Things Fall Apart Vocabulary
THINGS FALL APART Vocabulary
CHAPTER 1
WILY - (of a person) clever, having a very good understanding of situations, possibilities and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim a wily politician
POUNCE - to jump or move quickly in order to catch or take hold of something
The cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.
The police were waiting to pounce when he arrived at the airport. STAMMER - to speak or say something with unusual pauses or repeated sounds, either because of speech problems or because of fear and anxiety
[ + speech ] "Wh-when can we g-go?" she stammered.
He dialled 999 and stammered (out) his name and address.
IMPROVIDENT - spending money in a way that is not sensible, and/or not planning carefully for the future
COWRY - a small sea animal with a soft body and a brightly coloured shell, or the shell itself used in the past as money in parts of Africa and southern Asia a cowrie shell
HAGGARD - looking ill or tired, often with dark skin under the eyes
He'd been drinking the night before and was looking a bit haggard.
LOAFER - 1. MAINLY US TRADEMARK a type of leather shoe with a wide strip across the top, which a person's foot slides into, without any way of fastening it to the foot
2. someone who avoids doing any work an idle loafer
IMPENDING - describes an event, usually something unpleasant or unwanted, that is going to happen soon impending disaster/doom
Lineker announced his impending retirement from international football before the 1992 European Championships.
PLAINTIVE - describes something which sounds slightly sad the plaintive sound of the bagpipes
"What about me?" came a plaintive voice.
PROWESS - great ability or skill athletic/sporting prowess
He's always boasting about his sexual prowess.
REVERE - to very much respect and admire someone or something
Nelson Mandela is revered for his brave fight against apartheid.
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 1
WILY - (of a person) clever, having a very good understanding of situations, possibilities and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim a wily politician
POUNCE - to jump or move quickly in order to catch or take hold of something
The cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.
The police were waiting to pounce when he arrived at the airport. STAMMER - to speak or say something with unusual pauses or repeated sounds, either because of speech problems or because of fear and anxiety
[ + speech ] "Wh-when can we g-go?" she stammered.
He dialled 999 and stammered (out) his name and address.
IMPROVIDENT - spending money in a way that is not sensible, and/or not planning carefully for the future
COWRY - a small sea animal with a soft body and a brightly coloured shell, or the shell itself used in the past as money in parts of Africa and southern Asia a cowrie shell
HAGGARD - looking ill or tired, often with dark skin under the eyes
He'd been drinking the night before and was looking a bit haggard.
LOAFER - 1. MAINLY US TRADEMARK a type of leather shoe with a wide strip across the top, which a person's foot slides into, without any way of fastening it to the foot
2. someone who avoids doing any work an idle loafer
IMPENDING - describes an event, usually something unpleasant or unwanted, that is going to happen soon impending disaster/doom
Lineker announced his impending retirement from international football before the 1992 European Championships.
PLAINTIVE - describes something which sounds slightly sad the plaintive sound of the bagpipes
"What about me?" came a plaintive voice.
PROWESS - great ability or skill athletic/sporting prowess
He's always boasting about his sexual prowess.
REVERE - to very much respect and admire someone or something
Nelson Mandela is revered for his brave fight against apartheid.
CHAPTER 2