The Hobbit: Chapters 11–14

by J.R.R. Tolkien
In this prequel to The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet life until a group of dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf enlist him in their quest for a dragon's treasure.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–6, Chapters 7–10, Chapters 11–14, Chapters 15–19

Click here to explore our other lists about Middle-Earth.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. maraud
    raid and rove in search of plunder
    On this western side there were fewer signs of the dragon's marauding feet, and there was some grass for their ponies.
  2. insignificant
    of little importance or influence or power; of minor status
    He had passed from an uneasy dream (in which a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage, figured most unpleasantly) to a doze, and from a doze to wide waking.
  3. inevitable
    incapable of being avoided or prevented
    They realized that dangers of this kind were inevitable in dealing with such a guardian, and that it was no good giving up their quest yet.
  4. wily
    marked by skill in deception
    Had he known more about dragons and their wily ways, he might have been more frightened and less hopeful of catching this one napping.
  5. skulk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    And I suppose they are skulking outside, and your job is to do all the dangerous work and get what you can when I’m not looking — for them?
  6. impenetrable
    not admitting of passage into or through
    Truly there can nowhere be found the equal of Lord Smaug the Impenetrable.
  7. staggering
    so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm
    “Dazzlingly marvellous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!” exclaimed Bilbo aloud, but what he thought inside was: “Old fool! Why, there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!”
  8. dubious
    open to doubt or suspicion
    That turned the conversation, and they all began discussing dragon-slayings historical, dubious, and mythical, and the various sorts of stabs and jabs and undercuts, and the different arts, devices and stratagems by which they had been accomplished.
  9. stratagem
    a maneuver, especially in a game or conversation
    That turned the conversation, and they all began discussing dragon-slayings historical, dubious, and mythical, and the various sorts of stabs and jabs and undercuts, and the different arts, devices and stratagems by which they had been accomplished.
  10. foreboding
    a feeling of evil to come
    And all the while they talked and the shadows lengthened Bilbo became more and more unhappy and his foreboding grew.
  11. gilded
    made from or covered with gold
    ...shields made for warriors long dead; the great golden cup of Thror, two-handed, hammered and carven with birds and flowers whose eyes and petals were of jewels; coats of mail gilded and silvered and impenetrable; the necklace of Girion, Lord of Dale, made of five hundred emeralds green as grass...
  12. pallid
    lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble
    Slowly it grew to a little globe of pallid light.
  13. eminent
    standing above others in quality or position
    He has tonight earned an eminent place in the roll of the benefactors of our town; and he is worthy of many imperishable songs.
    Eminence is often captured in songs, so that even if the hero perishes in battle, he will live on in his people's memories. Ironically, the hero whom this example sentence describes is named Bard (a bard is a poet who sings of heroic deeds).
  14. benefactor
    a person who helps people or institutions
    He has tonight earned an eminent place in the roll of the benefactors of our town; and he is worthy of many imperishable songs.
  15. recompense
    the act of making amends for service or loss or injury
    Dragon-fire and ruin! From whom should we claim the recompense of our damage, and aid for our widows and orphans?
Created on Thu Dec 05 20:25:31 EST 2013 (updated Mon Jun 23 17:58:41 EDT 2025)

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