renown (re-noun'), fame.
rent (rent), broken.
repair (re-par'), go.
reputation (rep'u-ta'shun), estimation in which one is held.
repute (re-put'), estimate.
requisite (rek'wi-zit), something required.
research (re-surch'), continued search after truth.
reserve (re-surv'), withhold from present use for another purpose or time.
resignation (rez'ig-na'shun), a giving up a claim, possession or office, etc.
resistless (re-zist'les), powerless to withstand; helpless.
resolute (rez'e-lut), determined.
respectively (re-spek'tiv-li), relating to each.
respite (res'pit), a putting off.
restoration (res'to-ra'shun), a bringing back to a former condition.
retain (re-tan'), keep.
retreat (re-tret'), departure; shelter.
reveal (re-vel'), disclose.
revelry (rev'el-ri), noisy festivity.
reverberate (re-vur'ber-at), echo.
reverence (rev'er-ens), a mingled feeling of awe and admiration.
reverend (rev'er-end), worthy of respect.
revery (rev'er-i), day dream.
reviving (re-viv'ing), returning to life.
Reyhan (ra-han'),
ribband (rib'band'), a ribbon.
rife (rif), prevailing.
rift (rift), an opening made by splitting.
riot (ri ut), tumult.
rise (riz; ris), cause; occasion.
rite (rit), solemn observance.
rivet (riv'et), fasten firmly.
riving (riv'ing), splitting.
roan (ron), brown or black color, with gray or white interspersed.
roister (rois'ter), a blustering, noisy fellow.
romance (ro-mans'), tale or novel.
"Romance languages," the languages which were originally dialects of Latin, as French, Spanish, Italian.
Roos (roos),
Roushan Beg (roo'shan-bag),
routed (rout'ed), overpowered.
routine (roo-ten'), a round of business or pleasure frequently returning.
Royal Society, a society of London for improving natural knowledge.
rub (rub), hindrance.
rubicund (roo'bi-kund), ruddy, red.
rudiment (roo'di-ment), a beginning or first step.
rumor (roo'mer), hearsay, common talk.
runic (roo'nik), pertaining to the written language of the ancient Norsemen.
rural (roo'ral), pertaining to the country.
rustic (rus'tik), unpolished.
ruthlessly (rooth'les-li), in a cruel manner.
Rutledge (rut'lej), the name of an illustrious family in South Carolina--one of them was a signer of the declaration of Independence and governor of the state.
sabre (sa'ber), a sword with a broad, heavy blade, usually curved.
sackcloth (sak'kloth'), a garment worn in mourning or penitence.
saddle-girth (sad'l-gurth), that which fastens on the saddle.
saddletree, frame of a saddle.
sage (saj), wise.
Saint (sant),Catherine's tresses (kath'er-in) in the Roman church, St. Catherine is noted for her vows never to marry. To braid St. Catherine's tresses applies to one who does not marry.
Eulalie (u-la'li), St. Eulalie's day is the 12th of February. If the sun shines on that day, there will be a plentiful apple harvest.
Francois (fran'swa'), a small river in Quebec.
Helena (he-le'na), island off the coast of Africa; the place of Napoleon's exile.
Louis (loo'i), Louis IX, king of France. Napoleon received his education at his country's expense.
Malo (ma'le), city in France noted for its high tides.
Maur (mor), town on the Teche river in Louisiana.
Salamis (sal'a-mis), an island in the Gulf of Aegina, Greece, famous for a great naval battle, 480 B. C.
Salisbury (solz'ber-i), a town in northeastern Massachusetts near Whittier's home.
Sallust (sal'ust), a Roman historian who accompanied Caesar on his African campaign.
sally (sal'i), an excursion from the usual course.
salutary (sal'u-ta-ri), wholesome.
salutation (sal'u-ta'shun), greeting.
Samian (sa'mi-an), pertaining to the island of Samos.
sanctuary (sank'tu-a-ri), a sacred place; a place of refuge.
Sandflesen (sand-fla'sen),
sanguine (san'gwin), hopeful.
Sappho (saf'o), a Greek woman who lived about 600 B. C., famous for her lyric poetry.
sark (sark), a skirt.
sassafras (sas'a-fras), an American tree of the Laurel family.
satiety (sa-ti'e-ti), fullness beyond desire.
satirical (sa-tir'i-kal), cutting or sarcastic.
savanna (sa-van'a), tract of level land covered with grass or reeds, but without trees.
Saxon (sak'sun), English,
scar (skar), a bare place on a mountain side.
scarf (skarf), in carpentry a certain kind of joint forming a continuous piece.
scaur (skar),
sceptic (skep'tik), a doubter of fact.
schooner (skoon'er), a vessel with three, four, and even with six masts similarly rigged.
Scian (si'an), pertaining to Scio, claimed by some to be the birth-place of Homer, who is called the "Scian muse,"
Scio (si'e), an island in the Aegean Sea noted for its wine.
scoff (skof), sneer.
score (skor), furrow.
Scorpion (skor'pi-un), a constellation; the eighth sign of the zodiac.
scrupulous (skroo'pu-lus), exact.
scrutiny (skroo'ti-ni), close examination.
scud (skud), move swiftly.
sculpture (skulp'tur), carve.
"seal and hand," a letter with the seal and signature of the king,
season (se'z'n), temper.
sedulous (sed'u-lus), diligent, earnest.
seethe (seth), boil.
segment (seg'ment), a part cut off.
Selborne (sel'born), a parish in England, noted on account of Gilbert White's Natural History of Selborne.
semblance (sem'blans), likeness.
seneschal (sen'e-shal), officer in a prince's house.
Sennacherib (se-nak'er-ib),
sensation (sen-sa'shun), feeling obtained through the senses; state of excited feeling or that which causes.
sentiment (sen'ti-ment), opinion
sentinel (sen'ti-nel), soldier set to guard an army or camp.
sentry (sen'tri), guard.
sepulchre (sep'ul-ker), grave; bury.
seraglio (se-ral'yo), a harem.
seraph (ser'af), an angel.
serenity (se-ren'i-ti), calmness.
serf (surf), a slave bound to work on a certain estate and sold with it.
servile (sur'vil), like a slave; cringing.
session (sesh'un), meeting.
sesterce (ses'ters), an ancient Roman coin.
settie (set''l), a high-backed bench.
Sewel (su'al), William Sewel wrote a ponderous history of the Quakers.
Sexagesima (sek'sa-jes'i-ma), the second Sunday before Lent.
sever (sev'er), disjoin.
shade (shad), ghost.
shard (shard), a fragment of any hard substance.
"sharps and trebles," musical notes.
Shawnee (sho-ne'), a tribe of Indians. Their name means "Southerners."
sheathe (sheth), cover with something which protects.
sheen (shen), brightness.
Sheik (shek), chief magistrate of an Arabian village.
shelves (shelvz), slopes.
shifty (shif'ti), changable.
shingly (shm'gli), covered with gravel or pebbles.
shoal (shol), a bar which makes the water shallow.
shrew (shroo), a scold.
shrewdness (shrood'nes), sharp-wittedness.
shrive (shriv), to hear confession and pardon.
shroud (shroud), set of ropes staying a ship's masts.
shuffle (shuf'l), to rid one's self of.
sicklied (sik'lid), made sickly.
Sidney (sid'ni), Sir Philip, an English author and general of exceptionally fine feeling.
Sienas saint (sye'na), St. Catherine, the patron saint of Siena.
silhouette (sil'oo-et'), profile portrait in black.
similitude (si-mil'i-tud), resemblance.
Sinai (si'ni), the mountain near, which the Israelites encamped, and where the law was given to Moses.
Sinbad (sin'bad), or Sindbad, a character in the "Arabian Nights," who made seven wonderful voyages.
sinew (sin'u), that which supplies strength or power; a tendon or tissue.
sinuous (sin'u-us), winding, curving in and out.
sire (sir), a father.
Siren (si'ren), one of the three fabled sea nymphs, whose singing lured mariners to destruction.
site (sit), situation.
Skarholm (skar'hom),
skepticism (skep'ti-siz'm), doubt or uncertainty.
skirt (skurt), surround.
skulk (skulk), hide sneakingly.
slack (slak), loosen; not pressing.
sledge (slej), a sleigh.
Sleepy Hollow, a locality in Tarrytown, New York.
slip (slip), an inclined plane on which a vessel is built.
sloth (sloth), slowness.
smack (smak), small coasting vessel.
smelt (smelt), melt ore so as to separate and refine metal.
solace (sol'as), comfort in grief.
solicitude (so-lis'i-tud), concern.
Solidor (sol'i-dor), a fortress on the Rance river.
soliloquy (se-lil'e-kwi), a talking to one's self.
solstice (sol'stis), point in the earth's orbit at which the sun is farthest from the equator; winter solstice at about December 22, summer solstice about June 21.
Solway (sol'wa), an arm of the Irish Sea between England and Scotland, noted for the rapidity of its tides.
sombre (som'ber), sad.
sombrero (som-bra'ro), broad-brimmed hat worn in Spain and Spanish America.
sonorous (so-no'rus), loud sounding.
sophomore (sof'o-mor), one belonging to the second of the four classes in an American college.
sordid (sor'did), base.
sorebestead (sor-be-sted'), being put in great peril.
Southey, Robert (south'i), (1774-1843), an English poet of the Lake School. He was made poet-laureate in 1813.
sovereign (sov'er-in), monarch.
spacious (spa'shus), vast in extent.
Spanish Main, the name formerly given to the southern part of the Caribbean Sea and the adjoining coast, covering the route of the Spanish treasure ships.
spar (spar), round timber used on a mast.
Spartan (spar'tan), an inhabitant of Sparta; one of great endurance.
spawn (spon), bring forth.
species (spe'shez), a kind.
specious (spe'shus), showy.
spectacle (spek'ta-k'l), something exhibited to view.
spectre (spek'ter), ghost.
spherule (sfer'ool), a little sphere.
spiral (spi'ral), winding like the thread of a screw.
spontaneous (spon-ta'ne-us), proceeding from a natural feeling, not forced.
spouse (spouz), husband or wife.
sprite (sprit), fairy.
spume-flakes (spum), flakes of froth or foam.
spur (spur), a pricking implement fastened to a rider's heel.
spurn (spurn), scorn.
squadron (skwod'run), a detachment of war vessels under command of a flag-officer.
squall (skwol), sudden and violent gust of wind.
stagnate (stag'nat), cease to flow, become dull.
stalwart (stol'wert), brave, strong.
stalworth (stol'wurth), brave, strong.
stanchion (stan'shun), bar for confining cattle in a stall.
starboard (star'bord), side of a vessel on the right hand of one on board facing the bow.
staunch (stanch), stop the flow of.
stemson (stem'sun), a piece of curved timber bolted to the stem in a ship's frame.
sterile (ster'il), barren.
sterling (stur'ling), genuine.
stern (sturn), after end of a vessel.
sternsonknee (sturn'sun-ne), the continuation of a vessel's keelson to which the stern-post is secured by bolts.
stirrup (stir'up), a ring for supporting a horseman's foot.
stoic (sto'ik), one who appears to be indifferent to pleasure or pain.
Stony Point, a fort on the west bank of the Hudson, captured by the British in 1779 and retaken by the American forces under Anthony Wayne.
storied (sto'rid), having an interesting history.
strained (strand), forced.
strenuous (stren'u-us), earnest; active, vigorous.
sturgeon (stur'jun), a large fish common on the coasts and in large rivers and lakes.
Suarven (swar'ven),
subaltern (sub-pi'tern), an officer of inferior position, usually below the rank of a captain.
subjugation (sub'joo-ga'shun), the act of conquering or subduing.
sublime (sub-lim'), majestic.
submission (sub-mish'un), a yielding to power or authority.
subservience (sub-sur'vi-ens), the state of being subordinate; yielding.
subside (sub-sid'), cease from action, be calm.
subsidiary (sub-sid'i-a-ri), assisting.
subsistence (sub-sis'tens), means of support.
substantial (sub-stan'shal), real; firm.
subtile (sub'til; sut'l), difficult of understanding.
suburb (sub'urb), an outlying part of a city.
subvert (sub-vurt'), overthrow.
suction (suk'shun), a sucking in.
sue (su), seek after; plead.
sufferance (suf'er-ans), endurance.
suffuse (su-fus'), overspread.
Suliote (soo'li-et),
sultry (sul'tri), very hot and moist.
summons (sum'unz), call by authority to appear at a place named.
Sumter (sum'ter), an illustrious family of South Carolina. Thomas Sumter was a Revolutionary general.
sunder (sun'der), sever.
Sunium (su'ni-um), an ancient city on a promontory in southeastern Greece. It contains the white marble ruins of a temple to Athene, a famous landmark from the sea.
superb (su-purb'), magnificent.
superfluity (su'per-floo'i-ti), a greater quantity than is wanted.
superinhuman (su'per-in-hu'man), attended with cruelty to a very great degree.
supernal (su-pur'nal), being in a higher place; heavenly.
supernatural (su'per-nat'u-ral), being beyond the powers or law of nature.
superstition (su'per-stish'un), a reverence for or fear of what is unknown or mysterious.
supine (su-pin'), indolent; inattentive.
suppliance (sup'li-ans), entreaty.
surcease (sur'ses'), end.
surcoat (sur'kot'), a coat worn over the other garments, especially the long, flowing coat of the knights worn over the armor.
surf (surf), swell of the sea breaking upon the shore.
surge (surj), a large wave or billow; rise high and roll.
surgery (sur'jer-i), art of healing by manual operation.
surly (sur'li), ill-natured, sullen.
surmise (sur-miz'), suspicion; imagine without certain knowledge.
surmount (stir-mount'), rise above; conquer.
Surrey (sur'i), an English nobleman, Earl of Surrey, lieutenant of the northern counties, a county in England.
survive (sur-viv'), outlive; continue to live.
suspect (sus-pekt'), an object of suspicion; mistrust.
susurrus (su-sur'us), a whisper or murmur.
swanlike (swon'lik), referring to the tradition that the swan sings a most beautiful song just before death.
swarthy (swor'thi), being of a dark hue or dusky complexion.
swath (swoth; swoth), whole sweep of a scythe or machine.
sweep (swep), a pole swinging on a tall post, to raise and lower a bucket for drawing water.
swoon (swoon), faint.
sylvan (sil'van), forestlike; rustic.
symbol (sim'bol), emblem.
symmetry (sim'e-tri), due proportion of several parts of a body to each other; beauty and balance of form.
symptom (simp'tum), sign; token.
synagogue (sin'a-gog), Jewish congregation or place for worship.
taciturn (tas'i-turn), habitually silent.
tang (tang), a strong taste.
tankard (tank'ard), large drinking vessel.
Tantallon (tan-tal'on), a castle in Scotland, the stronghold of the Douglas family.
taper (ta'per), gradually growing smaller.
tapestry (tap'es-tri), hangings of wool or silk with gold or silver threads producing a pattern or picture.
tarn (tarn), a small mountain lake.
Tartar (tar'tar), an inhabitant of Tartary, central Asia; an irritable or violent person.
Taygetus (ta'ge-tus), (p. 283, pronounced ta-ge'tus on account of rhythm), highest mountain range in southern Greece.
Teche (tesh), a small stream in Louisiana.
teeming (tem'ing), bringing forth, abounding.
"teeth of the wind," grasp of the wind.
Teian (te'yan), pertaining to Te'os, an ancient Greek city in Asia Minor, the birthplace of the Greek poet Anac'reon, who is called "the Teian Muse."
temerity (te-mer'i-ti), contempt of danger; boldness.
temper (tem'per), soften.
temporal (tem'po-ral), pertaining to time or this world; not lasting.
temporary (tem'po-ra-ri), lasting for a time only.
tenant (ten'ant), occupant.
tenantless (ten'ant-les), unoccupied.
tendril (ten'dril), a slender leafless portion of a plant which attaches itself to a supporting body.
tenebrous (ten'e-brus), dark, gloomy.
tenor (ten'er), general course; conduct.
tenure (ten'ur), a holding.
termagant (tur'ma-gant), scolding; violent; a scold.
terminal (tur'mi-nal), boundary, end.
testament (tes'ta-ment), a will or bequest.
thatch (thach), straw, rushes, etc.
theme (them), a topic on which one writes or speaks. In music, a short melody from which a set of variations is developed.
theory (the'o-ri), an idea; a plan.
thereat (thar-at'), on that account.
Thermopylae (ther-mop'i-le), a narrow pass in Greece, the scene of a famous conflict in the Persian wars. A small army of Greeks defended the pass against a vast army of Persians under Xerxes.
thill (thil), shaft of a carriage.
thole (thol), pin set in the gunwale of a boat to serve as a fulcrum for the oar in rowing.
thorough-brace (thur'o-bras'), a leather strap supporting the body of a carriage.
thorp (thorp), a small village.
Thracian (thra'shan), pertaining to Thrace, in early times the entire region north of Greece.
thrall (throl), slave, bondman.
thylke (thilk), the same.
tinsel (tin'sel), something shiny and gaudy, more showy than valuable.
tintinnabulation (tin'ti-nab'u-la'shun), a word coined by Poe to represent the sound of bells.
Titan (ti'tan), enormous, like the ancient giants in Greek mythology.
titular (tit'u-lar), existing in title or name only.
tocsin (tok'sin), an alarm bell.
tolerable (tol'er-a-b'l), capable of being endured.
tolerant (tol'er-ant), indulgent, allowing.
tollmen (tol'men), men who gather toll or tax.
tome (tom), a large book.
Tongres (ton'gr'), a town in Belgium.
torpor (tor'por), dullness.
torrent (tor'ent), a violent stream as of water or lava.
Tory (to'ri), a supporter of the king.
Tourville (toor'vel),
"Tous les Bourgeois' de Chartres" (too la boor-zhwa' de shartr), the title of an old French song.
tradition (tra-dish'un), custom or practice long observed; oral delivery of information from father to son.
Trafalgar (tra-fal'gar),
traffic (traf'ik), commerce.
trainband (tran'band), a band or company of an organized military force instituted by James I dissolved by Charles II but reorganized later.
trait (trat), distinguishing mark or feature.
traitor (tra'ter), one who betrays a trust.
tranquil (tran'kwil), calm.
transcendent (tran-sen'dent), very excellent, surpassing others.
transfigure (trans-fig'ur), change the appearance of; make more beautiful.
transient (tran'shent), not lasting; staying for a short time.
transition (tran-sizh'un), passing from one condition or place to another.
transitory (tran'si-to-ri), fleeting.
transmutation (trans'mu-ta'shun), the changing from one form or condition to another.
travail (trav'al), toil; produce with severe exertion.
treacherous (trech'er-us), faithless.
Trebizond (treb'i-zond'), province in northeastern Asia Minor.
treble, (treb'l), increase threefold.
treenails (tre'nalz), long wooden pins used in fastening planks of a vessel to the timbers or to each other.
tremor (tre'mor; trem'or), a trembling.
tremulous (trem'u-lus), quivering; affected with fear or timidity.
trepidation (trep'i-da'shun), fear.
tribulashun (trib'u-la'shun), that which causes distress.
tribunal (tri-bu'nal), a court; seat of a judge.
tributary (trib'u-ta-ri), inferior; contributing.
trice (tris), a very short time.
trireme (tri'rem), an ancient galley or vessel with three tiers of oars.
Triton (tri'ton), a sea god, son of Neptune and his trumpeter.
triumphal (tri-um'fal), in honor of a victory.
trophy (tro'fi), anything preserved as a memorial.
"Truce of God," in 1040 the church drew up a compact which forbade any fighting between sunset on Wednesday and sunrise on the following Monday.
truculent (truk'u-lent), fierce.
trysail (tri'sal'), a fore-and-aft sail, bent to a gaff, and hoisted on a lower mast--used chiefly as a storm sail.
tumultuous (tu-mul'tu-us), boisterous, riotous.
Tunis (tu'nls), a country in N. Africa, one of the Barbary states.
turbulent (tur'bu-lent), producing commotion; restless.
turf (turf), sod.
turmoil (tur'moil), worrying confusion.
turnpike (turn'pik'), tollgate; a turnpike road.
turret (tur'et), a small tower at the angle of a large building.
Tuscarora (tus-ka-ro'ra), a tribe of Indians who, when first known, lived in North Carolina. After years of warfare with the colonists, the remnant joined the Iroquois in New York.
twang (twang), sound with a quick, harsh noise.
typify (tip'i-fi), represent by a type, model, or resemblance.
tyranny (tir'a-ni), cruel government or discipline; severity.
Tyre (tir), a famous maritime city of Phoenicia.
ubiquity (u-blk'wi-ti), existence everywhere at the same time.
ultimate (ul'ti-mat), incapable of further analysis; final.
unbeholden (un'be-hol'd'n), not indebted.
uncalculating (un-kal'ku-lat'ing), not estimating.
unconditional (un'kon-dish'un-al), made without conditions.
unconfined (un-kon-find'), not bound or limited.
uncouth (un-kooth'), awkward.
undulating (un'du-lat'ing), moving backward and forward, or up and down in waves.
unfledged (un-flejd'), not feathered, hence not fully developed.
unfurl (un-furl'), unfold.
unison (u'ni-sun), harmony.
universal (u'ni-vur'sal), including the whole number, quantity, or space; all-reaching.
unknelled (un-neld'), having no bell tolled at funeral or death.
unmeet (un-met'), not suitable.
unobtrusive (un'ob-troo'siv), modest.
unperturbed (un-per-turbd'), not troubled or confused.
unpremeditated (un-pre-med'i-tat'ed), not thought out beforehand.
unprofaned (un-pro-fand'), not violated, as anything sacred.
unproportioned (un-pro-por'shund), not having the right relation of one portion to another.
unrestrained (un-re-strand'), not kept in check or curbed.
unrivalled (un-ri'vald), having competitor.
unscathed (un-skathd'), not injured.
unwonted (un-wun'ted), unaccustomed.
upbraid (tip-brad'), reproach or blame.
Upharsin (u-far'sin), See Daniel 5, 25.
upholsterer (up-hol'ster-er), one who provides curtains, coverings, hangings, etc.
urchin (ur'chin), a roguish child.
Ursini (ur-se'ne), a prominent noble family in Rome.
usurp (u-zurp'), seize and hold a possession by force.
utterance (ut'er-ans), the act of speech.
vague (vag), uncertain.
valiant (val'yant), courageous.
valor (val'er), personal bravery.
van (van), the front of an army
vandal (van'dal), one who wilfully destroys any work of art or literature.
vane (van), weathercock.
vanquish (van'kwish), conquer or get the better of.
vantage-ground (van'taj-ground), condition which gives one advantage over another.
variant (va'ri-ant), different.
variegated (va'ri-e-gat'ed), having marks of different colors.
vassal (vas'al), a subject or servant.
vaunt (vant), boast.
vehement (ve'he-ment), acting with great force; violent.
velocity (ve'-los'i-ti), speed.
vendue (ven-du'), an auction.
venerable (ven'er-a-b'l), deserving honor and respect.
venerate (ven'er-at), regard with respect and awe.
vengeance (ven'jans), punishment inflicted in return for injury; revenge.
vent (vent), outlet.
venture (ven'tur), risk.
veracity (ve-ras'i-ti), truthfulness.
verdant (vur'dant), green.
verdure (vur'dur), greenness.
verge (vurj), edge, brink.
verily (ver'i-li), beyond doubt or question, truly.
vernal (vur'nal), pertaining to the spring.
version (vur'shun), a translation, account.
vestal (ves'tal), a virgin consecrated to Vesta; nun.
veteran (vet'er-an), one grown old in service.
vibrant (vi'brant), tremulous.
vibration (vi-bra'shun), quick motion to and fro.
vicinity (vi-sin'i-ti), neighborhood.
vicissitude (vi-sis'i-tud), regular change or succession from one thing to another.
vigil (vij'il), watch.
vindicate (vin'di-kat), justify.
virago (vi-ra'go), a woman of extraordinary size, strength, and courage.
virtually (vur'tu-al-li), being in essence or effect, not in fact.
visage (viz'aj), the face.
vision (vizh'un), that which is seen.
vista (vis'ta), view between intervening objects.
vivid (viv'id), true to life; bright.
vivify (viv'i-fi), make alive.
vixen (vik's'n), a cross, ill-tempered woman.
vocation (vo-ka'shun), occupation.
vociferous (vo-sif'er-us), noisy.
void (void), empty; being without.
volley (vol'i), a burst of many things at once.
Volturnus (vol-toor'nus), a river inItaly.
voluminous (vo-lu'mi-nus), of great volume or bulk.
voluptuous (ve-lup'tu-us), full of pleasure; luxurious.
vortices (vor'ti-sez), whirlpools.
vouchsafe (vouch-saf'), condescend to grant; assure.
voyageur (vwa'ya'zhur'), a traveler; Canadian term used for one employed in transporting goods to the Northwest.
vulture (vul'tur), a bird which feeds on dead flesh of animals or birds.
Vurrgh (vurg),
Wachita (wa'shi-ta),
wafted (waft'ed), floated along lightly on air or water.
wail (wal), weep.
wain (wan), wagon.
wake (wak), trace.
wallet (wol'et), knapsack; pocket-book.
Walleway (wal'e-wa), probably Longfellow had reference to the Wallowa river in northeastern Oregon.
wan (won), pale.
wanton (won'tun), reckless.
wantoned (won'tund), played.
warder (wor'der), guard.
Ware (war), a town in England about 20 miles north of London.
warld (warld), world.
warp (worp), the threads extending lengthwise in a loom, and crossed by the woof.
wary (wa'ri; war'i), cautious, watchful.
wash (wosh), bog or marsh.
watch (woch), period during which one serves as a sentinel or guard.
water-butt (wo'ter-but), a large, open-headed cask, set up on end to contain water.
Waterloo (wo'ter-loo'), a village near Brussels where Napoleon met defeat. So complete and so decisive was the disaster that Waterloo has come to mean defeat.
waver (wa'ver), totter; unsettled.
weather-cock, figure often in the form of a cock, turning with the wind and showing its direction.
weird (werd), pertaining to witchcraft; wild.
welkin (wel'kin), vault of heaven; sky.
welter (wel'ter), roll or tumble about.
Wert (wurt), were (pronounce to rhyme with "art").
Westminster Abbey (west'min-ster), a former church in London, the burial place of many kings, statesmen, and authors.
whig (h'wig), one of a political party in England, also in America; opposed to Tories.
whipple-tree (hwip'l-tre'), bar to which the traces of a harness are fastened for drawing a carriage.
whisking (hwisk'ing), moving nimbly and with velocity.
whit (hwit), the smallest part imaginable.
White, Gilbert (hwit), an eminent English naturalist, who was born in Selborne and was the author of "Natural History of Selborne."
Wicaco (we-ka'ko),
wimpling (wim'pling), rippling.
wis (wis), think.
wistful (wist'fool), longing.
witchhazel (wich'-ha-z'l), American tree or shrub which blossoms late in Autumn.
withhold (with-hold'), keep back.
wizard (wiz'ard), a magician.
woebegone (wo'be-gon'), distressed with grief.
wold (wold), a plain or low hill.
Wolfe, Charles (woolf), an Irish clergyman and poet, born 1791.
Wolsey, Thomas (wool'si), a celebrated English statesman and cardinal. He gained the ill-will of Henry VIII by his conduct in the matter of the King's divorce.
wont (wunt), custom or habit.
woof (woof), the threads crossing the warp in a woven fabric.
Worcester, Joseph Emerson (woos'ter),
wrack (rak), ruin.
writhe (rith), twist.
wrought (rot), made.
Xanthippus (zan-thip'us), a Spartan commander who won a victory over Regulus in 255 B.C.
yacht (yot), light vessel for pleasure trips.
yard (yard), a long, slender timber to support and extend a ship's sail.
yeoman (yo'man), a common man of a reputable class.
Ypsilanti (ip'se-lan'te), a celebrated Greek patriot who in 1820 became a leader in the movement for Greek independence.
Yulelog (yool'-log') a large log of wood, formerly put on the hearth on Christmas Eve, as the foundation of the fire. It was brought in with much ceremony.
zeal (zel), enthusiasm.
zone (zon), girdle.
Zutphen (zut'fen), a town in the Netherlands. Sir Philip Sidney was wounded before it in 1586.