Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage - Chapters 1 -6

Michael F.
A complete vocabulary list form Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage.
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words only definitions & notes
  1. regiment
    army unit smaller than a division
    The regiment was fed and caressed at station after station until the youth had believed that he must be a hero.
  2. sunray
    a ray of sunlight
    When the sunrays at last struck full and mellowingly upon the earth, the youth saw that the landscape was streaked with two long, thin, black columns which disappeared on the brow of a hill in front and rearward vanished in a wood.
  3. color sergeant
    a sergeant in a color guard who carries one of the colors
    The profiles were motionless, carven; and afterward he remembered that the color sergeant was standing with his legs apart, as if he expected to be pushed to the ground.
  4. insignificantly
    in an insignificant manner
    He could conceive of men going very insignificantly about the world bearing a load of courage unseen, and although he had known many of his comrades through boyhood, he began to fear that his judgment of them had been blind.
  5. knee joint
    hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
    Farther up the line a man, standing behind a tree, had had his knee joint splintered by a ball.
  6. amputate
    remove surgically
    Th' dern doctor wanted t' amputate 'm, an' Bill, he raised a heluva row, I hear.
  7. color bearer
    the soldier who carries the standard of the unit in military parades or in battle
    They were new and beautiful, and the color bearer habitually oiled the pole.
  8. provost guard
    a detachment under the command of a provost marshall
    Pretty soon, though, we 'll meet a-plenty of guards an' provost-guards, an' one thing an' another.
  9. musketry
    the technique of using small arms (especially in battle)
    They were pursued by the sound of musketry fire.
  10. jest
    activity characterized by good humor
    "Well, yeh kin b'lieve me er not, jest as yeh like.
  11. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    He dinned reproaches at times.
  12. catcall
    a cry expressing disapproval
    There were crows and catcalls showered upon him when he retreated without the horse.
  13. clangor
    a loud resonant repeating noise
    One night, as he lay in bed, the winds had carried to him the clangoring of the church bell as some enthusiast jerked the rope frantically to tell the twisted news of a great battle.
  14. brigade
    army unit smaller than a division
    Whole brigades grinned in unison, and regiments laughed.
  15. babble
    utter meaningless sounds
    In the darkness he saw visions of a thousand-tongued fear that would babble at his back and cause him to flee, while others were going coolly about their country's business.
  16. pardner
    an associate in an activity or endeavor or sphere of common interest
    "Ye'd better take 'im outa th' road, pardner.
  17. perambulate
    walk with no particular goal
    Once, when the command had first come to the field, some perambulating veterans, noting the length of their column, had accosted them thus: "Hey, fellers, what brigade is that?"
  18. drum major
    the leader of a marching band or drum corps
    One was marching with an air imitative of some sublime drum major.
  19. oblige
    force somebody to do something
    For a time he was obliged to labor to make himself believe.
  20. fascinate
    attract; cause to be enamored
    The skirmishers in advance fascinated him.
  21. bushwhacker
    a disparaging term for an unsophisticated person
    When that feller trod on his hand, he up an' sed that he was willin' t' give his hand t' his country, but he be dumbed if he was goin' t' have every dumb bushwhacker in th' kentry walkin' 'round on it.
  22. regimental
    belonging to or concerning a regiment
    At nightfall the column broke into regimental pieces, and the fragments went into the fields to camp.
  23. crackle
    make a crackling sound
    He wished to get out of hearing of the crackling shots which were to him like voices.
  24. twiddle
    turn in a twisting or spinning motion
    For recreation he could twiddle his thumbs and speculate on the thoughts which must agitate the minds of the generals.
  25. agitate
    move or cause to move back and forth
    For recreation he could twiddle his thumbs and speculate on the thoughts which must agitate the minds of the generals.
  26. clamor
    utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
    They clamored at each other, numbers making futile bids for the popular attention.
  27. quick march
    marching at quick time
    He bellowed at the tottering crowd who blocked the quick march of his bearers.
  28. battery
    a collection of related things intended for use together
    A battery spoke.
  29. scamper
    run or move about quickly or lightly
    The hoofs of his horse often threatened the heads of the running men, but they scampered with singular fortune.
  30. battle line
    the line along which warring troops meet
    A dark battle line lay upon a sunstruck clearing that gleamed orange color.
  31. pulsate
    expand and contract rhythmically
    As he listened to the din from the hillside, to a deep pulsating thunder that came from afar to the left, and to the lesser clamors which came from many directions, it occurred to him that they were fighting, too, over there, and over there, and over there.
  32. exasperate
    make furious
    "Not much it won't," replied the tall soldier, exasperated.
  33. lurid
    glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism
    His busy mind had drawn for him large pictures extravagant in color, lurid with breathless deeds.
  34. conceive
    have the idea for
    He could conceive of men going very insignificantly about the world bearing a load of courage unseen, and although he had known many of his comrades through boyhood, he began to fear that his judgment of them had been blind.
  35. American Civil War
    civil war in the United States between the North and the South; 1861-1865
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  36. flee
    run away quickly
    In the darkness he saw visions of a thousand-tongued fear that would babble at his back and cause him to flee, while others were going coolly about their country's business.
  37. stare
    look at with fixed eyes
    As he perceived her, she had immediately begun to stare up through the high tree branches at the sky.
  38. stumble
    miss a step and fall or nearly fall
    The men stumbled along still muttering speculations.
  39. valor
    courage when facing danger
    Some talked of gray, bewhiskered hordes who were advancing with relentless curses and chewing tobacco with unspeakable valor; tremendous bodies of fierce soldiery who were sweeping along like the Huns.
  40. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    A mass of wet grass, marched upon, rustled like silk.
  41. gesticulate
    show, express, or direct through movement
    Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber sky.
  42. bounce
    spring back; spring away from an impact
    His musket bounced a trifle from his shoulder at each stride and made his cap feel uncertain upon his head.
  43. red-eye
    travel on an overnight flight
    From across the river the red eyes were still peering.
  44. perceive
    become aware of through the senses
    As he perceived her, she had immediately begun to stare up through the high tree branches at the sky.
  45. blood stream
    the blood flowing through the circulatory system
    The babbling man was grazed by a shot that made the blood stream widely down his face.
  46. suffuse
    cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
    His homely face was suffused with a light of love for the army which was to him all things beautiful and powerful.
  47. convulse
    move or stir about violently
    The blatant soldier often convulsed whole files by his biting sarcasms aimed at the tall one.
  48. contortion
    a tortuous and twisted shape or position
    They lay twisted in fantastic contortions.
  49. unguided
    not subject to guidance or control after launching
    His unguided feet, too, caught aggravatingly in brambles; and with it all he received a subtle suggestion to touch the corpse.
  50. complicate
    make less simple
    After complicated journeyings with many pauses, there had come months of monotonous life in a camp.
  51. boodle
    a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck); a player plays the lowest card of a suit in his hand and successively higher cards are played until the sequence stops; the player who plays a card matching one in the layout wins all the chips on that card
    "Of course it might happen that the hull kit-and-boodle might start and run, if some big fighting came first-off, and then again they might stay and fight like fun.
  52. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe, and once as his friend rolled his eyes, he saw something in them that made him sink wailing to the ground.
  53. veteran
    a person who has served in the armed forces
    Various veterans had told him tales.
  54. kin
    a person related to another or others
    "Well, yeh kin b'lieve me er not, jest as yeh like.
  55. wrangle
    quarrel noisily, angrily, or disruptively
    They were wrangling.
  56. livid
    furiously angry
    Once one lit before him and the livid lightning of the explosion effectually barred the way in his chosen direction.
  57. totter
    move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
    He saw that even if the men were tottering with fear they would laugh at his warning.
  58. enshrine
    enclose in a place of worship
    Individuals must have supposed that they were cutting the letters of their names deep into everlasting tablets of brass, or enshrining their reputations forever in the hearts of their countrymen, while, as to fact, the affair would appear in printed reports under a meek and immaterial title.
  59. reconnoiter
    explore, often with a goal of finding something or somebody
    "Oh, I suppose we must go reconnoitering around the country jest to keep 'em from getting too close, or to develop 'em, or something."
  60. struggle
    strenuous effort
    In visions he had seen himself in many struggles.
  61. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    Others spoke of tattered and eternally hungry men who fired despondent powders.
  62. shuck
    material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
    "Shucks!" said the loud one.
  63. efface
    remove by or as if by rubbing or erasing
    Secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions.
  64. flounder
    move clumsily or struggle to move, as in mud or water
    Other regiments floundered up the bank.
  65. hornpipe
    an ancient single-reed woodwind; usually made of bone
    For a moment the tremor of his legs caused him to dance a sort of hideous hornpipe.
  66. seethe
    foam as if boiling
    Heroes, he thought, could find excuses in that long seething lane.
  67. war machine
    the military forces of a nation
    The bed of the former torrent was choked with the bodies of horses and splintered parts of war machines.
  68. pause
    stop an action temporarily
    After complicated journeyings with many pauses, there had come months of monotonous life in a camp.
  69. wrench
    a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments
    The tall soldier weakly tried to wrench himself free.
  70. handshaking
    grasping and shaking a person's hand
    There were some handshakings and deep speeches with men whose features were familiar, but with whom the youth now felt the bonds of tied hearts.
  71. encounter
    come together
    Once the line encountered the body of a dead soldier.
  72. spectral
    resembling or characteristic of a phantom
    The shoulder of one of the tramping bearers knocked heavily against the spectral soldier who was staring into the unknown.
  73. lieutenant
    a commissioned military officer
    He was surprised presently by the young lieutenant of his company, who began heartily to beat him with a sword, calling out in a loud and insolent voice: "Come, young man, get up into ranks there.
  74. grim
    harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
    Frequently over this tumult could be heard the grim jokes of the critical veterans; but the retreating men apparently were not even conscious of the presence of an audience.
  75. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
    They had a rapid altercation, in which they fastened upon each other various strange epithets.
  76. gawk
    look with amazement
    He gawked in the direction of th fight.
  77. column
    a line of units following one after another
    When the sunrays at last struck full and mellowingly upon the earth, the youth saw that the landscape was streaked with two long, thin, black columns which disappeared on the brow of a hill in front and rearward vanished in a wood.
  78. flag
    a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
    A flag fluttered.
  79. infantry
    an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
    There was sudden change from the ponderous infantry of theory to the light and speedy infantry of practice.
  80. tread
    put down, place, or press the foot
    Once a man fell down, and as he reached for his rifle a comrade, unseeing, trod upon his hand.
  81. strangle
    kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air
    He wished to rush forward and strangle with his fingers.
  82. scoff
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    There was much scoffing at the latter by those who had yesterday been firm adherents of his views, and there was even a little sneering by men who had never believed the rumor.
  83. imprecation
    the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil
    Many of the men were making low-toned noises with their mouths, and these subdued cheers, snarls, imprecations, prayers, made a wild, barbaric song that went as an undercurrent of sound, strange and chantlike with the resounding chords of the war march.
  84. poke
    thrust abruptly
    "There's been heaps of fun poked at 'em because they're new, of course, and all that; but they'll fight all right, I guess."
  85. perceived
    detected by instinct or inference
    As he perceived her, she had immediately begun to stare up through the high tree branches at the sky.
  86. maniacal
    wildly disordered
    An officer on a bounding horse made maniacal motions with his arms.
  87. scurry
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    Thus, many men of courage, he considered, would be obliged to desert the colors and scurry like chickens.
  88. yokel
    a person who is not intelligent or interested in culture
    His mouth was agape in yokel fashion.
  89. gesture
    motion of hands or body to emphasize a thought or feeling
    Some shouted information and gestured as the hurried.
  90. strangulation
    the act of suffocating by constricting the windpipe
    This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe, and once as his friend rolled his eyes, he saw something in them that made him sink wailing to the ground.
  91. moment
    an indefinitely short time
    During the early spring he had refrained from adding extensively to the comfort of his environment because he had felt that the army might start on the march at any moment.
  92. frantic
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
    A battery changing position at a frantic gallop scattered the stragglers right and left.
  93. ardor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    She had affected to look with some contempt upon the quality of his war ardor and patriotism.
  94. haste
    overly eager speed and possible carelessness
    He had seen a good deal of flurry and haste in her movement as she changed her attitude.
  95. quaver
    give off unsteady sounds
    He ended in a quavering sob of pity for himself.
  96. quiver
    shake with fast, tremulous movements
    Her brown face, upraised, was stained with tears, and her spare form was quivering.
  97. glare
    be sharply reflected
    He glared about him.
  98. suffocate
    deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing
    After the fever had left his veins, the youth thought that at last he was going to suffocate.
  99. recede
    pull back or move away or backward
    The brigade was formed in line of battle, and after a pause started slowly through the woods in the rear of the receding skirmishers, who were continually melting into the scene to appear again farther on.
  100. badge
    an emblem that signifies your status
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  101. landscape
    an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
    As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors.
  102. brass buttons
    South African herb with golden-yellow globose flower heads
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  103. protrude
    extend out or project in space
    Far in front he thought he could see lighter masses protruding in points from the forest.
  104. flimsy
    a thin strong lightweight translucent paper
    The smoke from the fire at times neglected the clay chimney and wreathed into the room, and this flimsy chimney of clay and sticks made endless threats to set ablaze the whole establishment.
  105. under fire
    subjected to enemy attack or censure
    "Oh, there may be a few of 'em run, but there's them kind in every regiment, 'specially when they first goes under fire," said the other in a tolerant way.
  106. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    He was despondent and sullen, and threw shifting glances about him.
  107. dabble
    bob under so as to feed off the bottom of a body of water
    His fingers were dabbled with blood.
  108. grapple
    work hard to come to terms with or deal with something
    Secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions.
  109. menace
    something that is a source of danger
    He contemplated the lurking menaces of the future, and failed in an effort to see himself standing stoutly in the midst of them.
  110. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
    His mouth was agape in yokel fashion.
  111. straddle
    sit or stand astride of
    He saw a man climb to the top of the fence, straddle the rail, and fire a parting shot.
  112. engage
    consume all of one's attention or time
    Many of the men engaged in a spirited debate.
  113. jeer
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    They jeered the piratical private, and called attention to various defects in his personal appearance; and they were wildly enthusiastic in support of the young girl.
  114. shoulder blade
    either of two flat triangular bones one on each side of the shoulder in human beings
    Death about to thrust him between the shoulder blades was far more dreadful than death about to smite him between the eyes.
  115. wallow
    roll around
    The regiment slid down a bank and wallowed across a little stream.
  116. hillock
    a small natural mound
    They lifted their eyes every chance to the smoke-wreathed hillock from whence the hostile battery addressed them.
  117. hurtle
    move with or as if with a rushing sound
    They hurtled over his head with long wild screams.
  118. appall
    strike with disgust or revulsion
    There was an appalling imprint upon these faces.
  119. mathematically
    with respect to mathematics
    He tried to mathematically prove to himself that he would not run from a battle.
  120. gunner
    a serviceman in the artillery
    Through the trees he watched the black figures of the gunners as they worked swiftly and intently.
  121. billowing
    characterized by great swelling waves or surges
    The billowing smoke was filled with horizontal flashes.
  122. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    He coaxed in schoolmistress fashion, as to a congregation of boys with primers.
  123. compel
    force somebody to do something
    A sufficient time before he would have allowed the problem to kick its heels at the outer portals of his mind, but now he felt compelled to give serious attention to it.
  124. charger
    a device for charging or recharging batteries
    The quiet man astride looked mouse-colored upon such a splendid charger.
  125. wend
    direct one's course or way
    It was now like one of those moving monsters wending with many feet.
  126. nonchalant
    marked by casual unconcern or indifference
    The philosophical tall soldier measured a sandwich of cracker and pork and swallowed it in a nonchalant manner.
  127. glance
    take a brief look at
    He was despondent and sullen, and threw shifting glances about him.
  128. unison
    the state of corresponding exactly
    Whole brigades grinned in unison, and regiments laughed.
  129. cringe
    draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
    Chapter 7 The youth cringed as if discovered in a crime.
  130. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    He felt that every nerve in his body would be an ear to hear the voices, while other men would remain stolid and deaf.
  131. apparent
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    She could calmly seat herself and with no apparent difficulty give him many hundreds of reasons why he was of vastly more importance on the farm than on the field of battle.
  132. Napoleon Bonaparte
    French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
    You talk as if you thought you was Napoleon Bonaparte."
  133. direction
    a line leading to a place or point
    They heeded not the largest and longest of the oaths that were thrown at them from all directions.
  134. repulse
    force or drive back
    As the smoke slowly eddied away, the youth saw that the charge had been repulsed.
  135. accumulate
    get or gather together
    He must accumulate information of himself, and meanwhile he resolved to remain close upon his guard lest those qualities of which he knew nothing should everlastingly disgrace him.
  136. bramble
    any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
    His unguided feet, too, caught aggravatingly in brambles; and with it all he received a subtle suggestion to touch the corpse.
  137. confront
    oppose, as in hostility or a competition
    But here he was confronted with a thing of moment.
  138. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
    He blanched like one who has come to the edge of a cliff at midnight and is suddenly made aware.
  139. satanic
    extremely evil or cruel
    From this little distance the many fires, with the black forms of men passing to and fro before the crimson rays, made weird and satanic effects.
  140. doggerel
    a comic verse of irregular measure
    As he marched he sang a bit of doggerel in a high and quavering voice: "Sing a song 'a vic'try, A pocketful 'a bullets, Five an' twenty dead men Baked in a--pie."
  141. companion
    a friend who is frequently with another
    In regard to his companions his mind wavered between two opinions, according to his mood.
  142. harangue
    a loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion
    He thought that he must break from the ranks and harangue his comrades.
  143. sound
    mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium
    The sound of monotonous axe blows rang through the forest, and the insects, nodding upon their perches, crooned like old women.
  144. observant
    quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
    The observant regiment, standing at rest in the roadway, whooped at once, and entered whole-souled upon the side of the maiden.
  145. pursue
    follow in an effort to capture
    They were pursued by the sound of musketry fire.
  146. display
    something intended to communicate a particular impression
    A mounted officer displayed the furious anger of a spoiled child.
  147. monotonous
    sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
    After complicated journeyings with many pauses, there had come months of monotonous life in a camp.
  148. headlong
    with the upper or anterior part of the body foremost
    Once he knocked his shoulder so heavily against a tree that he went headlong.
  149. achieve
    gain with effort
    The youth achieved one little thought in the midst of this chaos.
  150. contemplate
    think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
    He contemplated the lurking menaces of the future, and failed in an effort to see himself standing stoutly in the midst of them.
  151. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    There was a tattered man, fouled with dust, blood and powder stain from hair to shoes, who trudged quietly at the youth's side.
  152. tilt
    lean over; tip
    A flag, tilted forward, sped near the front.
  153. picket
    a wooden strip forming part of a fence
    The only foes he had seen were some pickets along the river bank.
  154. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    As he looked all about him and pondered upon the mystic gloom, he began to believe that at any moment the ominous distance might be aflare, and the rolling crashes of an engagement come to his ears.
  155. schoolmistress
    a woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
    He coaxed in schoolmistress fashion, as to a congregation of boys with primers.
  156. scrutinize
    examine carefully for accuracy
    For moments he had been scrutinizing his person in a dazed way as if he had never before seen himself.
  157. derision
    the act of treating with contempt
    His mind heard howls of derision.
  158. ramrod
    a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm
    The steel ramrods clanked and clanged with incessant din as the men pounded them furiously into the hot rifle barrels.
  159. raise
    move upwards
    And they're raising blazes all over camp--anybody can see that."
  160. agony
    intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
    It seemed to be struggling to free itself from an agony.
  161. debate
    a discussion with reasons for and against some proposal
    Many of the men engaged in a spirited debate.
  162. despair
    a state in which all hope is lost or absent
    He had long despaired of witnessing a Greeklike struggle.
  163. wind
    air moving from high pressure to low pressure
    One night, as he lay in bed, the winds had carried to him the clangoring of the church bell as some enthusiast jerked the rope frantically to tell the twisted news of a great battle.
  164. assurance
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
    He could not accept with assurance an omen that he was about to mingle in one of those great affairs of the earth.
  165. dangle
    hang freely
    The youth saw with surprise that the soldier had two wounds, one in the head, bound with a blood-soaked rag, and the other in the arm, making that member dangle like a broken bough.
  166. liquid
    fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
    It cast its eyes upon the roads, which were growing from long troughs of liquid mud to proper thoroughfares.
  167. paean
    a hymn of praise
    In his eyes was a desire to chant a paean.
  168. heedless
    marked by or paying little attention
    They were heedless of his appeals.
  169. dogged
    stubbornly unyielding
    The guns, stolid and undaunted, spoke with dogged valor.
  170. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
    Men rushing swiftly emerged from it.
  171. locate
    determine the place of by searching or examining
    Where is it located?"
  172. projected
    predicted in advance; probable
    The youth could see that the soles of his shoes had been worn to the thinness of writing paper, and from a great rent in one the dead foot projected piteously.
  173. gleaming
    bright with a steady but subdued shining
    As he gazed around him the youth felt a flash of astonishment at the blue, pure sky and the sun gleamings on the trees and fields.
  174. ignite
    cause to start burning
    The regiment was like a firework that, once ignited, proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades.
  175. flap
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    The flaps of the cartridge boxes were all unfastened, and bobbed idiotically with each movement.
  176. wave
    (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
    He came flying back from a brook waving his garment bannerlike.
  177. crescendo
    a gradual increase in loudness
    The din became crescendo, like the roar of an oncoming train.
  178. lurch
    move suddenly or as if unable to control one's movements
    The tall soldier turned and, lurching dangerously, went on.
  179. aggregation
    the act of gathering something together
    Veteran regiments in the army were likely to be very small aggregations of men.
  180. insect
    a small creature with six legs, a hard body, and two antennae
    The insect voices of the night sang solemnly.
  181. cavalryman
    a soldier mounted on horseback
    He was swelled with a tale he had heard from a reliable friend, who had heard it from a truthful cavalryman, who had heard it from his trustworthy brother, one of the orderlies at division headquarters.
  182. deride
    treat or speak of with contempt
    He was afraid to make an open declaration of his concern, because he dreaded to place some unscrupulous confidant upon the high plane of the unconfessed from which elevation he could be derided.
  183. stretch
    extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  184. undercurrent
    a feeling or tendency that is not explicitly expressed
    Many of the men were making low-toned noises with their mouths, and these subdued cheers, snarls, imprecations, prayers, made a wild, barbaric song that went as an undercurrent of sound, strange and chantlike with the resounding chords of the war march.
  185. invulnerable
    immune to attack; impregnable
    The invulnerable dead man forced a way for himself.
  186. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    And he mused seriously upon the radical differences between himself and those men who were dodging implike around the fires.
  187. view
    the visual percept of a region
    There was much scoffing at the latter by those who had yesterday been firm adherents of his views, and there was even a little sneering by men who had never believed the rumor.
  188. tremor
    an involuntary vibration, as if from illness or fear
    Suddenly, as the two friends marched on, the tall soldier seemed to be overcome by a tremor.
  189. pilfer
    make off with belongings of others
    A rather fat soldier attempted to pilfer a horse from a dooryard.
  190. sentence
    a string of words satisfying grammatical rules of a language
    He had prepared certain sentences which he thought could be used with touching effect.
  191. jabber
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
    The purple darkness was filled with men who lectured and jabbered.
  192. gory
    covered with blood
    "Oh, Jim--oh, Jim--oh, Jim--" The tall soldier held out his gory hand.
  193. sway
    move back and forth
    In the air, always, was a mighty swell of sound that it seemed could sway the earth.
  194. stream
    a natural body of water flowing on or under the earth
    A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.
  195. conclude
    bring to a close
    On concluding the sentence he laughed as if he had meant to aim a joke.
  196. malediction
    the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil
    He searched about in his mind for an adequate malediction for the indefinite cause, the thing upon which men turn the words of final blame.
  197. demonstration
    a show or display
    He had grown to regard himself merely as a part of a vast blue demonstration.
  198. blister
    an elevation of the skin filled with fluid
    Presently he began to feel the effects of the war atmosphere--a blistering sweat, a sensation that his eyeballs were about to crack like hot stones.
  199. manipulate
    influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    As they went along, the man questioned the youth and assisted him with the replies like one manipulating the mind of a child.
  200. subdue
    put down by force or intimidation
    There was a subdued debate.
  201. sinuous
    curved or curving in and out
    Avoiding the obstructions gave it the sinuous movement of a serpent.
  202. furious
    marked by extreme anger
    A mounted officer displayed the furious anger of a spoiled child.
  203. wagon
    a wheeled vehicle drawn by an animal or a tractor
    I 'm 'fraid I 'll fall down--an' them yeh know--them damned artillery wagons--they like as not 'll run over me.
  204. cease
    put an end to a state or an activity
    The men became so engrossed in this affair that they entirely ceased to remember their own large war.
  205. wild horse
    undomesticated or feral domestic horse
    A sketch in gray and red dissolved into a moblike body of men who galloped like wild horses.
  206. obstruction
    any structure that makes progress difficult
    All his faculties seemed to be needed to guide him over and past obstructions.
  207. clammy
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    His face was of a clammy pallor.
  208. tangle
    twist together or entwine into a confusing mass
    From the heaving tangle issued exhortations, commands, imprecations.
  209. sight
    the ability to see; the visual faculty
    A certain light-haired girl had made vivacious fun at his martial spirit, but there was another and darker girl whom he had gazed at steadfastly, and he thought she grew demure and sad at sight of his blue and brass.
  210. vociferous
    conspicuously and offensively loud
    Loud and vociferous congratulations were showered upon the maiden, who stood panting and regarding the troops with defiance.
  211. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    For a moment he seemed to be searching for a formidable reply.
  212. tumult
    a state of commotion and noise and confusion
    He recalled his visions of broken-bladed glory, but in the shadow of the impending tumult he suspected them to be impossible pictures.
  213. chorus
    actors who comment on the action in a classical Greek play
    The din in front swelled to a tremendous chorus.
  214. persist
    refuse to stop
    "Think any of the boys 'll run?" persisted the youth.
  215. earth
    the third planet from the sun
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  216. imitative
    marked by or given to imitation
    One was marching with an air imitative of some sublime drum major.
  217. dwindle
    become smaller or lose substance
    The firing dwindled from an uproar to a last vindictive popping.
  218. plunge
    dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity
    One or two stepped with overvaliant airs as if they were already plunged into war.
  219. ashen
    pale from illness or emotion
    The youth looked keenly at the ashen face.
  220. wild
    wild, free, and not controlled or touched by humans
    The army makes 'em wild, and they like nothing better than the job of leading off a young feller like you, as ain't never been away from home much and has allus had a mother, an' a-learning 'em to drink and swear.
  221. vapor
    a visible suspension in the air of particles of a substance
    The flag was sometimes eaten and lost in this mass of vapor, but more often it projected, sun-touched, resplendent.
  222. dominate
    be in control
    He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire.
  223. luster
    the property of something that shines with reflected light
    The luster faded from their eyes.
  224. refine
    reduce to a pure state
    The refined joy of planting shells in the midst of the other battery's formation would appear a little thing when the infantry came swooping out of the woods.
  225. rebel
    someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
    Don't go a-thinkin' you can lick the hull rebel army at the start, because yeh can't.
  226. portal
    a grand and imposing entrance
    A sufficient time before he would have allowed the problem to kick its heels at the outer portals of his mind, but now he felt compelled to give serious attention to it.
  227. pine
    a coniferous tree
    The odor of the peaceful pines was in the men's nostrils.
  228. two-step
    a ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps
    One or two stepped with overvaliant airs as if they were already plunged into war.
  229. querulous
    habitually complaining
    Of a sudden another broke out in a querulous way like a man who has mislaid his hat.
  230. blatant
    without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
    The blatant soldier often convulsed whole files by his biting sarcasms aimed at the tall one.
  231. brimstone
    an old name for sulfur
    "They'll charge through hell's fire an' brimstone t' git a holt on a haversack, an' sech stomachs ain't a'lastin' long," he was told.
  232. huddle
    a disorganized and densely packed crowd
    A shell screaming like a storm banshee went over the huddled heads of the reserves.
  233. indefinite
    vague or not clearly defined or stated
    In his eyes there was mute, indefinite reproach.
  234. pounce
    move down on as if in an attack
    Pausing at one time to look about him he saw, out at some black water, a small animal pounce in and emerge directly with a gleaming fish.
  235. button
    a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  236. horde
    a vast multitude
    Some talked of gray, bewhiskered hordes who were advancing with relentless curses and chewing tobacco with unspeakable valor; tremendous bodies of fierce soldiery who were sweeping along like the Huns.
  237. bustle
    move or cause to move energetically or busily
    Meanwhile, the soldier who had fetched the rumor bustled about with much importance.
  238. pontoon
    (nautical) a floating structure (as a flat-bottomed boat) that serves as a dock or to support a bridge
    Chapter 3 When another night came, the columns, changed to purple streaks, filed across two pontoon bridges.
  239. gigantic
    exceedingly large or extensive
    In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun; and against it, black and patternlike, loomed the gigantic figure of the colonel on a gigantic horse.
  240. aware
    having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization
    He was aware that these battalions with their commotions were woven red and startling into the gentle fabric of softened greens and browns.
  241. diffident
    showing modest reserve
    After a time he began to sidle near to the youth, and in a diffident way try to make him a friend.
  242. schoolmate
    an acquaintance that you go to school with
    From his home he had gone to the seminary to bid adieu to many schoolmates.
  243. sergeant
    a noncommissioned officer ranking above a corporal
    The profiles were motionless, carven; and afterward he remembered that the color sergeant was standing with his legs apart, as if he expected to be pushed to the ground.
  244. mood
    a characteristic state of feeling
    He looked about to find men in the proper mood.
  245. engross
    devote fully to
    The men became so engrossed in this affair that they entirely ceased to remember their own large war.
  246. ungainly
    lacking grace in movement or posture
    They fled like soft, ungainly animals.
  247. reproach
    express criticism towards
    When reproached for this afterward, they usually expressed sorrow, and swore by their gods that the guns had exploded without their permission.
  248. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    After receiving a fill of discussions concerning marches and attacks, he went to his hut and crawled through an intricate hole that served it as a door.
  249. river
    a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
    A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.
  250. isolate
    place or set apart
    Behind the lines these two were acting a little isolated scene.
  251. perfunctory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
    It suddenly occurred to the youth that the fight in which he had been was, after all, but perfunctory popping.
  252. loon
    large somewhat primitive fish-eating diving bird of the northern hemisphere having webbed feet placed far back; related to the grebes
    He was a craven loon.
  253. stalk
    a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant
    He stalked like the specter of a soldier, his eyes burning with the power of a stare into the unknown.
  254. primer
    an introductory textbook
    He coaxed in schoolmistress fashion, as to a congregation of boys with primers.
  255. equipment
    an instrumentality needed for an undertaking
    Equipments hung on handy projections, and some tin dishes lay upon a small pile of firewood.
  256. line of battle
    a line formed by troops or ships prepared to deliver or receive an attack
    The brigade was formed in line of battle, and after a pause started slowly through the woods in the rear of the receding skirmishers, who were continually melting into the scene to appear again farther on.
  257. brier
    a thorny stem or twig
    He did not use care to avoid trees and branches, and his forgotten feet were constantly knocking against stones or getting entangled in briers.
  258. convince
    make realize the truth or validity of something
    He came near to convincing them by disdaining to produce proofs.
  259. muscle
    animal tissue consisting predominantly of contractile cells
    His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the muscles of his arms felt numb and bloodless.
  260. titter
    laugh nervously
    A low, tittering laugh went among his fellows.
  261. arouse
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
    The newspapers, the gossip of the village, his own picturings, had aroused him to an uncheckable degree.
  262. frustrate
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
    He had proceeded with wisdom and from the most righteous motives under heaven's blue only to be frustrated by hateful circumstances.
  263. redoubtable
    inspiring fear
    To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable dragons.
  264. thrill
    something that causes a sudden intense feeling
    He had, of course, dreamed of battles all his life--of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him with their sweep and fire.
  265. scatter
    cause to separate and go in different directions
    When he had finished, the blue-clothed men scattered into small arguing groups between the rows of squat brown huts.
  266. Homeric
    relating to or characteristic of Homer or his age or the works attributed to him
    They might not be distinctly Homeric, but there seemed to be much glory in them.
  267. dull
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
    A dull, animal-like rebellion against his fellows, war in the abstract, and fate grew within him.
  268. impending
    close in time; about to occur
    He recalled his visions of broken-bladed glory, but in the shadow of the impending tumult he suspected them to be impossible pictures.
  269. flash
    emit a brief burst of light
    There was an occasional flash and glimmer of steel from the backs of all these huge crawling reptiles.
  270. rend
    tear or be torn violently
    The youth could see that the soles of his shoes had been worn to the thinness of writing paper, and from a great rent in one the dead foot projected piteously.
  271. float
    be on or below a liquid surface and not sink to the bottom
    This sentiment, floating to him upon the still air, had made him temporarily regret war.
  272. whistle
    the sound made when someone forces breath through pursed lips
    Bullets began to whistle among the branches and nip at the trees.
  273. woodpecker
    a bird with a strong bill that bores into trees for insects
    A woodpecker stuck his impudent head around the side of a tree.
  274. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
    With the passionate song of the bullets and the banshee shrieks of shells were mingled loud catcalls and bits of facetious advice concerning places of safety.
  275. distant
    separated in space or coming from far away
    A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.
  276. swift
    moving very fast
    The swift thought came to him that the generals did not know what they were about.
  277. reload
    load anew
    He tried to reload his gun, but his shaking hands prevented.
  278. measure
    determine the dimensions of something or somebody
    He now was in a measure reassured.
  279. lull
    make calm or still
    There was a lull in the noises of insects as if they had bowed their beaks and were making a devotional pause.
  280. scorch
    burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
    The youth had reached an anguish where the sobs scorched him.
  281. perception
    the process of becoming aware through the senses
    The tall soldier burst into praises of what he thought to be his powers of perception.
  282. squat
    sit on one's heels
    When he had finished, the blue-clothed men scattered into small arguing groups between the rows of squat brown huts.
  283. motion
    the act of changing location from one place to another
    Its motion as it fell was a gesture of despair.
  284. consider
    think about carefully; weigh
    In his great anxiety his heart was continually clamoring at what he considered the intolerable slowness of the generals.
  285. awry
    turned or twisted to one side
    His hat was gone and his clothes were awry.
  286. resolve
    find a solution or answer
    He must accumulate information of himself, and meanwhile he resolved to remain close upon his guard lest those qualities of which he knew nothing should everlastingly disgrace him.
  287. prepare
    make ready or suitable or equip in advance
    He had prepared certain sentences which he thought could be used with touching effect.
  288. infernal
    characteristic of or resembling Hell
    The brigade was hurrying briskly to be gulped into the infernal mouths of the war god.
  289. croon
    sing softly
    The sound of monotonous axe blows rang through the forest, and the insects, nodding upon their perches, crooned like old women.
  290. relieve
    free from a burden, evil, or distress
    The regiment, relieved of a burden, received a new impetus.
  291. unwritten
    based on custom rather than documentation
    He assumed, then, the demeanor of one who knows that he is doomed alone to unwritten responsibilities.
  292. slur
    utter indistinctly
    His head was hanging forward and his words were slurred.
  293. profanity
    vulgar or irreverent speech or action
    The officer's profanity sounded conventional.
  294. flout
    treat with contemptuous disregard
    Then, in other moments, he flouted these theories, and assured him that his fellows were all privately wondering and quaking.
  295. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
    High in a treetop he stopped, and, poking his head cautiously from behind a branch, looked down with an air of trepidation.
  296. oppose
    be against
    He was opposed by men who advocated that there were other plans of campaign.
  297. clutch
    take hold of; grab
    He clutched the youth's arm and looked all about him, as if dreading to be overheard.
  298. swarm
    a group of many things in the air or on the ground
    Across the smoke-infested fields came a brown swarm of running men who were giving shrill yells.
  299. giggle
    laugh nervously
    The loud soldier also giggled.
  300. underbrush
    the brush growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
    At last he burst the bonds which had fastened him to the spot and fled, unheeding the underbrush.
  301. infantile
    of or relating to babies
    He was a slightly ragged man, who spat skillfully between his shoes and possessed a great fund of bland and infantile assurance.
  302. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    He had, of course, been impatient under the ordeal of this speech.
  303. chimney
    vertical flue carrying smoke through the wall of a building
    Smoke drifted lazily from a multitude of quaint chimneys.
  304. viand
    a choice or delicious dish
    His spirit seemed then to be communing with the viands.
  305. devotional
    a short religious service
    There was a lull in the noises of insects as if they had bowed their beaks and were making a devotional pause.
  306. probe
    an exploratory action or expedition
    He had time in which to wonder about himself and to attempt to probe his sensations.
  307. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    But he saw that it was good, else, he said, in battle every one would surely run save forlorn hopes and their ilk.
  308. dregs
    sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid
    When he finally spoke his voice was as bitter as dregs.
  309. injure
    cause bodily harm to
    He of the injured fingers swore bitterly, and aloud.
  310. amaze
    affect with wonder
    He turned away amazed and angry.
  311. grovel
    show submission or fear
    He groveled on the ground and then springing up went careering off through some bushes.
  312. pert
    characterized by a lightly saucy or impudent quality
    As he was carried past they made pert remarks to him.
  313. symmetrical
    exhibiting equivalence or correspondence among constituents
    All the roarers and lashers served to help him to magnify the dangers and horrors of the engagement that he might try to prove to himself that the thing with which men could charge him was in truth a symmetrical act.
  314. colonel
    a commissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
    In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun; and against it, black and patternlike, loomed the gigantic figure of the colonel on a gigantic horse.
  315. secular
    someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person
    Secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions.
  316. cavalry
    troops trained to fight on horseback
    Didn't the cavalry all start this morning?"
  317. throng
    a large gathering of people
    They had thronged about him with wonder and admiration.
  318. banging
    a continuing very loud noise
    "We ain't never goin' to stand this second banging.
  319. ague
    chills and fever that are symptomatic of malaria
    Then it was shaken by a prolonged ague.
  320. highwayman
    a holdup man who stops a vehicle and steals from it
    They cursed like highwaymen.
  321. bloat
    swelling of the intestinal tract of animals caused by gas
    War, the red animal, war, the blood-swollen god, would have bloated fill.
  322. blackberry
    bramble with sweet edible black or dark purple berries that usually do not separate from the receptacle
    "Don't forgit about the socks and the shirts, child; and I've put a cup of blackberry jam with yer bundle, because I know yeh like it above all things.
  323. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    He felt the subtle battle brotherhood more potent even than the cause for which they were fighting.
  324. convincing
    causing one to believe the truth of something
    He came near to convincing them by disdaining to produce proofs.
  325. oath
    a solemn promise regarding your future acts or behavior
    "Yeh must allus remember yer father, too, child, an' remember he never drunk a drop of licker in his life, and seldom swore a cross oath.
  326. demure
    shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
    A certain light-haired girl had made vivacious fun at his martial spirit, but there was another and darker girl whom he had gazed at steadfastly, and he thought she grew demure and sad at sight of his blue and brass.
  327. whirl
    the shape of something rotating rapidly
    The following throng went whirling around the flank.
  328. salve
    a preparation applied externally as a soothing remedy
    Without salve, he could not, he though, were the sore badge of his dishonor through life.
  329. superior
    of high quality or performance
    In fact, he usually admired in secret the superior development of the higher qualities in others.
  330. skulk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    No skulking 'll do here."
  331. feature
    a prominent attribute or aspect of something
    He thoughtfully mopped his reeking features.
  332. entanglement
    an intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim
    They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.
  333. fringe
    an ornamental border of short lengths of hanging threads
    Chapter 4 The brigade was halted in the fringe of a grove.
  334. number one
    the first or highest in an ordering or series
    "He 's up an' gone, ain't 'e, an' we might as well begin t' look out fer ol' number one.
  335. ditty
    a short simple song
    The shrilling voices of the people at home would pipe dismally for a time, but various general were usually compelled to listen to these ditties.
  336. ecstasy
    a state of elated bliss
    This voice of the people rejoicing in the night had made him shiver in a prolonged ecstasy of excitement.
  337. blubber
    an insulating layer of fat under the skin of some animals
    The man was blubbering and staring with sheeplike eyes at the lieutenant, who had seized him by the collar and was pommeling him.
  338. envelop
    enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
    The liquid stillness of the night enveloping him made him feel vast pity for himself.
  339. jaded
    exhausted
    Into the youth's eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs of a jaded horse.
  340. compunction
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
    He of course felt no compunctions for proposing a general as a sacrifice.
  341. discomfit
    cause to lose one's composure
    He pictured the ground before it as strewn with the discomfited.
  342. jingle
    a metallic sound
    A jingling staff was galloping hither and thither.
  343. evolve
    undergo development
    Some of the tall one's companions cried with emphasis that they, too, had evolved the same thing, and they congratulated themselves upon it.
  344. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
    A certain light-haired girl had made vivacious fun at his martial spirit, but there was another and darker girl whom he had gazed at steadfastly, and he thought she grew demure and sad at sight of his blue and brass.
  345. eyeball
    the ball-shaped capsule containing the vertebrate eye
    Presently he began to feel the effects of the war atmosphere--a blistering sweat, a sensation that his eyeballs were about to crack like hot stones.
  346. expend
    use up or consume fully
    They expended their lungs with prodigal wills.
  347. allege
    report or maintain
    It was quite probable they would hit the wrong man who, after he had recovered from his amazement would perhaps spend the rest of his days in writing replies to the songs of his alleged failure.
  348. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
    They were discussing his plight, questioning him and giving him advice.
  349. annihilate
    kill in large numbers
    If he had thought the regiment was about to be annihilated perhaps he could have amputated himself from it.
  350. nervous
    of or relating to a system of sensory apparatus
    The youth, pausing in his nervous walk, looked down at the busy figure.
  351. blithe
    carefree and happy and lighthearted
    The youth, considering himself as separated from the others, was saddened by the blithe and merry speeches that went from rank to rank.
  352. shifting
    changing position or direction
    He was despondent and sullen, and threw shifting glances about him.
  353. monologue
    a dramatic speech by a single actor
    In it there was something soft and tender like the monologue of a babe.
  354. turnpike
    an expressway on which tolls are collected
    "I met one of th' 148th Maine boys an' he ses his brigade fit th' hull rebel army fer four hours over on th' turnpike road an' killed about five thousand of 'em.
  355. dauntless
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    The young girl, with pink cheeks and shining eyes, stood like a dauntless statue.
  356. desire
    the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
    He vaguely desired to walk around and around the body and stare; the impulse of the living to try to read in dead eyes the answer to the Question.
  357. branch
    a division of a stem arising from the main stem of a plant
    As he perceived her, she had immediately begun to stare up through the high tree branches at the sky.
  358. attention
    the act of concentrating on something
    They clamored at each other, numbers making futile bids for the popular attention.
  359. furthermore
    in addition
    Furthermore, various ailments had begun to cry out.
  360. sapling
    young tree
    The swishing saplings tried to make known his presence to the world.
  361. vision
    the ability to see
    In visions he had seen himself in many struggles.
  362. tiny
    very small
    During this halt many men in the regiment began erecting tiny hills in front of them.
  363. retire
    withdraw from active participation
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  364. hilarious
    extremely funny; causing laughter
    A negro teamster who had been dancing upon a cracker box with the hilarious encouragement of twoscore soldiers was deserted.
  365. irritate
    cause annoyance in
    There was, on the contrary, an irritating prolongation.
  366. fret
    be agitated or irritated
    So he fretted for an opportunity.
  367. immaterial
    lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other
    Individuals must have supposed that they were cutting the letters of their names deep into everlasting tablets of brass, or enshrining their reputations forever in the hearts of their countrymen, while, as to fact, the affair would appear in printed reports under a meek and immaterial title.
  368. stampede
    a wild headlong rush of frightened animals
    The sight of this stampede exerted a floodlike force that seemed able to drag sticks and stones and men from the ground.
  369. medley
    a musical composition consisting of a series of songs
    He was transfixed by this terrific medley of all noises.
  370. comprehend
    get the meaning of something
    Or else they didn't comprehend--the fools.
  371. reluctantly
    with a certain degree of unwillingness
    The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane (1871-1900) An Episode of the American Civil War Chapter 1 The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting.
  372. limp
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    But the other gave him a glance as from the depths of a tomb, and raised his limp hand in a prophetic manner and turned away.
  373. chaos
    formless state of matter before the creation of the cosmos
    The youth achieved one little thought in the midst of this chaos.
  374. seize
    take hold of; grab
    He seized time to look about him calculatingly.
  375. spring
    move forward by leaps and bounds
    During the early spring he had refrained from adding extensively to the comfort of his environment because he had felt that the army might start on the march at any moment.
  376. extricate
    release from entanglement or difficulty
    Men extricated themselves from thick shirts.
  377. grove
    a small growth of trees without underbrush
    Chapter 4 The brigade was halted in the fringe of a grove.
  378. brittle
    having little elasticity
    The brittle blue line had withstood the blows and won.
  379. gaze
    a long fixed look
    A certain light-haired girl had made vivacious fun at his martial spirit, but there was another and darker girl whom he had gazed at steadfastly, and he thought she grew demure and sad at sight of his blue and brass.
  380. throttle
    a valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine
    Indeed, he saw a picture of himself, dust-stained, haggard, panting, flying to the front at the proper moment to seize and throttle the dark, leering witch of calamity.
  381. sardonic
    disdainfully or ironically humorous
    The sergeant, taking note of this, gave pause to his elaborate history while he administered a sardonic comment.
  382. point of view
    a mental position from which things are perceived
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  383. methodical
    characterized by orderliness
    Methodical idiots!
  384. unholy
    extremely evil or cruel
    Upon his features was an unholy mixture of merriment and agony.
  385. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
    In his flight the sound of these following footsteps gave him his one meager relief.
  386. despicable
    morally reprehensible
    With his heart continually assuring him that he was despicable, he could not exist without making it, through his actions, apparent to all men.
  387. surety
    something clearly established
    Of a surety the force was in a fix, and any fool could see that if they did not retreat while they had opportunity--why-- He felt that he would like to thrash the general, or at least approach and tell him in plain words exactly what he thought him to be.
  388. third person
    pronouns referring to people besides the speaker or listener
    He made a fine use of the third person.
  389. reserve
    hold back or set aside, especially for future use
    He wished, without reserve, that he was at home again making the endless rounds from the house to the barn, from the barn to the fields, from the fields to the barn, from the barn to the house.
  390. serene
    not agitated
    This man's serene unconcern dealt him a measure of confidence, for he had known him since childhood, and from his intimate knowledge he did not see how he could be capable of anything that was beyond him, the youth.
  391. ration
    a fixed portion that is allotted
    What I hate is this getting moved here and moved there, with no good coming of it, as far as I can see, excepting sore feet and damned short rations."
  392. doleful
    filled with or evoking sadness
    There was one who raised a doleful cry.
  393. holler
    call out loudly
    I give a holler an' begin t' run, but b'fore I could git away another one hit me in th' arm an' whirl' me clean 'round.
  394. receive
    get something; come into possession of
    After receiving a fill of discussions concerning marches and attacks, he went to his hut and crawled through an intricate hole that served it as a door.
  395. dominating
    offensively self-assured or exercising unwarranted power
    Here and there were flags, the red in the stripes dominating.
  396. fierce
    marked by extreme and violent energy
    Some talked of gray, bewhiskered hordes who were advancing with relentless curses and chewing tobacco with unspeakable valor; tremendous bodies of fierce soldiery who were sweeping along like the Huns.
  397. frenzy
    state of violent mental agitation
    Admitting that he might be wrong, a frenzied declamation of the kind would turn him into a worm.
  398. strew
    spread by scattering
    He pictured the ground before it as strewn with the discomfited.
  399. burst
    come open suddenly and violently
    The tall soldier burst into praises of what he thought to be his powers of perception.
  400. figure
    alternate name for the body of a human being
    The youth, pausing in his nervous walk, looked down at the busy figure.
  401. lurk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    He contemplated the lurking menaces of the future, and failed in an effort to see himself standing stoutly in the midst of them.
  402. little finger
    the finger farthest from the thumb
    For some moments he could not flee no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand.
  403. incoherent
    without logical or meaningful connection
    His incoherent questions were lost.
  404. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.
  405. blare
    make a loud noise
    There was a blare of heated rage mingled with a certain expression of intentness on all faces.
  406. shirk
    avoid one's assigned duties
    "I don't know what else to tell yeh, Henry, excepting that yeh must never do no shirking, child, on my account.
  407. repeated
    recurring again and again
    "Good Lord!" he repeated in dismay.
  408. bristle
    a stiff hair
    Suddenly those close forests would bristle with rifle barrels.
  409. docile
    easily handled or managed
    He thoughtfully poked one of the docile hands with his foot.
  410. musket
    a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel
    His musket bounced a trifle from his shoulder at each stride and made his cap feel uncertain upon his head.
  411. approach
    move towards
    The latter approached and looked down.
  412. oblique
    slanting or inclined in direction or course or position
    A small window shot an oblique square of whiter light upon the cluttered floor.
  413. hoof
    the hard foot of some mammals
    At last he heard from along the road at the foot of the hill the clatter of a horse's galloping hoofs.
  414. mental
    involving the mind or an intellectual process
    He reluctantly admitted that he could not sit still and with a mental slate and pencil derive an answer.
  415. machine
    a mechanical or electrical device that transmits energy
    They must be machines of steel.
  416. located
    situated in a particular spot or position
    Where is it located?"
  417. rider
    a traveler who actively sits and travels on an animal
    The tiny riders were beating the tiny horses.
  418. tradition
    a specific practice of long standing
    He was convicted by himself of many shameful crimes against the gods of traditions.
  419. exaggerate
    enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
    He began to exaggerate the endurance, the skill, and the valor of those who were coming.
  420. composite
    consisting of separate interconnected parts
    The composite monster which had caused the other troops to flee had not then appeared.
  421. fell
    cause to go down by or as if by delivering a blow
    Once a man fell down, and as he reached for his rifle a comrade, unseeing, trod upon his hand.
  422. urchin
    a poor and often mischievous city child
    "Reserve your fire, boys--don't shoot till I tell you--save your fire--wait till they get close up--don't be damned fools--" Perspiration streamed down the youth's face, which was soiled like that of a weeping urchin.
  423. dusk
    the time of day immediately following sunset
    Their blanched faces shone in the dusk.
  424. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
    "Good Lord!" he repeated in dismay.
  425. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
    Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber sky.
  426. free will
    power of making choices unconstrained by external agencies
    He had not enlisted of his free will.
  427. lean
    incline or bend from a vertical position
    The officer leaned forward.
  428. repeat
    say or state again
    "Good Lord!" he repeated in dismay.
  429. lucid
    transparently clear; easily understandable
    One outlined in a peculiarly lucid manner all the plans of the commanding general.
  430. bask
    expose oneself to warmth and light, as for relaxation
    As he basked in the smiles of the girls and was patted and complimented by the old men, he had felt growing within him the strength to do mighty deeds of arms.
  431. fantastic
    extravagantly fanciful in design, construction, appearance
    They lay twisted in fantastic contortions.
  432. victory
    a successful ending of a struggle or contest
    Almost every day the newspaper printed accounts of a decisive victory.
  433. provost
    a high-ranking university administrator
    Pretty soon, though, we 'll meet a-plenty of guards an' provost-guards, an' one thing an' another.
  434. philosophical
    relating to the investigation of existence and knowledge
    They were a sun-tanned, philosophical lot, who sometimes shot reflectively at the blue pickets.
  435. bluster
    be gusty, as of wind
    But the long serpents crawled slowly from hill to hill without bluster of smoke.
  436. frenzied
    affected with or marked by mania uncontrolled by reason
    Admitting that he might be wrong, a frenzied declamation of the kind would turn him into a worm.
  437. shin
    the front part of the human leg between the knee and the ankle
    He helped a cursing comrade to bind up a wound of the shin.
  438. concern
    something that interests you because it is important
    After receiving a fill of discussions concerning marches and attacks, he went to his hut and crawled through an intricate hole that served it as a door.
  439. caress
    touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
    The regiment was fed and caressed at station after station until the youth had believed that he must be a hero.
  440. density
    the amount per unit size
    Their density would not enable them to understand his sharper point of view.
  441. profound
    situated at or extending to great depth
    It was useless to expect appreciation of his profound and fine sense from such men as the lieutenant.
  442. ponder
    reflect deeply on a subject
    He lay in his bunk pondering upon it.
  443. crash
    break violently or noisily
    As he looked all about him and pondered upon the mystic gloom, he began to believe that at any moment the ominous distance might be aflare, and the rolling crashes of an engagement come to his ears.
  444. impregnable
    incapable of being attacked or tampered with
    Moreover, on her side, was his belief that her ethical motive in the argument was impregnable.
  445. reassure
    cause to feel confident
    He now was in a measure reassured.
  446. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    She had affected to look with some contempt upon the quality of his war ardor and patriotism.
  447. canter
    a smooth three-beat gait
    He slowly lifted his rifle and catching a glimpse of the thickspread field he blazed at a cantering cluster.
  448. bleach
    make whiter or lighter
    The struggle in the smoke had pictured an exaggeration of itself on the bleached cheeks and in the eyes wild with one desire.
  449. acute
    ending in a sharp point
    Sometimes his anger at the commanders reached an acute stage, and he grumbled about the camp like a veteran.
  450. abash
    cause to be embarrassed
    The tattered man shrank back abashed.
  451. halo
    a circle of light around the sun or moon
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  452. attitude
    a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings
    He had seen a good deal of flurry and haste in her movement as she changed her attitude.
  453. rejoice
    feel happiness
    This voice of the people rejoicing in the night had made him shiver in a prolonged ecstasy of excitement.
  454. develop
    progress or evolve through a process of natural growth
    Once a certain tall soldier developed virtues and went resolutely to wash a shirt.
  455. enable
    provide the means to perform some task
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  456. tragedy
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
    Their shots into thickets and at distant and prominent trees spoke to him of tragedies--hidden, mysterious, solemn.
  457. tolerant
    showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
    "Oh, there may be a few of 'em run, but there's them kind in every regiment, 'specially when they first goes under fire," said the other in a tolerant way.
  458. maim
    injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration
    And from this region of noises came the steady current of the maimed.
  459. peer
    look searchingly
    From across the river the red eyes were still peering.
  460. useless
    having no beneficial utility
    He felt that in this crisis his laws of life were useless.
  461. sneer
    a facial expression of contempt or scorn
    There was much scoffing at the latter by those who had yesterday been firm adherents of his views, and there was even a little sneering by men who had never believed the rumor.
  462. impetus
    a force that makes something happen
    The regiment, relieved of a burden, received a new impetus.
  463. wail
    a cry of sorrow and grief
    The wounded men were cursing, groaning, and wailing.
  464. sagacious
    acutely insightful and wise
    His actions had been sagacious things.
  465. appreciation
    understanding of the nature or meaning of something
    And he hated the lieutenant, who had no appreciation of fine minds.
  466. confidant
    someone to whom private matters are told
    He was afraid to make an open declaration of his concern, because he dreaded to place some unscrupulous confidant upon the high plane of the unconfessed from which elevation he could be derided.
  467. assembling
    the act of gathering something together
    The artillery were assembling as if for a conference.
  468. bough
    any of the larger branches of a tree
    At length he reached a place where the high, arching boughs made a chapel.
  469. sensation
    an awareness of some type of stimulation
    He had time in which to wonder about himself and to attempt to probe his sensations.
  470. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    He assumed, then, the demeanor of one who knows that he is doomed alone to unwritten responsibilities.
  471. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    From the road came creakings and grumblings as some surly guns were dragged away.
  472. mite
    small arachnid that infests animals, plants, or stored foods
    His failure to discover any mite of resemblance in their viewpoints made him more miserable than before.
  473. bend
    form a curve
    He bent forward, scarce breathing.
  474. absorb
    take in a liquid
    They were always busy as bees, deeply absorbed in their little combats.
  475. intense
    possessing a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
    If an intense scene had caught him with its wild swing as he came to the top of the bank, he might have gone gone roaring on.
  476. vindictive
    disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
    The firing dwindled from an uproar to a last vindictive popping.
  477. onslaught
    an offensive against an enemy
    To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable dragons.
  478. betray
    deliver to an enemy by treachery
    And it was as if fate had betrayed the soldier.
  479. prod
    push against gently
    They prodded teamsters indifferent to all howls.
  480. ramble
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
    "Well, now look--a--here--now," said the tattered man, rambling on in idiot fashion.
  481. dispute
    the act of coming into conflict
    However, he perceived now that it did not greatly matter what kind of soldiers he was going to fight, so long as they fought, which fact no one disputed.
  482. speculate
    reflect deeply on a subject
    For recreation he could twiddle his thumbs and speculate on the thoughts which must agitate the minds of the generals.
  483. devotee
    an ardent follower and admirer
    And there was a resemblance in him to a devotee of a mad religion, blood-sucking, muscle-wrenching, bone-crushing.
  484. action
    something done (usually as opposed to something said)
    A brigade ahead of them and on the right went into action with a rending roar.
  485. soar
    rise rapidly
    On the way to Washington his spirit had soared.
  486. crowd
    a large number of things or people considered together
    In the lane was a blood-stained crowd streaming to the rear.
  487. sink
    fall or descend to a lower place or level
    Now, with the newborn question in his mind, he was compelled to sink back into his old place as part of a blue demonstration.
  488. soldiery
    soldiers collectively
    Some talked of gray, bewhiskered hordes who were advancing with relentless curses and chewing tobacco with unspeakable valor; tremendous bodies of fierce soldiery who were sweeping along like the Huns.
  489. eddy
    a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind
    As the smoke slowly eddied away, the youth saw that the charge had been repulsed.
  490. terrier
    any of several breeds of small, short-bodied dog
    But the others scoffed in reply, and pointed to the veterans on the flanks who were digging at the ground like terriers.
  491. spat
    a quarrel about petty points
    He was a slightly ragged man, who spat skillfully between his shoes and possessed a great fund of bland and infantile assurance.
  492. singular
    being a single and separate person or thing
    The hoofs of his horse often threatened the heads of the running men, but they scampered with singular fortune.
  493. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
    They call the reg'ment 'Fresh fish' and everything; but the boys come of good stock, and most of 'em 'll fight like sin after they oncet git shootin'," he added, with a mighty emphasis on the last four words.
  494. swamp
    low land that is seasonally flooded
    They say th' enemy driv' our line inteh a devil of a swamp an' took Hannises' batt'ry."
  495. awkward
    lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance
    He was dressed in an awkward suit of yellowish brown.
  496. joint
    junction by which parts or objects are linked together
    Farther up the line a man, standing behind a tree, had had his knee joint splintered by a ball.
  497. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    "Why--why--" stammered the youth struggling with his balking tongue.
  498. hive
    a structure that provides a natural habitation for bees
    The forest seemed a vast hive of men buzzing about in frantic circles, but the cheery man conducted the youth without mistakes, until at last he began to chuckle with glee and self-satisfaction.
  499. curve
    the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
    Upon the other shore a dark and mysterious range of hills was curved against the sky.
  500. sublime
    of high moral or intellectual value
    One was marching with an air imitative of some sublime drum major.
  501. commander
    an official who can give orders or control others
    Sometimes his anger at the commanders reached an acute stage, and he grumbled about the camp like a veteran.
  502. resplendent
    having great beauty
    The flag was sometimes eaten and lost in this mass of vapor, but more often it projected, sun-touched, resplendent.
  503. jovial
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    He threw a pine cone at a jovial squirrel, and he ran with chattering fear.
  504. uniform
    clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a group
    From the stories, the youth imagined the red, live bones sticking out through slits in the faded uniforms.
  505. awe
    an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
    His lean features wore an expression of awe and admiration.
  506. reek
    give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.
    He thoughtfully mopped his reeking features.
  507. aghast
    struck with fear, dread, or consternation
    "No--no--don't tech me--leave me be--leave me be--" The youth, aghast and filled with wonder at the tall soldier, began quaveringly to question him.
  508. hue
    the quality of a color determined by its dominant wavelength
    In the gloom before the break of the day their uniforms glowed a deep purple hue.
  509. brush
    an implement that has hairs or bristles set into a handle
    He craved a power that would enable him to make a world-sweeping gesture and brush all back.
  510. fringed
    surrounded as with a border or fringe
    He came finally to a road from which he could see in the distance dark and agitated bodies of troops, smoke-fringed.
  511. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
    They expended their lungs with prodigal wills.
  512. nip
    sever or remove by pinching
    Bullets began to whistle among the branches and nip at the trees.
  513. rally
    gather or bring together
    He stood trying to rally his faltering intellect so that he might recollect the moment when he had loaded, but he could not.
  514. loiter
    linger, remain, or wait around for no apparent reason
    He loitered in a fever of eagerness for the division commander to apply to him.
  515. carnival
    a traveling show featuring rides and games
    He held a little carnival of joy on horseback.
  516. craven
    lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    He was a craven loon.
  517. respite
    a pause from doing something
    He fought frantically for respite for his senses, for air, as a babe being smothered attacks the deadly blankets.
  518. remain
    continue in a place, position, or situation
    He must accumulate information of himself, and meanwhile he resolved to remain close upon his guard lest those qualities of which he knew nothing should everlastingly disgrace him.
  519. strut
    walk in a proud, confident way
    They had strutted.
  520. conventional
    following accepted customs and proprieties
    The officer's profanity sounded conventional.
  521. opportunity
    a possibility from a favorable combination of circumstances
    So he fretted for an opportunity.
  522. bond
    a connection that fastens things together
    When he had stood in the doorway with his soldier's clothes on his back, and with the light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes almost defeating the glow of regret for the home bonds, he had seen two tears leaving their trails on his mother's scarred cheeks.
  523. mire
    a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
    He was obliged to walk upon bog tufts and watch his feet to keep from the oily mire.
  524. brave
    possessing or displaying courage
    "You ain't the bravest man in the world, are you?"
  525. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
    Once, when the command had first come to the field, some perambulating veterans, noting the length of their column, had accosted them thus: "Hey, fellers, what brigade is that?"
  526. theory
    a belief that can guide behavior
    Then, in other moments, he flouted these theories, and assured him that his fellows were all privately wondering and quaking.
  527. slang
    informal language that is inappropriate for formal occasions
    He was a slang phrase.
  528. reflection
    the phenomenon of a wave being thrown back from a surface
    He stared at the red, shivering reflection of a fire on the white wall of his tent until, exhausted and ill from the monotony of his suffering, he fell asleep.
  529. interminable
    tiresomely long; seemingly without end
    The voices of the cannon were clamoring in interminable chorus.
  530. persistently
    in a persistent manner
    They persistently yelled "Fresh fish!" at him, and were in no wise to be trusted.
  531. center
    an area that is in the middle of some larger region
    As he warily moved about, he heard the general call out irritably: "Tompkins, go over an' see Taylor, an' tell him not t' be in such an all-fired hurry; tell him t' halt his brigade in th' edge of th' woods; tell him t' detach a reg'ment--say I think th' center 'll break if we don't help it out some; tell him t' hurry up."
  532. instant
    a very short time
    The battle reflection that shone for an instant in the faces on the mad current made the youth feel that forceful hands from heaven would not have been able to have held him in place if he could have got intelligent control of his legs.
  533. wing
    a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
    A bird flew on lighthearted wing.
  534. parched
    extremely thirsty
    Buried in the smoke of many rifles his anger was directed not so much against the men whom he knew were rushing toward him as against the swirling battle phantoms which were choking him, stuffing their smoke robes down his parched throat.
  535. ceaseless
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    For days he made ceaseless calculations, but they were all wondrously unsatisfactory.
  536. challenging
    requiring full use of your abilities or resources
    In his life he had taken certain things for granted, never challenging his belief in ultimate success, and bothering little about means and roads.
  537. havoc
    violent and needless disturbance
    The musketry sounded in long irregular surges that played havoc with his ears.
  538. elaborate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    To his attentive audience he drew a loud and elaborate plan of a very brilliant campaign.
  539. prolong
    lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
    This voice of the people rejoicing in the night had made him shiver in a prolonged ecstasy of excitement.
  540. foul
    highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
    He became aware of the foul atmosphere in which he had been struggling.
  541. burly
    muscular and heavily built
    They seemed, for the most part, to be very burly men.
  542. trough
    a long narrow shallow receptacle
    It cast its eyes upon the roads, which were growing from long troughs of liquid mud to proper thoroughfares.
  543. environment
    the totality of surrounding conditions
    During the early spring he had refrained from adding extensively to the comfort of his environment because he had felt that the army might start on the march at any moment.
  544. team
    a cooperative unit
    The teams went swinging up from the rear, the guns were whirled about, and the battery scampered away.
  545. discourage
    try to prevent; show opposition to
    But his mother had discouraged him.
  546. abject
    of the most contemptible kind
    A lad whose face had borne an expression of exalted courage, the majesty of he who dares give his life, was, at an instant, smitten abject.
  547. stupendous
    so great in size, force, or extent as to elicit awe
    As he hastened, there passed through his mind pictures of stupendous conflicts.
  548. audacious
    disposed to venture or take risks
    A warm and strong hand clasped the youth's languid fingers for an instant, and then he heard a cheerful and audacious whistling as the man strode away.
  549. ponderous
    having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
    There was sudden change from the ponderous infantry of theory to the light and speedy infantry of practice.
  550. propel
    cause to move forward with force
    The youth put forth anxious arms to assist him, but the tall soldier went firmly as if propelled.
  551. chuckle
    a soft partly suppressed laugh
    The forest seemed a vast hive of men buzzing about in frantic circles, but the cheery man conducted the youth without mistakes, until at last he began to chuckle with glee and self-satisfaction.
  552. infest
    occupy in large numbers or live on a host
    Across the smoke-infested fields came a brown swarm of running men who were giving shrill yells.
  553. conflict
    an open clash between two opposing groups
    He had, of course, dreamed of battles all his life--of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him with their sweep and fire.
  554. denounce
    speak out against
    He denounced himself as a villain.
  555. complexity
    the quality of being intricate and compounded
    Its complexities and powers, its grim processes, fascinated him.
  556. invisible
    impossible or nearly impossible to see
    It was as if a thousand axes, wee and invisible, were being wielded.
  557. unsatisfactory
    not meeting expectations or needs; disappointing
    For days he made ceaseless calculations, but they were all wondrously unsatisfactory.
  558. munition
    weapons considered collectively
    There seemed to be a great ruck of men and munitions spread about in the forest and in the fields.
  559. rapid
    characterized by speed
    They had a rapid altercation, in which they fastened upon each other various strange epithets.
  560. course
    a connected series of events or actions or developments
    He had, of course, dreamed of battles all his life--of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him with their sweep and fire.
  561. projection
    the act of expelling or ejecting
    Equipments hung on handy projections, and some tin dishes lay upon a small pile of firewood.
  562. debris
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    The waves had receded, leaving bits of dark "debris" upon the ground.
  563. exhibition
    the act of displaying or demonstrating
    He particularly remembered an old fellow who used to sit upon a cracker box in front of the store and feign to despise such exhibitions.
  564. grasp
    hold firmly
    He grasped his canteen and took a long swallow of the warmed water.
  565. amber
    a hard yellowish to brownish translucent fossil resin
    A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.
  566. assent
    agree or express agreement
    The youth nodded an assent wearily.
  567. morsel
    a small amount of solid food; a mouthful
    He felt vaguely that death must make a first choice of the men who were nearest; the initial morsels for the dragons would be then those who were following him.
  568. proceed
    move ahead; travel onward in time or space
    The regiment was like a firework that, once ignited, proceeds superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades.
  569. parch
    cause to wither from exposure to heat
    Buried in the smoke of many rifles his anger was directed not so much against the men whom he knew were rushing toward him as against the swirling battle phantoms which were choking him, stuffing their smoke robes down his parched throat.
  570. elastic
    capable of resuming shape after stretching or compression
    The thrill of his enthusiasm made him walk with an elastic step.
  571. barb
    a point facing the main point making an arrowhead or spear
    He could not tell who the chosen for the barbs might be, so he could center no direct sympathy upon him.
  572. shaft
    a long rod or pole, especially the body of a weapon
    When he perceived again that it was not possible for the army to be defeated, he tried to bethink him of a fine tale which he could take back to his regiment, and with it turn the expected shafts of derision.
  573. indifferent
    marked by a lack of interest
    They prodded teamsters indifferent to all howls.
  574. languid
    lacking spirit or liveliness
    A warm and strong hand clasped the youth's languid fingers for an instant, and then he heard a cheerful and audacious whistling as the man strode away.
  575. dingy
    thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
    He remembered how he had stood, a small, thrillful boy, prepared to follow the dingy lady upon the white horse, or the band in its faded chariot.
  576. remark
    make or write a comment on
    "Well," remarked the youth, "like as not this story'll turn out jest like them others did."
  577. prospective
    of or concerned with or related to the future
    His emotions made him feel strange in the presence of men who talked excitedly of a prospective battle as of a drama they were about to witness, with nothing but eagerness and curiosity apparent in their faces.
  578. assist
    give help; be of service
    The lieutenant was obliged to assist him.
  579. sarcasm
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    The blatant soldier often convulsed whole files by his biting sarcasms aimed at the tall one.
  580. heroic
    having qualities appropriate for brave figures
    There was a singular absence of heroic poses.
  581. assemblage
    several things grouped together or considered as a whole
    A corporal began to swear before the assemblage.
  582. beak
    horny projecting mouth of a bird
    There was a lull in the noises of insects as if they had bowed their beaks and were making a devotional pause.
  583. doze
    a light fitful sleep
    Do they think--" The youth in his battle sleep heard this as one who dozes hears.
  584. surprise
    come upon or take unawares
    He was surprised presently by the young lieutenant of his company, who began heartily to beat him with a sword, calling out in a loud and insolent voice: "Come, young man, get up into ranks there.
  585. obstacle
    something that stands in the way and must be surmounted
    Chapter 12 The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth's sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.
  586. detect
    discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
    As he had walked down the path between the rows of oaks, he had turned his head and detected her at a window watching his departure.
  587. regret
    feel sorry for; be contrite about
    When he had stood in the doorway with his soldier's clothes on his back, and with the light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes almost defeating the glow of regret for the home bonds, he had seen two tears leaving their trails on his mother's scarred cheeks.
  588. semblance
    the outward or apparent appearance or form of something
    His face turned to a semblance of gray paste.
  589. affront
    a deliberately offensive act
    He took the matter as an affront to him.
  590. missile
    a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a target
    They would jeer him, and, if practicable, pelt him with missiles.
  591. landmark
    a prominent or well-known object in a particular place
    Landmarks had vanished into the gathered gloom.
  592. injured
    harmed
    He of the injured fingers swore bitterly, and aloud.
  593. whisper
    speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
    The men were whispering speculations and recounting the old rumors.
  594. haggard
    showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
    Indeed, he saw a picture of himself, dust-stained, haggard, panting, flying to the front at the proper moment to seize and throttle the dark, leering witch of calamity.
  595. fraternity
    a social club for male undergraduates
    It was a mysterious fraternity born of the smoke and danger of death.
  596. vigorous
    characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
    There was a vigorous discussion.
  597. turbulent
    characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
    There came a turbulent stream of men across the fields.
  598. monotony
    the quality of wearisome constancy and lack of variety
    He stared at the red, shivering reflection of a fire on the white wall of his tent until, exhausted and ill from the monotony of his suffering, he fell asleep.
  599. clamber
    climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    He came to a fence and clambered over it.
  600. schoolboy
    a boy attending school
    He hopped like a schoolboy in a game.
  601. unaware
    not having or showing knowledge or understanding
    The men there seemed to be in conventional moods, altogether unaware of the impending annihilation.
  602. commune
    share or interact intimately with
    His spirit seemed then to be communing with the viands.
  603. administer
    supervise or be in charge of
    The sergeant, taking note of this, gave pause to his elaborate history while he administered a sardonic comment.
  604. similarity
    the quality of being alike
    Also, there was too great a similarity in the hats.
  605. assuring
    giving confidence
    With his heart continually assuring him that he was despicable, he could not exist without making it, through his actions, apparent to all men.
  606. investigating
    the work of inquiring into something thoroughly and systematically
    The youth looked at the men nearest him, and saw, for the most part, expressions of deep interest, as if they were investigating something that had fascinated them.
  607. gait
    an animal's manner of moving
    On the march he went along with the stride of a hunter, objecting to neither gait nor distance.
  608. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
    He was quick to see vulnerable places in them all.
  609. fortitude
    strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity
    "Was pretty good fight, wa'n't it?" he began in a small voice, and the he achieved the fortitude to continue.
  610. rendezvous
    a meeting planned at a certain time and place
    He was at the rendezvous.
  611. invade
    march aggressively into a territory by military force
    He was invaded by a creeping strangeness that slowly enveloped him.
  612. sham
    something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
    He cried out bitterly that their crowns were stolen and their robes of glorious memories were shams.
  613. prominent
    conspicuous in position or importance
    Their shots into thickets and at distant and prominent trees spoke to him of tragedies--hidden, mysterious, solemn.
  614. reptile
    a cold-blooded vertebrate including snakes and lizards
    There was an occasional flash and glimmer of steel from the backs of all these huge crawling reptiles.
  615. fiber
    a slender and elongated substance that can be spun into yarn
    He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.
  616. circumstances
    one's overall condition in life
    The youth kept from intercourse with his companions as much as circumstances would allow him.
  617. prophetic
    foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
    But the other gave him a glance as from the depths of a tomb, and raised his limp hand in a prophetic manner and turned away.
  618. disclose
    expose to view as by removing a cover
    The sun spread disclosing rays, and, one by one, regiments burst into view like armed men just born of the earth.
  619. finance
    the commercial activity of providing funds and capital
    Secular and religious education had effaced the throat-grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions.
  620. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
    Individuals must have supposed that they were cutting the letters of their names deep into everlasting tablets of brass, or enshrining their reputations forever in the hearts of their countrymen, while, as to fact, the affair would appear in printed reports under a meek and immaterial title.
  621. stout
    having rugged physical strength
    The cannon with their noses poked slantingly at the ground grunted and grumbled like stout men, brave but with objections to hurry.
  622. search
    look or seek
    For a moment he seemed to be searching for a formidable reply.
  623. bent
    stooped (used of the back and knees)
    He bent forward, scarce breathing.
  624. invincible
    incapable of being overcome or subdued
    The dragons were coming with invincible strides.
  625. pursuer
    a person who is following and trying to overtake or capture
    Tell me, won't you, Jim?" The tall soldier faced about as upon relentless pursuers.
  626. reflect
    throw or bend back from a surface
    He had opportunity to reflect.
  627. dissolve
    pass into a solution
    A sketch in gray and red dissolved into a moblike body of men who galloped like wild horses.
  628. gentle
    soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
    He was aware that these battalions with their commotions were woven red and startling into the gentle fabric of softened greens and browns.
  629. glaring
    shining intensely
    A glaring fire wine-tinted the waters of the river.
  630. cone
    a shape with a circular base and sides tapering to a point
    He threw a pine cone at a jovial squirrel, and he ran with chattering fear.
  631. rave
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
    The raving teamsters swore many strange oaths.
  632. relieved
    made easier to bear
    The regiment, relieved of a burden, received a new impetus.
  633. labored
    requiring or showing effort
    In imagination he felt the scrutiny of his companions as he painfully labored through some lies.
  634. epithet
    descriptive word or phrase
    They had a rapid altercation, in which they fastened upon each other various strange epithets.
  635. horizon
    the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
    There was a portion of the world's history which he had regarded as the time of wars, but it, he thought, had been long gone over the horizon and had disappeared forever.
  636. occur
    come to pass
    As he perceived this fact it occurred to him that he had never wished to come to the war.
  637. patch
    a small contrasting part of something
    In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun; and against it, black and patternlike, loomed the gigantic figure of the colonel on a gigantic horse.
  638. concluding
    occurring at or forming an end or termination
    On concluding the sentence he laughed as if he had meant to aim a joke.
  639. bland
    lacking taste or flavor or tang
    He was a slightly ragged man, who spat skillfully between his shoes and possessed a great fund of bland and infantile assurance.
  640. infected
    containing or resulting from disease-causing organisms
    Some ardor of the air which was causing the veteran commands to move with glee--almost with song--had infected the new regiment.
  641. incline
    lower or bend, as in a nod or bow
    Sometimes he inclined to believing them all heroes.
  642. ethical
    conforming to accepted standards of social behavior
    Moreover, on her side, was his belief that her ethical motive in the argument was impregnable.
  643. concede
    give over
    He now conceded it to be impossible that he should ever become a hero.
  644. advice
    a proposal for an appropriate course of action
    To her, from some distance, came bold advice.
  645. pathos
    a quality that arouses emotions, especially pity or sorrow
    He thought of the magnificent pathos of his dead body.
  646. sob
    weep convulsively
    He ended in a quavering sob of pity for himself.
  647. placid
    calm and free from disturbance
    The face of a youthful rider, who was jerking his frantic horse with an abandon of temper he might display in a placid barnyard, was impressed deeply upon his mind.
  648. sacrifice
    the act of killing in order to appease a deity
    But, from his present point of view, there was a halo of happiness about each of their heads, and he would have sacrificed all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to them.
  649. chord
    a combination of three or more notes that blend harmoniously
    Many of the men were making low-toned noises with their mouths, and these subdued cheers, snarls, imprecations, prayers, made a wild, barbaric song that went as an undercurrent of sound, strange and chantlike with the resounding chords of the war march.
  650. support
    the act of bearing the weight of or strengthening
    They jeered the piratical private, and called attention to various defects in his personal appearance; and they were wildly enthusiastic in support of the young girl.
  651. denote
    have as a meaning
    He considered that there was denoted a lack of purpose on the part of the generals.
  652. recreation
    an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
    For recreation he could twiddle his thumbs and speculate on the thoughts which must agitate the minds of the generals.
  653. gape
    look with amazement
    The tattered man looked at him in gaping amazement.
  654. comprehension
    an ability to understand the meaning of something
    He must look to the grave for comprehension.
  655. congratulate
    say something to someone that expresses praise
    Some of the tall one's companions cried with emphasis that they, too, had evolved the same thing, and they congratulated themselves upon it.
  656. anticipate
    regard something as probable or likely
    The loud soldier launched then into the subject of the anticipated fight.
  657. practicable
    capable of being done with means at hand
    They would jeer him, and, if practicable, pelt him with missiles.
  658. feign
    make believe with the intent to deceive
    He particularly remembered an old fellow who used to sit upon a cracker box in front of the store and feign to despise such exhibitions.
  659. flame
    combustion of materials producing heat and light and smoke
    The level sheets of flame developed great clouds of smoke that tumbled and tossed in the mild wind near the ground for a moment, and then rolled through the ranks as through a gate.
  660. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
    He conceived Nature to be a woman with a deep aversion to tragedy.
  661. emerging
    coming into existence
    He said, as if in excuse for this hope, that previously the army had encountered great defeats and in a few months had shaken off all blood and tradition of them, emerging as bright and valiant as a new one; thrusting out of sight the memory of disaster, and appearing with the valor and confidence of unconquered legions.
  662. intelligent
    having the capacity for thought and reason to a high degree
    The battle reflection that shone for an instant in the faces on the mad current made the youth feel that forceful hands from heaven would not have been able to have held him in place if he could have got intelligent control of his legs.
  663. tangled
    in a confused mass
    He threaded the mazes of the tangled forest with a strange fortune.
  664. reliable
    able to be depended on; consistent or steady
    He was swelled with a tale he had heard from a reliable friend, who had heard it from a truthful cavalryman, who had heard it from his trustworthy brother, one of the orderlies at division headquarters.
  665. suspect
    regard as untrustworthy
    He recalled his visions of broken-bladed glory, but in the shadow of the impending tumult he suspected them to be impossible pictures.
  666. tune
    a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
    The regiment tramped to the tune of laughter.
  667. exhaustion
    extreme fatigue
    Himself reeling from exhaustion, he was astonished beyond measure at such persistency.
  668. weapon
    any instrument used in fighting or hunting
    Directly he was working at his weapon like an automatic affair.
Created on Fri Feb 05 15:01:45 EST 2010 (updated Fri Feb 05 15:02:51 EST 2010)

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