sparkly
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
NOTES:
And look at the way he painted it - a gloaty, sparkly white.
newel post
the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs; it supports the handrail
percale
a fine closely woven cotton fabric
pollinate
fertilize by transfering pollen
earless
lacking external ears
NOTES:
These sitters had been tongueless, earless , eyeless conveniences all day long.
tongueless
lacking a tongue
NOTES:
These sitters had been tongueless , earless, eyeless conveniences all day long.
scent out
recognize or detect by or as if by smelling
NOTES:
He seemed to be crushing scent out of the world with his footsteps.
fall all over
display excessive love or show excessive gratitude towards
NOTES:
She fell all over Mrs. Sumpkins while she laughed.
pear tree
Old World tree having sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit; widely cultivated in many varieties
NOTES:
Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think.
newel
the central pillar of a circular staircase
bannister
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
NOTES:
It had two stories with porches, with bannisters and such things.
bunion
a painful swelling of the bursa of the first joint of the big toe
lacerate
cut or tear irregularly
eyeless
lacking eyes or eyelike features
NOTES:
These sitters had been tongueless, earless, eyeless conveniences all day long.
commiserate
to feel or express sympathy or compassion
hackles
a feeling of anger and animosity
britches
informal term for breeches
pugnacious
tough and callous by virtue of experience
NOTES:
The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruits in her hip pockets; the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume; then her pugnacious breasts trying to b ore holes in her shirt.
desecrate
violate the sacred character of a place or language
temporize
draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time
hackle
long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants
trolley car
a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity
sodden
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
NOTES:
She had come back from the sodden and the bloated; the sudden dead, their eyes flung wide open in judgment.
transfiguration
the act of transforming so as to exalt or glorify
disgorge
eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
skillet
a pan used for frying foods
fracas
noisy quarrel
transmutation
an act that changes the form or character or substance of something
uninitiated
not initiated; deficient in relevant experience
paunch
a protruding abdomen
counterpane
decorative cover for a bed
banister
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
endurable
capable of being borne though unpleasant
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration
scimitar
a curved oriental saber; the edge is on the convex side of the blade
phosphorescent
emitting light without appreciable heat as by slow oxidation of phosphorous
aggravating
making worse
dwindle
become smaller or lose substance
ostentatiously
with ostentation; in an ostentatious manner
maul
injure badly by beating
remorseless
without mercy or pity
inaudible
impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear
unattainable
impossible to achieve
seraph
an angel of the first order; usually portrayed as the winged head of a child
aggravate
make worse
temerity
fearless daring
distend
cause to expand as it by internal pressure
pollen
the fine spores that contain male gametes and that are borne by an anther in a flowering plant
NOTES:
Janie pulled back a long time because he did not represent sun-up and pollen and blooming trees, but he spoke for far horizon.
lisp
a speech defect that involves pronouncing `s' like voiceless `th' and `z' like voiced `th'
peevish
easily irritated or annoyed
pallet
a hand tool with a flat blade used by potters for mixing and shaping clay
serum
an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates
bloat
swelling of the rumen or intestinal tract of domestic animals caused by excessive gas
indiscriminate
failing to make or recognize distinctions
aromatic
having a strong pleasant odor
NOTES:
Crushing aromatic herbs with every step he took.
relentlessly
in a relentless manner
disconsolate
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
trolley
a wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity
chasten
censure severely
relish
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
NOTES:
So they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish .
sacrilege
blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character
dazzle
brightness enough to blind partially and temporarily
wallow
a puddle where animals go to wallow
horizon
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
NOTES:
For others they sail forever on the horizon , never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time.
indulge
yield (to); give satisfaction to
NOTES:
Janie loved the conversation and sometimes she thought up good stories on the mule, but Joe had forbidden her to indulge .
usurper
one who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of another
ecstatic
feeling great rapture or delight
broach
bring up a topic for discussion
discomfiture
anxious embarrassment
oblique
slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled
eulogy
a formal expression of praise for someone who has died recently
scorched
dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight
fanatical
marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea
unravel
become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of
NOTES:
The men noticed her firm buttocks like she had grape fruits in her hip pockets; the great rope of black hair swinging to her waist and unraveling in the wind like a plume; then her pugnacious breasts trying to b ore holes in her shirt.
cosmic
of or from or pertaining to or characteristic of the cosmos or universe
promontory
a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)
supplication
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
resignation
the act of giving up (a claim or office or possession etc.)
NOTES:
For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation , his dreams mocked to death by Time.
swagger
to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others
transient
lasting a very short time
ailing
somewhat ill or prone to illness
NOTES:
Not the dead of sick and ailing with friends at the pillow and the feet.
bailiff
an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
mien
dignified manner or conduct
delirium
a usually brief state of excitement and mental confusion often accompanied by hallucinations
scramble
to move hurriedly
NOTES:
They scrambled a noisy "good evenin'" and left their mouths setting open and their ears full of hope.
preside
act as president
ponderous
having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
scornful
expressing extreme contempt
burying
concealing something under the ground
NOTES:
So the beginning of this was a woman and she had come back from burying the dead.
hypocrite
a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
mule
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
NOTES:
Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins.
drawl
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
NOTES:
"She ain't even worth talkin' after," Lulu Moss drawled through her nose.
languish
become feeble
turbulent
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
saunter
walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
mingle
to bring or combine together or with something else
wanton
lewd or lascivious woman
quench
satisfy (thirst)
undone
not fastened or tied or secured
NOTES:
Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone .
velocity
distance travelled per unit time
horde
a vast multitude
come round
change one's position or opinion
NOTES:
You know, honey, us colored folks is branches without roots and that makes things come round in queer ways.
metropolis
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
privy
hidden from general view or use
dilemma
state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
clamor
utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
compelling
driving or forcing
hitch
to hook or entangle
NOTES:
Pheoby Watson hitched her rocking chair forward before she spoke.
snort
a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
NOTES:
Mrs. Sumpkins snorted violently and sucked her teeth.
resurrection
a revival from inactivity and disuse
scorch
burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
folk
people in general (often used in the plural)
NOTES:
If she ain't got manners enough to stop and let folks know how she been malkin' out, let her g'wan!
slam
close violently
NOTES:
But nobody moved, nobody spoke, nobody even thought to swallow spit until after her gate slammed behind her.
futile
producing no result or effect
innovation
the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new
ail
be ill or unwell
NOTES:
Not the dead of sick and ailing with friends at the pillow and the feet.
swallow
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
NOTES:
So they chewed up the back parts of their minds and swallowed with relish.
luxurious
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
dominant
most frequent or common
satin
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
NOTES:
Where's dat blue satin dress she left here in?
scoundrel
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
dazzling
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
sullen
showing a brooding ill humor
homage
respectful deference
malice
feeling a need to see others suffer
pulpit
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
NOTES:
Ah wanted to preach a great sermon about colored women sittin' on high, but they wasn't no pulpit for me.
beseech
ask for or request earnestly
supper
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
NOTES:
You have to 'scuse me, 'cause Ah'm bound to go take her some supper ."
prosperous
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
stagger
walk with great difficulty
judgment
the act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event
NOTES:
She had come back from the sodden and the bloated; the sudden dead, their eyes flung wide open in judgment .
brute
resembling a beast; showing lack of human sensibility
NOTES:
Mules and other brutes had occupied their skins.
disposition
your usual mood
glance
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
lacerate
