The Promised One (28 page)

incongruous
adj
. an unexpected or inappropriate mixture; unusual; bizarre; ill-matched; having disparate elements

inconspicuous
adj
. not easy to see; unlikely to be noticed

indescribable
adj
. too extreme for words; beyond description

ineffectually
adv
. without success or effect

inert
adj
. not moving; still

inevitable
adj
. certain to happen; unavoidable

inexplicable
adj
. not possible to explain

inextricable
adj
. not able to be disentangled

infallible
adj
. never wrong; incapable of making an error

inflammation
n
. redness, heat and swelling, usually painful, in an injured or infected part of the body. In Chapter 14 Helen’s foot is
inflamed

inkling
n
. a suspicion; a suggestion; a hint

inmate
n
. a person in an institution such as a home, hospital or prison

inordinately
adv
. more than usual; excessively

insatiable
adj
. incapable of being satisfied; continually hungry

insect repellent
n
. a substance that drives insects away

insignia
n
. an emblem or badge indicating rank, status or membership of a group

insistent
adj
. determined; persistent in a demand

integral
adj
. being an essential part of something

interchange
n
. an exchange of information

interjection
n
. a word or phrase used to interrupt or interpose

interminable
adj
. unending

intermingle
v
. to mix

Interpol
n
. abbreviation for
International Criminal Police Organization

interrogation
n
. asking somebody questions

intersperse
v
. to scatter between

intrepid
adj
. fearless; bold; daring

intriguing
adj
. interesting; arousing curiosity

intuitively
adv
. instinctively

invalid
n
. one who is ill

invaluable
adj
. priceless; having a value that is too great to calculate

iridescent
adj
. having colours that shine and flash and change with movement

ironic
adj
. in Chapter 2 this word means surprising in a slightly amusing way; unexpected

irrefutable
adj
. undeniable; impossible to prove wrong

irretrievable
adj
. incapable of being recovered or repaired

isolated
adj
. cut off; set apart

IT
n
. abbreviation for
information technology

jockey
v
. to try to gain an advantage in a struggle by changing position or manoeuvring

jolt
n
. a sudden bump; a jarring blow

jostle
v
. to push or bump into

jovial
adj
. jolly; good-humoured

juddering
adj
. shuddering; vibrating; shaking

justification
n
. a reason for doing something; a proof; a vindication

ken
n
. range of knowledge

kip
n
. (slang) sleep

knobkerrie
n
. a South African weapon consisting of a stick with a large knob on the end

laboriously
adv
. with great effort

lamentable
adj
. very bad; deplorable; pitiable

languid
adj
. inactive; lacking energy

languorous
adj
. inducing a state of dreamy relaxation

league
n
. an old unit of distance equal to 3 miles (4.8 kilometres)

leer
n
. an unpleasant, suggestive look or smile

legion
n
. a very large number or group

leprosy
n
. a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease; Hansen’s disease

lest
conj
. in case; for fear that

lethal
adj
. deadly

leviathan
n
. a huge, powerful monster

liaison officer
n
. one who communicates between groups or units

liana
n
. a tropical climbing plant; a woody vine

limpet
n
. a shellfish renowned for its ability to cling to rocks

linger
v
. to persist; to continue; to remain longer than expected or desired

link
n
. a connection

lithe
adj
. flexible; supple

livid
adj
. intensely discoloured

loathsome
adj
. disgusting; abhorrent

locks
pl. n
. (poetic) hair

logical
adj
. based upon clear or valid reasoning

logo
n
. a company emblem or trademark

lucrative
adj
. profitable; financially rewarding

lumber
n
. Chapter 2: sawn timber;wood for construction and carpentry

v
. Chapters 12, 15: to move in an awkward or ungainly fashion

lumbering
adj
. moving in an awkward or ungainly fashion

lumberjack
n
. one who cuts down trees

lurk
v
. to move or lie in wait in a concealed way, usually for an evil purpose

luxuriant
adj
. fertile; lush; abundant

luxuriate
(in)
v
. to take intense pleasure in; to revel in

luxury
n
. in Chapter 8
a life of luxury
means that Nandita enjoyed an extravagant and sumptuous life full of costly possessions and expensive clothes, in beautiful surroundings

mace
n
. a medieval weapon consisting of a spiked club

maelstrom
n
. an area of whirling confusion and turbulence

magistrate
n
. a public official who administers the law

makeshift
adj
. something found or put together to use when a proper tool is unavailable

malevolent
adj
. wishing evil on others, or appearing to do so

malignant
adj
. causing harm or evil

mandolin
n
. a stringed instrument similar to a lute

manoeuvre
v
. to move into a suitable position

maroon
v
. to abandon; to leave isolated

massacre
n
. the indiscriminate killing of a large number of people

matchless
adj
. incomparable; without equal; peerless

materialize
v
. to take shape; to appear; to happen

meander
v
. to wander; to follow a winding course

medley
n
. an assortment; a mixture

melanistic
adj
. black

melodious
adj
. pleasant to hear; tuneful; sweet-sounding

memento
n
. a souvenir; an object that brings back memories

memo
n
. short for
memorandum
meaning a written note or communication

menagerie
n
. a zoo

mess hut
n
. a dining hut (usually for soldiers etc.)

minder
n
. (slang) bodyguard or protector, especially of a criminal

minimize
v
. to make as small as possible

mishap
n
. an unfortunate accident

misinterpret
v
. to misread; to misunderstand

mob
v
. to surround or attack as a group

momentum
n
. the force of a moving body (in physics: the product of a body’s mass and its velocity)

monitor
v
. to check on; to observe; to record

morale
n
. the level of confidence or optimism in an individual or group

multitude
n
. a very large number

muse
v
. to think; to ponder

muster
v
. to call together into a group; to assemble a party

myriad
adj
. very many; innumerable

mystified
adj
. puzzled; bewildered; confused

naught
n
. (archaic or poetic) nothing

nausea
n
. a sick feeling; the sensation preceding vomiting

nautical
adj
. relating to ships and sailors

neologism
n
. a new word

nerve-racking
adj
. intensely worrying; distressing; harrowing

nick
v
. Chapter 10: (slang) to steal

n
. Chapter 16:
in the nick of time
means just in time; at the last possible moment

nonchalant
adj
. casual; unconcerned

obeisance
n
. homage; deference. In Chapter 1 the animals paid obeisance to Lucy which means that they treated her as their queen

oblivious
adj
. unaware; taking no notice

observation
n
. Chapters 2, 3: a fact learnt as a result of watching or observing

Chapter 18: a remark or comment

obstacle
n
. something in the way; a blockage

oddity
n
. someone or something unusual

onslaught
n
. a fierce attack

open-and-shut
adj
. easily solved; obvious

opulence
n
. riches; wealth; luxury; affluence

ordeal
n
. a stressful experience

ordure
n
. dung; droppings; excrement; poo (slang)

organic litter
n
. the scattered remnants of vegetable and animal matter covering the ground

ornithological
adj
. to do with the study of birds

outrageous
adj
. shocking; grossly offensive

outsmart
v
. to outwit; to get the better of

PA
n
. abbreviation for
personal assistant

packet
n
. in Chapter 9
make a packet
(slang) means make a lot of money

pageant
n
. a parade; an elaborate procession

painstakingly
adv
. paying great attention to fine detail

pallor
n
. a very pale colour; whiteness of the skin

pampas
n
. the grassy plains of South America

pang
n
. a sudden, sharp, brief sensation, usually unpleasant (such as of pain or hunger)

panoply
n
. a complete display or array; a collection of different items or elements

Pantanal
n
. a vast area of wetlands in South America, famous for its flora and wildlife

paucity
n
. smallness in number; dearth; fewness; scarcity

peddler
n
. one who deals in illegal drugs

penetrate
v
. to enter; to pierce; to find a way into or through something

pensive
adj
. deeply thoughtful, with an element of sadness

perilous
adj
. very dangerous; extremely hazardous

perpendicular
adj
. upright; vertical

perplex
v
. to puzzle; to confuse; to bewilder

perspex
n
. transparent, tough plastic made from acrylic resin

pervade
v
. to spread throughout; to permeate.

petiole
n
. a leaf stalk

petrify
v
. to terrify into immobility; to stun with fear

phenomenon
n
. an unusual or remarkable occurrence

philanderer
n
. one who flirts with women

phobia
n
. an intense and irrational fear

piping
n
. a thin strip of covered cord, used to edge cushions, seats, etc.

plateau
n
. a flat area on raised land

Pleistocene epoch
n
. the first epoch of the Quaternary period. It lasted from 1.8 million years ago to 10,000 years ago

Pliocene epoch
n
. the last epoch of the Tertiary period. It lasted from 5 to 1.8 million years ago, the start of the Pleistocene epoch

plonk
v
. to drop on; to place upon; to burden with

pluck
n
. courage; bravery

plumage
n
. the feathers of a bird

poetic justice
n
. an appropriate outcome in which someone gets what they deserve; fitting retribution; just deserts

poignant
adj
. emotionally distressing or painful

polling hook
n
. a long-handled tool for cutting high branches on trees

ponder
v
. to think thoroughly and deeply about something; to give careful consideration to something

pong
n
. (slang) a strong, offensive smell; a stink or stench

pore over
v
. to study something intently; to read or examine something very carefully

potential
adj
. possible