cask
a cylindrical container that holds liquids
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs.
injury
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.
venture
proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.
insult
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult , I vowed revenge.
vow
make a vow; promise
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.
revenge
action taken in return for an injury or offense
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge .
threat
declaration of an intention or a determination to inflict harm on another
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat .
avenge
take revenge for a perceived wrong
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
At length I would be avenged ; this was a point definitively settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk.
preclude
make impossible, especially beforehand
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled—but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk.
impunity
exemption from punishment or loss
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
I must not only punish, but punish with impunity .
retribution
the act of correcting for your wrongdoing
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser.
wont
an established custom
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
I continued, as was my wont , to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
virtuoso
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit.
imposture
pretending to be another person
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
For the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity—to practise imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires.
accost
speak to someone
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much.
motley
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
The man wore motley .
surmount
be on top of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.
impose
impose something unpleasant
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature.
insufferable
used of persons or their behavior
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
The vaults are insufferably damp.
imposed
set forth authoritatively as obligatory
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
You have been imposed upon.
abscond
run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honor of the time.
explicit
precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable; leaving nothing to implication
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house.
insure
make certain of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned.
gait
a person's manner of walking
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode.
gleam
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"It is farther on," said I; "but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls."
precious
held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious .
repose
lie when dead
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."
azure
of a deep somewhat purplish blue color similar to that of a clear October sky
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure ; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."
rampant
unrestrained and violent
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."
fang
hollow or grooved tooth of a venomous snake; used to inject its poison
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel."
recess
an enclosure that is set back or indented
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs.
gesticulation
a deliberate and vigorous gesture or motion
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.
grotesque
distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He repeated the movement—a grotesque one.
comprehend
get the meaning of something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"You do not comprehend ?" he said.
jest
act in a funny or teasing way
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"You jest ," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces.
recoil
spring back; spring away from an impact
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces.
cloak
a loose outer garment
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
"Be it so," I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak , and again offering him my arm.
arch
(architecture) a masonry construction (usually curved) for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
We passed through a range of low arches , descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.
descend
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
We passed through a range of low arches, descended , passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.
crypt
a cellar or vault or underground burial chamber (especially beneath a church)
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious.
remote
located far away spatially
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious.
spacious
(of buildings and rooms) having ample space
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious .
colossal
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite.
vain
unproductive of success
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
But to these words I hearkened in vain for a reply.
endeavor
attempt by employing effort
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry into the depths of the recess.
pry
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry into the depths of the recess.
termination
a place where something ends or is complete
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.
feeble
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see.
extremity
the outermost or farthest region or point
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered.
niche
a small concavity
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche , and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered.
fetter
restrain with fetters
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
A moment more and I had fettered him to the granite.
astound
affect with wonder
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He was too much astounded to resist.
resist
withstand the force of something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
He was too much astounded to resist .
implore
call upon in supplication; entreat
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Once more let me implore you to return.
mortar
used as a bond in masonry or for covering a wall
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar .
indication
something that serves to indicate or suggest
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess.
obstinate
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
There was then a long and obstinate silence.
cease
put an end to a state or an activity
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones.
subside
wear off or die down
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
When at last the clanking subsided , I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier.
resume
take up or begin anew
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier.
succession
a following of one thing after another in time
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back.
shrill
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back.
noble
having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognising as that of the noble Fortunato.
aperture
a natural opening in something
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within.
hasten
move fast
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
I hastened to make an end of my labor.
rampart
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones.
mortal
a human being
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.
disturb
change the arrangement or position of
EXAMPLE SENTENCE:
For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.
cask
