet (in'dis-kret'), foolish.
indispensable (in'dis-pen'sa-b'l), absolutely necessary.
induced (in-dust'), caused, lead into.
indulgence (in-dul'jens), a favor granted.
inevitable (in-ev'i-ta-b'l), certain, unavoidable.
inexhaustible (in'eg-zos'ti-b'l), cannot be emptied; unfailing.
infidel (in'fi-del), an unbeliever.
infinite (in'fi-nit), immeasurable, perfect.
infraction (in-frak'shun), a breaking, especially of the law.
infuse (in-fuz'), pour into, shed.
ingredient (in-gre'di-ent), a part of a mixture.
inhale (in-hal'), draw into the lungs.
inherent (in-her'ent), inborn, natural.
innovation (in'e-va'shun), something new or contrary to custom.
innumerable (i-nu'mer-a-b'l), cannot be numbered.
inscrutable (in-skroo'ta-b'l), not able to be understood.
insidious (in-sid'i-us), sly, deceitful.
insolence (in'so-lens), impudence.
inspire (in-spir'), to fill with hope.
instance (in'stans),
instill (in-stil'), bring to mind,
insulated (in'su-latf ed), separated.
insuperable (in-su'per-a-b'l), cannot be overcome.
insurmountable (in'sur-moun'ta-b'l), impassable.
intact (in-takt'), untouched; whole
integrity (in-teg'ri-ti), honesty.
intelligence (in-tel'i-jens), news,
intercourse (in'ter-kors), interchange of thought and feeling; trade.
interminably (in-tur'mi-na-bli), endlessly.
internal (in-tur'nal), inland; inside.
interpose (in-ter-poz'), place between.
interpret (in-tur'pret), tell the meaning of.
interrogatory (in'te-rog'a-to-ri), a question.
interval (in'ter-val), a space of time between any two events.
interview (in'ter-vu), a meeting face to face.
intolerable (in-tol'er-a-b'l), not capable of being endured.
intricate (in'tri-kat), entangled.
intrigue (in-treg'), a plot or conspiracy.
intruder (in-trood'er), one who enters without invitation.
inundate (in'un-dat), cover with a flood.
inured (in-urd'), accustomed.
invade (in-vad'), enter for conquest or plunder.
invariably (in-va'ri-a-bli), constantly.
inventory (in'ven-to-ri), catalogue or list of goods, furniture, etc., with cost attached.
invigorate (in-vig'or-at), refresh, give life to.
invincible (in-vin'si-b'l), not able to be overcome or conquered.
inviolate (in-vl'e-lat), uninjured.
involuntarily (in-vorun-ta-ri-li), not under control of the will; unwillingly.
irascible (i-ras'i-b'l; i-ras'), easily angered.
ire (ir), anger.
irised (i'rist), having beautiful colors, like the rainbow.
irksome (urk'sum), tedious, tiresome.
irrational (i-rash'un-al), without reason.
Ishmael (ish'ma-el), Genesis 21.14-21.
"Islands of the Blest," mythical islands supposed to be in the Western Ocean where the favorites of the gods were conveyed at death and dwelt in ever-lasting joy.
Islington (iz'ling-tun), a district in the north of London.
Israel (iz'ra-el), the descendants of Israel, or Jacob.
"I wis" (i-wis'), surely, certainly.
jackanapes', a short form of "Jack of Apes," an impertinent fellow.
Jacob's Ladder (ja'kub), Genesis 28, 12.
jaded (jad'eti), tired by overwork.
jargon (jar'gon), a confused, unintelligible language.
jerkin (jur'kin), a jacket or short coat.
Jerusalem (je-roo'sa-lem), the capital of the Jewish people.
Jesuit (jez'u-it), one of a Roman Catholic religious order called "The Society of Jesus," founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1543.
Joab (jo'ab), the "captain of the host" of the army during nearly the whole of David's reign.
jocund (jok'und), merry, gay.
Johns Hopkins University, a university in Baltimore, Maryland.
Joris (jor'is), the Flemish word for George.
journalistic (jur'nal-is'tik), referring to journalism, newspaper, or magazine articles.
Jove (jov), the short form for Jupiter.
jovial (jo'vi-al), merry, jolly.
Jugurtha (joo-gur'tha),
junto (jun'to), a secret council to talk over affairs of government.
Jupiter (joo'pi-ter), in Roman mythology, the supreme god of heaven. In Greek mythology, known as Zeus.
justification (jus'ti-fi-ka'shun), defense; support by proof.
Kaatskill (kats'kil), a group of mountains of the Appalachian system in New York state.
Kalevala (ka'la-va'la), "The land of heroes," the title of the national epic of Finland.
keel (kel), the lowest timber of a vessel, to which the ribs are attached.
keelson (kel'sun), a beam laid on the middle of the floor timbers over the keel to strengthen it.
kelp (kelp), a large, coarse seaweed.
ken (ken), knowledge,
khan (kan; kan), an Asiatic prince; an Eastern inn.
Kieldholm (keld'hom),
kine (kin), cattle.
King Arthur, a mythical British king, founder of the Knights of the Round Table, made famous in Tennyson's "Idylls of the King."
kinsman (kmz'man), a relative.
kirtle (kur't'l), a garment.
"kith and kin," friends and relatives.
knarred (nard), the poetic form of gnarled, knotted.
Knickerbocker Dietrich (nik'er-bok'er de'trik),
knoll (nol), a little, round hill.
Koordistan (koor'di-stan), a region of western Asia, mostly in Turkey, but partly in Persia.
Kurroglou (koor'e-glou),
Kyrat (ke'rat),
lacklustre (lak'lus'ter), wanting brightness.
lade (lad), draw water; put load on or in.
lading (lad'ing), that which makes a load or cargo.
laggard (lag'ard), a slow person.
lagoon (la-goon'), a shallow channel or lake.
lamentably (lam'en-ta-bli), sadly.
lance (lans), a long spear carried by a horseman.
languor (lan'ger), a state of mind or body caused by exhaustion, weariness.
Lanier, Sydney (la-ner'),
Lannes (Ian), one of Napoleon's generals.
lapse (laps), a passing away slowly.
larboard (lar'bord), the left-hand side of a ship to one on board facing the bow, port.
Lascar (las'kar), a native sailor or cooly of India.
lashing (lash'ing), cord; strike quickly or cut.
Latin (lat'in) Latium, a country of Italy in which Rome was situated, hence Roman, the language of the ancient Romans.
latticed window (lat'ist), crossed open work of wood or metal, forming a window.
laureate (le're-it), the English court poet.
laurel (le'rel), an evergreen shrub having sweet-smelling leaves,
Laurens (lo'rens), the name of an old southern family. John and Henry Laurens are famous statesmen of Revolutionary times.
laving (lav'ing), bathing.
lavish (lav'ish), extravagant.
lay (la), song.
lea (le), a grassy field.
league (leg), a measure of distance equal to about three miles.
leaguer (le'ger), a camp.
Lebanon (leb'a-non), a mountain range in Syria.
"Le Carillon de Dunkerque" (le kar'i-lon-de-dun'kurk), a popular song, the tune of which was played on the Dunkirk chimes.
ledger (lej'er), the principal account book of a business firm.
lee (le), the calm, sheltered side.
legacy (leg'a-si), a gift, by will, of money or property.
legend (lej'end), a wonderful story of the past having no historical proof.
legibly (lej'i-bli), plainly
Lentulus (len'tu-lus), a Roman politician who lived in the first century, B. C.
leper (lep'er), one afflicted with leprosy.
leprosy (lep'ro-si), a loathsome skin disease.
Letiche (la-tesh'),
Leuctra (luk'tra), a Spartan pass.
levee (lev'e), a morning reception held by a person of rank.
leviathan (le-vi'a-than), a large water animal described in the Book of Job, hence anything huge.
levy (lev'i), collect troops by authority.
liberal (lib'er-al), wide, spacious.
licentious (li-sen'shus), unrestrained, both morally and legally.
lieutenant (lu-ten'ant), an officer ranking just below a captain in the army and a commander in the navy.
Lilinau (lil'i-no'),
limner (lim'ner), a painter who illumines books or parchments.
linchpin (linch'pin'), the pin which goes through the end of the axle of a wheel and keeps it in place.
lineage (lin'e-aj), family.
linendraper (lin'en-dra'per), one who deals in linen.
list (list), will. pl. n. an enclosing for a tournament.
listlessly (list'les-li), in an indifferent manner.
literature (lit'er-a-tur), the written or printed literary productions of a country or period of time.
lithe (lith), easily bent, pliable.
livery (liv'er-i), a uniform.
loath (loth), unwilling.
local (lo'kal), belonging to a particular place.
Lochiel (lok-el'),
Lodore (lo-dor'), a cataract in the Derwent river in England.
Lofoden (lo-fo'den), a group of islands off the coast of northern Norway.
logical (loj'i-kal), according to reason.
Lokeren (lo'ker-en), a town in Belgium.
loon (loon), a northern web-footed water bird whose note sounds like a laugh.
looping (loop'ing), fold.
loose (loos), unbind.
Looz (looz), a town in Belgium.
lore (lor), knowledge.
Loupgaroo (loo'ga'roo'), meaning a "Were-wolf," a person who, according to the superstition of the Middle Ages, became a wolf in order to devour children.
Lucifer (lu'si-fer),
luminous (lu'mi-nus), giving out light.
lure (lur), anything used as an enticement; entice.
lusty (lus'ti), healthy, vigorous.
luxuriant (luks-u'ri-ant), very abundant.
lyceum (li-se'um), originally the grove at Athens where Aristotle taught; an academy.
Maelström (mal'strom), a whirlpool on the coast of Norway.
magnanimous (mag-nan'i-mus) great of mind; heroic.
magpie (mag'pi), a chattering bird belonging to the crow family.
main (man), ocean,
Mainote (mi'not), Maina was the gathering place for the Greek troops who, under the Greek general, Ypsilanti, fought for Greek independence.
maintop (man'top'), a platform at the head of the main-mast of a square-rigged vessel.
malice (mal'is), wicked intention to injure others.
malleable (mal'e-a-b'l), capable of being shaped by beating or by pressure.
mallow (mal'o), a weed.
Malo (ma'lo),
Malouins (mal'e-wins),
Malta (mol'ta), a rocky fortified island belonging to Great Britain, and situated in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily.
manacles (man'a-k'lz), chains for the hand or wrist.
mandate (man'dat), command.
manifest (man'i-fest), known.
manifestation (man'i-fes-ta'shun), sign.
manifold (man'i-fold), many in number.
manoeuvre (ma-noo'ver), a skillful movement with a certain aim or plan.
manor (man'er), a district over which a feudal lord ruled subject to the commands of his court-baron or lord.
"mantling blush," color or glow of youth spreading over the face.
manual (man'u-al), made or performed by the hand.
Marathon (mar'-a-thon), a plain in Greece 18 miles northeast of Athens, the scene of a famous battle between the Greeks and the Persians.
marauders (ma-rod'erz), rovers in search of plunder.
Mare Ten'ebra'rum (mar ten'e-bra'-rum), Latin words meaning "sea of darkness."
marge (marj), poetic form for margin or edge.
Marion (mar'i-on), the name of an old southern family, to which Francis Marion, a Revolutionary general, belonged.
Marmion (mar'mi-on),
marquis (mar'kwis), a nobleman of England, France, and Germany next in rank below a duke.
marshal (mar'shal), direct or lead; in the French army, the highest military officer.
mart (mart), short form for market.
martial (mar'shal), suited for war.
marveled (mar'veld), to be astonished.
maternal (ma-tur'nal), motherly.
mathematical (math'e-mat'i-kal), precise.
matin (mat'in), morning worship, prayers or songs.
Matterhorn (mat'er-horn), a high mountain peak in the Swiss Alps.
maxim (mak'sim), a true saying, proverb.
McGregor (mak-greg'er), a Scotch nobleman who tried to establish a colony in Porto Rico.
meager (me'ger), scanty, poor.
Mecheln (mek'lin), a town in Belgium.
Medford (med'ferd), a small town near Boston, Massachusetts.
mediaeval (me'di-e'val; med'i), belonging to the Middle Ages, eighth to fifteenth centuries, A. D.
meditate (med'i-tat), muse or ponder.
medium (me'di-um), substance.
meet (met), fit.
melancholy (mel'an-kol-i), gloomy.
Melita (mel'i-ta), an island, where the apostle Paul, a prisoner on the way to Rome, was shipwrecked, modern Malta.
mellow (mel'o), softened by years; tender.
memento (me-men'to), a hint or relic to awaken memory.
Memphremagog (mem'fre-ma'gog), a lake on the border of Vermont and Canada.
menace (men'as), threaten, danger.
mendicant (men'di-kant), practicing beggary.
Mersey (mur'zi), a river in England, on which Liverpool is situated.
metamorphose (met'a-mor'foz), change into a different form.
mete (met), measure; limit.
methinks (me-thinks'), it seems to me.
mewling (mul'mg),
mickle (mik'l), much, great.
Midas (mi'das), a king, in fable, whose touch turned things to gold.
mien (men), outward appearance or look.
militia (mi-lish'a), the whole military force of a nation; citizens enrolled and trained for the protection of a state.
Miller, Joaquin' (mil'er wa-ken'),
Miltiades (mil-ti'a-dez), commander of the Athenian army who conquered the Persians at Marathon.
mimosa (mi-mo'sa), plants with pods including the sensitive plants.
Minas, Basin of (mi-nas), a bay in the northwestern part of the Bay of Fundy.
miniature (min'i-a-tur), done on a very small scale.
minion (min'yun), a flattering servant or dependent.
miraculous (mi-rak'u-lus), wonderful.
mirage (me-razh'), an illusion of the eye by which objects like ships at sea are seen inverted or oases appear to travelers in the desert.
miscalculation (mis-kal'ku-la'-shun), a wrong judgment.
missal (mis'al), a mass-book.
mitigate (mit'i-gat), make less severe or painful.
mitigation (mit'i-ga'shun), relief; lessening.
moccasin (mok'a-sin), a shoe made of soft leather worn by the American Indian.
mockery (mok'er-i), imitating reality, but not real; sham.
mode (mod), manner of doing or being; custom.
Mohawk (mo'hok), a tribe of Indians.
molder (mol'der), turn into dust by natural decay.
moment (mo'ment), importance; consequence,
monody (mon'e-di), a mournful poem or song for one voice.
monograph (mon'o-graf), a paper written on one particular subject or on some branch of it.
monopoly (mo-nop'o-li), possession of the whole of anything.
monotone (mon'o-ton), a single unvaried tone or sound.
monotony (mo-not'o-ni), a tiresome sameness.
Montcalm (mont-kam'), an officer commanding the French troops at Quebec.
moorings (mobr'ingz), the place where a vessel is anchored.
moorland (moor'land), a waste land covered with patches of heather, a low shrub.
moraler (mor'al-er),
Moravian (mo-ra'vi-an), one of a sect called United Brethren, organized in Moravia in the fifteenth century.
Moskoe (mos'ko), Probably Poe had in mind the Mos'kenaso island.
Moslem (moz'lem; mos),
motive (mo'tiv), the reason for actions.
motley-braided (mot'li-brad'ed), interlaced with many colors.
mouldering (mol'der-ing), crumbling.
multitudinous (mul'tl-tu'di-nus), numerous.
Muse (muz), the goddess who is supposed to inspire poets.
muse (muz), think.
Musgraves (mus'gravz), a clan or family of Scotland.
Mussulmans (mus'ul-manz), Mohammedans, The "tottering bridge which Mussulmans say is the only pathway between Time and Eternity" is the bridge which extends over hell and which has been described as being "finer than a hair and sharper than the edge of a sword."
muster (mus'ter), the gathering of troops or ships for war.
mutation (mu-ta'shun), change.
mutiny (mu'ti-ni), a revolt against one's superior officers or any rightful authority, especially applied to sailors or soldiers.
mutual (mu'tu-al), having something in common.
Mystic (mis'tik), a river in Massachusetts.
naiad (na'yad; ni'ad), a water nymph, fabled to preside over some lake, river, brook, or fountain.
necromancer (nek'ro-man'ser), one who foretells future events by pretending to communicate with the dead.
nectar (nek'tar), in Greek mythology, the divine wine of the gods served in golden drinking-cups by Hebe, the goddess of Youth.
nepenthe (ne-pen'the), a drug supposed, by the ancient Greeks, to have the power of causing forgetfulness of sorrow.
Netherby (neth'er-bi), the name of a Scotch family or clan.
niche (nich), a hollow, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue or other erect ornament.
night-tide, night-time.
Nilus (nil'us), the Latin word for Nile.
"Nine," referring to the nine Muses of Greek mythology, goddesses of Song, Dance, Music, and Poetry, companions of Apollo, who, in their light flowing draperies, danced and sang on Olympus.
nine-pins (nin'pinz), a game played with ninepins or pieces of wood set on end at which a wooden ball is bowled to knock them down.
Nineveh (nin'e-ve), the famous capital of the Assyrian empire, which was entirely destroyed in the fall of the empire.
Normandy (nor'man-di), an ancient province of France occupied by the Northmen or Normans during their invasion.
Norn-Mother (norn), in Norse mythology, the Norns corresponded to the Fates in Greek myths.
notary (no'ta-ri), a public officer who examines legal papers to make certain that they are genuine or true and sets the seal of his office upon the same.
Nubian geographer (nu'bi-an je-og'ra-fer), Poe, in all probability, refers to the African geographer, Ptolemy. 150 A. D.
nullification (nul'i-fi-ka'shun), an act giving the State the right to cancel a law of Congress.
Numidian lion (nu-mid'i-an), the fierce animals which attacked the gladiators in the arena were brought from Numidia, a country in northern Africa.
nurtured (nur'turd), nourished, trained.
nymph (nimf), a goddess presiding over mountains, forests, meadows, or waters.
obeisance (e-ba'sans; e-be'), a sign of respect; a bow.
obligatory (ob'li-ga-to-ri; ob-lig'-a-to-ri), required, binding in law or conscience.
obliquely (ob-lek'li), in a slanting manner.
oblivion (eb-liv'i-un), a forgetting or being forgotten.
obloquy (ob'lo-kwi), slander, reproach.
obsequious (ob-se'kwi-us), promptly obedient to the will of others; cringing.
obstacle (ob'sta-k'l), a hindrance.
occult (o-kult'), secret.
ode (od), a short poem, which might be sung.
odorous (o'der-us), fragrant.
offenceless (o-fens'les), harmless.
offing (of'ing), that part of the sea where there is deep water and no need of a pilot.
Olympus (o-lim'pus), a mountain in Thessaly, fabled as the home of the gods.
ominous (om'i-nus), foreboding evil.
omnipotent (om-nip'e-tent), all powerful.
Opelou'sas (op'e-loo'sas), an early settlement in south central Louisiana.
opponent (o-po'nent), foe.
opposed (o-pozd'), enemy,
oppressive (o-pres'iv), heavy, burdensome.
oracular (e-rak'u-lar), like oracles or answers of the gods to questions about future events.
orb (orb), a poetical word for sun, moon, or star.
Oregon (or'e-go-n), a name by which the Columbia river was first known.
Ormus (or'mus), an ancient Persian city, noted for its wealth.
Othello (e-thel'o), a Moorish general in the service of the Venetians.
Otterholm (ot'er-hom),
overture (e'ver-tur), an offer
Owyhee (e-wi'he), a river in northern Nevada.
paean (pe'an), a song of triumph.
pageant (paj'ent; pa'jent), spectacular exhibition or display.
palimpsest (pal'imp-sest), a parchment written upon twice, the first writing having been erased.
pall (pol), a black cloth thrown over a coffin at a funeral.
palladium (pa-la'di-um), the statue of Pallas, on the preservation of which depended the safety of Troy, hence an effectual safeguard.
Pallas (pal'as), Pallas Athene, the Grecian goddess of Wisdom, called also Athene, and identified at a later period with the Roman Minerva.
pallet (pal'et), a small and mean bed.
pallid (pal'id), wan.
palpable (pal'pa-b'l), capable of being touched and felt; plain, evident.
palpitate (pal'pi-tat), beat rapidly and strongly.
paltry' (pol'tri), small, worthless, trifling.
panorama (pan'e-ra'ma), a complete view in every direction.
pantomime (pan'to-mim), a dramatic representation by actors who use only dumb show.
paragon (par'a-gon), a model pattern of perfection.
parchment (parch'ment), skin of sheep or goat, etc., prepared for writing.
pard (pard), a leopard.
parricide (par'i-sid), one who murders his own father, or any ancestor.
participate (par-tis'i-pat), have a share in common with others; to take part.
particularize (par-tik'u-lar-iz), to state in detail.
Pascagoula (pas'ka-goo'la), a river in Mississippi flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.
patriarch (pa'tri-ark), Father and ruler of a family; a venerable old man.
patrician (pa-trish'an), one of high birth; a nobleman.
patricide (pat'ri-sid), murder of one's father; the crime of murdering one's father.
patrimonial (pat'ri-mo'ni-al), inherited from an ancestor.
pavilion (pa-vil'yun), a tent, a large temporary building.
peasant (pez'ant), tiller of the soil in European countries.
peasantry (pez'ant-ri), peasants, collectively.
pedagogue (ped'a-gog), teacher of children; a schoolmaster.
pedantry (ped'ant-ri), vain display of learning.
pedigree (ped'i-gre), a line of ancestors; descent.
peer (per), one of the same rank; an equal; member of the British nobility.
pellicle (pel'i-k'l), a crystallized film.
pell-mell (pel'-mel'), in utter confusion.
pendent (pen'dent), something which hangs, depends, or is suspended.
penetrate (pen'e-trat), enter into: understand.
penitent (pen'i-tent), feeling sorrow on account of offence. Penitent Peter, Luke 22, 54-62.
pensive (pen'siv), thoughtful; sad.
pent (pent), penned or shut up.
penthouse (pent'hous'), a shed sloping from the main wall or building, as over a door or window.
Pequot (pe'kwot), a former tribe of North American Indians, the most dreaded of all in southern New England.
peradventure (per'ad-ven'tur), by chance; perhaps.
perceive (per-sev'), obtain knowledge of through the senses; see.
perceptible (per-sep'ti-b'l), capable of being perceived.
perfidious (per-fid'i-us), false to a trust reposed.
perpetrator (pur'pe-tra'ter), one who does or performs.
perpetual (per-pet'u-al), continuing forever, endless.
perplexity (per-plek'si-ti), bewilderment; doubt.
persecution (pur'se-ku'shun), pursuing to injure; injury.
perseverance (pur'se-ver'ans), continuing in a given cause; persistence.
perusal (pe-rooz'al), a careful reading through.
pervade (per-vad'), spread through-out; pass through.
pervasive (per-va'siv), having the power to spread throughout.
perverse (per-vurs'), turned aside or away from the right, contrary.
perversity (per-vur'si-ti), the quality of being perverse.
pestilence (pes'ti-lens), any contagious disease that is devastating.
pestilent (pes'ti-lent), destructive; troublesome.
Petruchio's Kate (pe-troo'chi-o), Petruchio--a character in Shakespeare's play, "Taming the Shrew." His wife, Kate, is called a shrew on account of her ill-temper.
petty (pet'i), small, trifling.
pewter (pu'ter), a hard, tough, but easily fusible alloy of tin with lead.
phalanx (fa'lanks), a body of troops in close array; combination of people firmly united.
phantom (fan'tum), that which has only apparent existence, a ghost.
phenomenon (fe-nom'e-non), pl. phenomena, that which strikes one as strange, unusual, or unaccountable; an appearance.
philanthropist (fi-lan'thro-pist), one who loves mankind, and seeks to promote the good of others.
philosopher (fi-los'o-fer), one who lives according to the rules of practical wisdom; one devoted to the search after wisdom.
phiz (fiz), the face; a humorous abbreviation for physiognomy.
Phlegethon (fleg'e-thon), in Greek mythology, a river of fire in the lower world.
phlegm (flem), sluggishness of temperament; dullness.
Phoebus (fe'bus), or Phoebus Apollo in Greek and Roman mythology, one of the great Olympian gods and giver of light and life. Leader of the Muses and God of music.
physical (fiz'i-kal), pertaining to nature; relating to the bodily structure as opposed to things mental.
physiognomy (fiz'i-og'no-mi), the face or countenance.
pibroch (pe'brok), a Highland air; air played on bagpipes when Highlanders go to battle.
picturesque (pik'tur-esk'), forming a pleasing picture.
pillage (pil'aj), something taken by force; plunder.
pin (pin), mood,
Pinckney, William (pink'ni), an American lawyer and diplomatist of a fine old southern family.
"Pindusborn Aracthus" (pin'dus, a-rak'thus), a river in Greece, Pindus-born because it rises in the Pindus mountains.
pinion (pin'yun), a feather; quill; a wing.
pinnacle (pin'a-k'l), a lofty peak; the very topmost point.
Pisa (pe'za), small town in Italy, famous for its leaning tower.
Piscataqua (pis-kit'a-kwa), a river in New Hampshire.
"pitch and moment," impetus or speed.
"pitch of pride," in the very place where Douglas's pride is centered.
pitcher plant, a plant with leaves shaped like pitchers.
"pith o' sense," the force, strength, or essence of sense.
plain (plan), complain.
Plains of Abraham, an elevated plain just beyond Quebec to the southwest; the scene of the battle of Quebec.
plain-song, a short, comprehensive prayer, adapted to a particular day or occasion, recited in one tone.
Plaquemine (plak'men), Bayou of (bi'oo) an inlet from the Mississippi river in Louisiana.
planetree, an Oriental tree, rising with a straight, smooth branching Stem to a great height; the sycamore or buttonwood.
plashy (plash'i), watery; splashy
Plataea's day (pla-te'a),
plausible (plo'zi-b'l), praiseworthy; reasonable.
pleasance (plez'ans), pleasure; merriment.
plebeian (ple-be'yan), of or pertaining to the common people.
pliant (pli'ant), capable of plying or bending; flexible.
policy (pol'i-si), prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs.
pollute (po-lut'), make foul, impure, or unclean.
pomp (pomp), show of magnificence or splendor.
ponder (pon'der), think or deliberate.
ponderous (pon'der-us), very heavy; weighty.
Popedom (pop'dum), place, office, or dignity of the pope.
populous (pop'u-lus), containing many inhabitants.
porpoise (por'pus), a sea fish closely allied to the dolphin.
port (port), the left side of a ship, looking forward.
portal (por'tal), a door or gate.
portcullis (port-kul'is), a grating of iron or of timbers pointed with iron, hung over the gateway of a fortress.
portent (por'tent), a sign of coming calamity.
portico (por'ti-ko), a colonnade; covered space before a building.
postern (pos'tern), back door or gate, especially of a castle.
potent (po'tent), powerful, having great authority.
potentate (po'ten-tat), monarch.
praetor (pre'tor), a civil officer among the ancient Romans,
precarious (pre-ka'ri-us), riot to be depended on; dangerous.
precedent (pre-sed'ent), going before.
precedent (pres'e-dent), a decision serving as a rule for future determination in similar cases.
precipitate (pre-sip'i-tat), overhasty, rash; to fall with steep descent.
precocity (pre-kos'i-ti), development more than is natural at a given age.
preconceive (pre'kon-sev'), form an idea or opinion in the mind beforehand.
predetermination (pre'de-tur'mi-na'shun), a decision reached beforehand.
preeminent (pre-em'i-nent), above other things of exalted station.
pregnant (preg'nant), heavy with important contents or significance.
prejudice (prej'oo-dis), judgment formed without due examination; to bias the mind of.
prelude (prel'ud), introductory performance.
premature (pre'ma-tur'), ripe before the proper time.
presage (pre'saj), n. sign, presentiment.
presage (pre-saj'), foretell.
presuppose (pre'su-poz'), take for granted.
pretension (pre-ten'shun), laying claim to more than is due.
prevalent (prev'a-lent), generally existing; widespread.
primal (pri'mal), first; original.
prithee (prith'e), a corruption of "pray thee," generally used without the "I."
privation (pri-va'shun), depriving or taking away; getting along without.
proclaim (pro-klam'), make known by public announcement.
prodigal (prod'i-gal), given to extravagant spending. Prodigal Son, Luke 15, 11-32.
prodigious (pro-dij'us), very great; immense.
prodigy (prod'i-ji), a marvel or wonder.
profess (por-fes) admit freely.
proffer (prof-er), offer for acceptance.
profound (pro-found') reaching too the bottom of a matter; deep.
profuse (pre-fus'), pouring forth bountifully; lavish.
progenitor (pro-jen'i-ter), ancestor; forefather.
projecting (pro-jekt'ing), planning; throwing forward.
promontory (prom'un-to-ri), high point of land projecting into the sea.
promulgate (pro-mul'gat), make known, proclaim.
prone (pron), prostrate, flat; inclined, disposed.
proportionate (pro-por'shun-at), at the same rate.
proscribe (pro-skrib'), doom to destruction; denounce.
prostrate (pros'trat), lying at length with the body extended on the ground.
provoke (pre-vok'), call forth, irritate.
prudence (proo'dens), wisdom in the way of caution and provision.
puke (puk), vomit.
Punic (pu'nik), pertaining to the Carthaginians, whom the Romans considered unworthy of trust, hence, faithless.
purling (pur'ling), eddy; also, to make a murmuring sound as water does in running over an obstruction.
purport (pur'port), meaning.
pursue (pur-su'), follow with a view to overtake; chase.
Pyrrhic (pir'ik), Pyrrhic dance, a Greek martial dance. Pyrrhic phalanx, a phalanx such as was used by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus.
quaff (kwaf), drink.
Queen of Lebanon (Leba-nen), Lady Hester Stanhope, niece of William Pitt. She established herself in the Lebanon hills near Jerusalem, awaiting the second coming of Christ.
quell (kwel), subdue; repress.
querulous (kwer'oo-lus), apt to find fault.
quick (kwik), vital part.
quietus (kwi-e'tus), that which silences claim; death.
rack (rak), danger.
radical (rad'i-kal), proceeding directly from the root.
railer (ral'er), one who scoffs.
raiment (ra'ment), clothing.
rampart (ram'part), defense.
rampire (ram'pir), same as rampart.
Rance (rans), a river in France.
random (ran'dum), want of direction: chance.
rapine (rap'Tn), a plundering,
rapture (rap'tur), pleasure, delight.
Ratisbon (rat'is-bon), town in Bavaria, Germany, called Regensburg by the Germans.
ravage (rav'aj), desolation by violence.
ravenous (rav''n-us), devouring with great eagerness.
raze (raz), lay level with the ground.
rebuff (re-buf), sudden check.
rebuke (re-buk'), check or silence with reproof; chide.
recall (re-kol'), call back; remember.
recede (re-sed'), retreat; move back.
recess (re-ses'), part of a room formed by the receding of a wall.
recessional (re-sesh'un-al), a hymn sung while the choir and clergy are leaving the church at the close of a service.
reciprocate (re-sip'ro-kat), a mutual giving and returning.
reck (rek), heed.
recoil (re-koil'), drawing back.
recollection (rek'o-lek'shun), something called to mind.
reconcile (rek'on-sil), pacify, settle.
reconnoiter (rek'o-noi'ter) examine with the eye, survey.
recreation (rek're-a'shun), amusement.
recruit (re-kroot'), repair by fresh supplies; reinforcement.
rectitude (rek'ti-tud), honesty.
recurrence (re-kur'ens), the act of returning from time to time.
redress (re-dres'), set right a wrong.
reek (rek), send forth vapor or smoke, "reeking tube," guns and cannons.
reel (rel), stagger.
refluent (ref'loo-ent), flowing back.
reflux (re'fluks), ebb.
refugee (ref'u-je'), one who flees to a place of safety.
refuse (ref'us), waste matter.
regal (re'gal), royal.
regent (re'jent), ruler.
Regulus (reg'u-lus),
reiterate (re-it'er-at), repeat again and again.
relax (re-laks'), slacken.
relevant (rel'e-vant), bearing upon the case in hand.
relief (re-lef), in art, projection of a figure above the ground on which it is formed.
reluctant (re-luk'tant), unwilling.
remnant (rem'nant), that which remains after a part is removed.
remonstrate (re-mon'strat), present and urge reasons in opposition to an act.
removes (re-moovz'), a transfer of one's business or belongings from one place to another.
remuneration (re-mu'ner-a'shun), payment.