The Two Towers: Book Three: Chapters 8-11

by J.R.R. Tolkien
In the second part of The Lord of the Rings, the fellowship is broken. Two hobbits are kidnapped by orcs, while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli help fight the forces of Saruman, an evil wizard. Meanwhile, with Gollum as their guide, Frodo and Sam make their way to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Book Three: Chapters 1-3, Book Three: Chapters 4-7, Book Three: Chapters 8-11, Book Four: Chapters 1-3, Book Four: Chapters 4-6, Book Four: Chapters 7-10

Here are links to our lists for other works by J.R.R. Tolkien: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Return of the King, The Hobbit
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. hovel
    small crude shelter used as a dwelling
    Do you think those halls are fair, where your King dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and Dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled-zâram in the starlight.
  2. chisel
    an edge tool with a flat steel blade with a cutting edge
    Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little: one family of busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made.
  3. abide
    dwell
    ‘And glad shall I be to see it again,’ said Théoden, ‘though brief now, I doubt not, shall be my abiding there.’
  4. cauldron
    a very large pot that is used for boiling
    The ring beyond was filled with steaming water: a bubbling cauldron, in which there heaved and floated a wreckage of beams and spars, chests and casks and broken gear.
  5. spar
    stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
    The ring beyond was filled with steaming water: a bubbling cauldron, in which there heaved and floated a wreckage of beams and spars, chests and casks and broken gear.
  6. truant
    someone who shirks duty
    ‘You rascals, you woolly-footed and wool-pated truants! A fine hunt you have led us! Two hundred leagues, through fen and forest, battle and death, to rescue you! And here we find you feasting and idling — and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villains? Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!’
  7. maul
    injure badly
    ‘But I will not go into any orc-house; nor touch Orcs’ meat or anything that they have mauled.’
  8. draught
    a current of air
    But there is a great draught in the chimney: it seems to wind away up through the rock, and fortunately it has not been blocked. A fire is handy.
  9. unabashed
    not embarrassed
    The three were soon busy with their meal; and the two hobbits, unabashed, set to a second time. ‘We must keep our guests company,’ they said.
  10. fetter
    a shackle for the ankles or feet
    One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters.
  11. masonry
    structure built of stone or brick
    I saw iron posts and blocks of masonry go rocketing up hundreds of feet, and smash against the windows of Orthanc.
  12. wretch
    someone who performs some wicked deed
    With that the wretch floundered off into the flood.
  13. flotsam
    the floating wreckage of a ship
    It was through our search for man-food that Pippin discovered the prize of all the flotsam, those Hornblower barrels.
  14. desolation
    the state of being decayed or destroyed
    They passed through the ruined tunnel and stood upon a heap of stones, gazing at the dark rock of Orthanc, and its many windows, a menace still in the desolation that lay all about it.
  15. unwary
    not alert to danger or deception
    Those who listened unwarily to that voice could seldom report the words that they heard; and if they did, they wondered, for little power remained in them.
  16. enthrall
    hold spellbound
    For many the sound of the voice alone was enough to hold them enthralled; but for those whom it conquered the spell endured when they were far away, and ever they heard that soft voice whispering and urging them.
  17. aggrieve
    cause to feel distress
    Its tone was that of a kindly heart aggrieved by injuries undeserved.
  18. fathom
    come to understand
    His face was long, with a high forehead, he had deep darkling eyes, hard to fathom, though the look that they now bore was grave and benevolent, and a little weary.
  19. countenance
    the appearance conveyed by a person's face
    But you, Théoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan, are declared by your noble devices, and still more by the fair countenance of the House of Eorl.
  20. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    Despite the injuries that have been done to me, in which the men of Rohan, alas! have had some part, still I would save you, and deliver you from the ruin that draws nigh inevitably, if you ride upon this road which you have taken.
  21. suave
    agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication
    ‘Peace!’ said Saruman, and for a fleeting moment his voice was less suave, and a light flickered in his eyes and was gone.
  22. embroil
    force into some kind of situation or course of action
    Far away is your home and small concern of yours are the troubles of this land. But it was not by design of your own that you became embroiled in them, and so I will not blame such part as you have played — a valiant one, I doubt not.
  23. gibbet
    an instrument of public execution
    When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc.
  24. endeavor
    attempt by employing effort
    I endeavoured to advise you for your own good, but you scarcely listened.
  25. misconstrue
    interpret in the wrong way
    You are proud and do not love advice, having indeed a store of your own wisdom. But on that occasion you erred, I think, misconstruing my intentions wilfully.
  26. redress
    make reparations or amends for
    For the common good I am willing to redress the past, and to receive you.
  27. remonstrance
    the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
    They heard the gentle remonstrance of a kindly king with an erring but much-loved minister.
  28. discourse
    an extended communication dealing with some particular topic
    But they were shut out, listening at a door to words not meant for them: ill-mannered children or stupid servants overhearing the elusive discourse of their elders, and wondering how it would affect their lot.
  29. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    Very much in the manner of Gandalf the Grey: so condescending, and so very kind.
  30. commodious
    large and roomy
    I do not doubt that you would find Orthanc commodious, and my departure convenient.
  31. asunder
    into parts or pieces
    There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman’s hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf’s feet.
  32. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    Then I gave him a last choice and a fair one: to renounce both Mordor and his private schemes, and make amends by helping us in our need.
  33. rankle
    make resentful or angry
    ‘So you heard that?’ said Gandalf. ‘Don’t let it rankle! Be thankful no longer words were aimed at you...'
  34. testy
    easily irritated or annoyed
    ‘All right, I’ll tackle Strider by the camp-fire: he’s less testy. But why all this secrecy? I thought we’d won the battle!’
  35. frond
    compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
    The sides of the glen were shaggy with last year’s bracken, among which the tight-curled fronds of spring were just thrusting through the sweet-scented earth.
  36. hummock
    a small natural mound
    He was rolled in a blanket, with his cloak spread over the top; and close beside him, between his right side and his bent arm, there was a hummock, something round wrapped in a dark cloth; his hand seemed only just to have slipped off it to the ground.
  37. spurn
    reject with contempt
    Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.
  38. persuasion
    communication intended to induce belief or action
    Easy it is now to guess how quickly the roving eye of Saruman was trapped and held; and how ever since he has been persuaded from afar, and daunted when persuasion would not serve.
  39. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    I did not tell you all this before, because it is only by musing on all that has happened that I have at last understood, even as we ride together.
  40. foal
    give birth to a young horse
    ‘Away now, Shadowfax! Run, greatheart, run as you have never run before! Now we are come to the lands where you were foaled, and every stone you know. Run now! Hope is in speed!’
Created on Fri Feb 02 19:09:08 EST 2018 (updated Tue Feb 20 16:49:52 EST 2018)

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