The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Jessica T. (United States of America)
569 words 10 learners

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  1. Walter Mitty
    fictional character created by James Thurber who daydreams about his adventures and triumphs
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    "We're going through!"
  2. overshoe
    footwear that protects your shoes from water or snow or cold
    "Remember to get those overshoes while I'm having my hair done," she said.
  3. ignition key
    a key that operates the ignition switch of an automotive engine
    "Oh," said Mitty, handing the man the ignition key.
  4. tense up
    become tense, nervous, or uneasy
    "You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty.
  5. tousle
    disarrange or rumple; dishevel
    Captain Mitty looked up at him through tousled hair.
  6. Waterbury
    a city in west central Connecticut
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  7. full-dress uniform
    the naval or military uniform that is specified by regulations to be worn on ceremonial occasions
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  8. cheerio
    a farewell remark
    "Cheerio!" he said.
  9. tat
    make lacework by knotting or looping
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  10. coreopsis
    any of numerous plants of the genus Coreopsis having a profusion of showy usually yellow daisylike flowers over long periods; North and South America
    "Coreopsis has set in," said Renshaw nervously.
  11. rat-tat
    a series of short sharp taps
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  12. crack shot
    someone skilled in shooting
    "You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?" said the District Attorney, insinuatingly.
  13. dress uniform
    a military uniform worn on formal occasions
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  14. Kleenex
    a piece of soft absorbent paper (usually two or more thin layers) used as a disposable handkerchief
    Kleenex, he thought, Squibb's, razor blades?
  15. switch on
    cause to operate by flipping a switch
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted.
  16. Mitford
    United States writer who wrote on American culture
    "Dr. Renshaw and Dr. Benbow, but there are two specialists here, Dr. Remington from New York and Mr. Pritchard-Mitford from London.
  17. shoe store
    a shop where shoes are sold
    "Overshoes," he said to himself, and he began looking for a shoe store.
  18. near thing
    something that barely avoids failure or disaster
    "A bit of a near thing," said Captain Mitty carelessly.
  19. fountain pen
    a pen that is supplied with ink from a reservoir in its barrel
    "Give me a fountain pen!" he snapped.
  20. airway
    the passages through which air enters and leaves the body
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  21. rakishly
    in a rakish manner
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  22. hydroplane
    an aircraft that can land on or take off from water
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  23. drive around
    drive without any particular aim
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  24. revolving door
    a door consisting of four orthogonal partitions that rotate about a central pivot; a door designed to equalize the air pressure in tall buildings
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  25. puppy
    a young dog
    "Puppy biscuit," said Walter Mitty.
  26. drugstore
    a retail shop where medicine and other articles are sold
    At the drugstore on the corner she said, "Wait here for me.
  27. tatting
    the act or art of making handmade lace
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  28. insinuatingly
    in an insinuating manner
    "You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?" said the District Attorney, insinuatingly.
  29. operating table
    table on which the patient lies during a surgical operation
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  30. kilometer
    a metric unit of length equal to 1000 meters
    "It's forty kilometers through hell, sir," said the sergeant.
  31. bedlam
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  32. tensed
    having inflections to indicate tense
    "You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty.
  33. bicker
    argue over petty things
    Walter Mitty raised his hand briefly and the bickering attorneys were stilled.
  34. Walter
    German conductor (1876-1962)
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    "We're going through!"
  35. biscuit
    small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
    "Puppy biscuit," said Walter Mitty.
  36. Berg
    Austrian composer in Schoenberg's twelve-tone music system
    "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
  37. hurtle
    move with or as if with a rushing sound
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  38. bicarbonate
    a salt of carbonic acid (containing the anion HCO3) in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced; an acid carbonate
    No. Toothpaste, toothbrush, bicarbonate, cardorundum, initiative and referendum?
  39. sir
    term of address for a man
    "We can't make it, sir.
  40. complicate
    make less simple
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  41. toothpaste
    a dentifrice in the form of a paste
    No. Toothpaste, toothbrush, bicarbonate, cardorundum, initiative and referendum?
  42. full-dress
    (of an occasion) requiring formal clothes
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  43. glove
    handwear: covers the hand and wrist
    "Why don't you wear your gloves?
  44. thrower
    someone who projects something
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  45. operating room
    a room in a hospital equipped for the performance of surgical operations
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  46. toothbrush
    small brush; has long handle; used to clean teeth
    No. Toothpaste, toothbrush, bicarbonate, cardorundum, initiative and referendum?
  47. parking lot
    a lot where cars are parked
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  48. firing squad
    a squad formed to fire volleys at a military funeral or to carry out a military execution
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  49. witness stand
    a box enclosure for a witness when testifying
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  50. unwind
    reverse the twisting of
    A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman.
  51. firearm
    a portable gun
    "You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?" said the District Attorney, insinuatingly.
  52. sling
    a simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then released
    The next time, he thought, I'll wear my right arm in a sling; they won't grin at me then.
  53. courtroom
    a room in which a lawcourt sits
    An excited buzz ran around the courtroom.
  54. intern
    someone who works for an expert to learn about a job
    "The new anesthetizer is giving way!" shouted an intern.
  55. break loose
    run away from confinement
    Pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom.
  56. tousled
    in disarray; extremely disorderly
    Captain Mitty looked up at him through tousled hair.
  57. district attorney
    an official prosecutor for a judicial district
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  58. haired
    having or covered with hair
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  59. fifty-five
    being five more than fifty
    "You were up to fifty-five," she said.
  60. dugout
    a shelter beside a baseball field for players and coaches
    War thundered and whined around the dugout and battered at the door.
  61. run around
    play boisterously
    An excited buzz ran around the courtroom.
  62. parking
    the act of maneuvering a vehicle into a location where it can be left temporarily
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  63. expertly
    in a highly skillful manner
    Walter Mitty took the gun and examined it expertly.
  64. newsboy
    a boy who delivers newspapers
    A newsboy went by shouting something about the Waterbury trial.
  65. Tertiary
    relating to the period from about 66 to 2.6 million years ago
    Tertiary.
  66. hairdresser
    someone who cuts or beautifies hair
    His wife would be through at the hairdresser's in fifteen minutes, Mitty saw in looking at his watch, unless they had trouble drying it; sometimes they had trouble drying it.
  67. pounding
    an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
    The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  68. tertiary
    coming third in position
    "Coals to Newcastle, bringing Mitford and me up here for a tertiary."
  69. glisten
    be shiny, as if wet
    He began fingering delicately a row of glistening dials.
  70. ignition
    the process of initiating combustion or catching fire
    "Oh," said Mitty, handing the man the ignition key.
  71. drag on
    last unnecessarily long
    He took one last drag on his cigarette and snapped it away.
  72. cocky
    overly self-confident or self-assertive
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  73. dark-haired
    having hair of a dark color
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  74. turret
    a small tower extending above a building
    "Full strength in No. 3 turret!" shouted the Commander.
  75. undefeated
    victorious
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  76. sergeant
    a noncommissioned officer ranking above a corporal
    "The cannonading has got the wind up in young Raleigh, sir," said the sergeant.
  77. slush
    partially melted snow
    He kicked at the slush on the sidewalk.
  78. bickering
    a quarrel about petty points
    Walter Mitty raised his hand briefly and the bickering attorneys were stilled.
  79. pandemonium
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
    Pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom.
  80. piston
    mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion
    He pulled a faulty piston out of the machine and inserted the pen in its place.
  81. auxiliary
    furnishing added support
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted.
  82. wrecking
    destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined
    A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman.
  83. dial
    the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  84. walk over
    beat easily
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  85. brandy
    distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice
    Spot of brandy?"
  86. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  87. pull down
    cause to come or go down
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  88. axle
    a shaft on which a wheel rotates
    Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles.
  89. close in
    advance or converge on
    "The box barrage is closing in," said the sergeant.
  90. cannonade
    intense and continuous artillery fire
    "The cannonading has got the wind up in young Raleigh, sir," said the sergeant.
  91. machine gun
    a rapidly firing automatic gun (often mounted)
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  92. splinter
    a small thin sharp bit of wood, glass, or metal
    There was a rending of wood and splinters flew through the room.
  93. fingering
    the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
    He began fingering delicately a row of glistening dials.
  94. distraught
    deeply agitated especially from emotion
    He looked distraught and haggard.
  95. rending
    resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree
    There was a rending of wood and splinters flew through the room.
  96. braided
    woven by (or as if by) braiding
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  97. red light
    the signal to stop
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  98. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    "We only live once, Sergeant," said Mitty with his faint, fleeting smile.
  99. splinters
    wood in small pieces or splinters
    There was a rending of wood and splinters flew through the room.
  100. snap
    separate or cause to separate abruptly
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  101. shout
    utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted.
  102. sleet
    precipitation consisting of a mixture of rain and snow
    It began to rain, rain with sleet in it.
  103. disdainful
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  104. get on with
    have smooth relations
    "Get on with the operation."
  105. specialist
    an expert devoted to one occupation or branch of learning
    "Dr. Renshaw and Dr. Benbow, but there are two specialists here, Dr. Remington from New York and Mr. Pritchard-Mitford from London.
  106. aimlessly
    without a specific goal or focus
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  107. back out
    move out of a space backwards
    He began cautiously to back out of the lane marked "Exit Only."
  108. say
    utter aloud
    "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
  109. lurch
    move suddenly or as if unable to control one's movements
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  110. barrage
    the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area
    "The box barrage is closing in," said the sergeant.
  111. grin
    draw the lips back into a smile or snarl
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  112. millionaire
    a person whose material wealth is valued at more than a million dollars
    "It's the millionaire banker, Wellington McMillan," said the pretty nurse.
  113. attorney
    a professional person authorized to practice law
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  114. park
    a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  115. braid
    make by interlacing
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  116. attendant
    a person who is present and participates in a meeting
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  117. whine
    a complaint uttered in a plaintive way
    War thundered and whined around the dugout and battered at the door.
  118. wind up
    coil the spring of a device by turning a stem
    "The cannonading has got the wind up in young Raleigh, sir," said the sergeant.
  119. revolve
    turn on or around an axis or a center
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  120. mutter
    talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
    Yeh," muttered Mitty.
  121. rend
    tear or be torn violently
    There was a rending of wood and splinters flew through the room.
  122. grumble
    make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath
    "Didn't know you were in the States, Mitty," grumbled Remington.
  123. brakes
    a device that works to slow a motor vehicle
    Walter Mitty jammed on the brakes.
  124. stand up
    rise to one's feet
    Captain Mitty stood up and strapped on his huge Webley-Vickers automatic.
  125. take a look
    look at with attention
    Wish you'd take a look at him."
  126. dump
    a piece of land where waste materials are dumped
    "Somebody's got to get that ammunition dump," said Mitty.
  127. spoiling
    the act of spoiling something by causing damage to it
    It's spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me."
  128. automatic
    operating with minimal human intervention
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  129. pound
    16 ounces avoirdupois
    The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  130. bomber
    a military aircraft that drops bombs during flight
    "It takes two men to handle that bomber and the Archies are pounding hell out of the air.
  131. hell
    any place of pain and turmoil
    "It takes two men to handle that bomber and the Archies are pounding hell out of the air.
  132. razor
    edge tool used in shaving
    Kleenex, he thought, Squibb's, razor blades?
  133. switch
    device for making or breaking the connections in a circuit
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted.
  134. chains
    metal shackles; for hands or legs
    Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles.
  135. grossly
    in a gross manner
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  136. Hell
    the abode of Satan and the forces of evil
    "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!"
  137. inscrutable
    difficult or impossible to understand
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  138. refresh
    make fresh again
    "Perhaps this will refresh your memory."
  139. cop
    uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  140. mac
    a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
    "Back it up, Mac!
  141. cur
    an inferior dog or one of mixed breed
    "You miserable cur!"
  142. faulty
    having a defect
    He pulled a faulty piston out of the machine and inserted the pen in its place.
  143. vaulted
    having a hemispherical vault or dome
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  144. strap
    an elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
    Captain Mitty stood up and strapped on his huge Webley-Vickers automatic.
  145. insert
    introduce
    He pulled a faulty piston out of the machine and inserted the pen in its place.
  146. referendum
    a legislative act referred for approval to a popular vote
    No. Toothpaste, toothbrush, bicarbonate, cardorundum, initiative and referendum?
  147. operate
    perform as expected when applied
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  148. drive
    operate or control a vehicle
    You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Mitty.
  149. jammed
    filled to capacity
    Walter Mitty jammed on the brakes.
  150. haggard
    showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
    He looked distraught and haggard.
  151. batter
    strike violently and repeatedly
    War thundered and whined around the dugout and battered at the door.
  152. bring out
    make visible
    Walter Mitty reached in a pocket and brought out the gloves.
  153. evenly
    in a level and regular way
    "With any known make of gun," he said evenly, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand."
  154. garage
    an outbuilding for housing automobiles
    Since then Mrs. Mitty always made him drive to the garage to have the chains taken off.
  155. look at
    look at carefully; study mentally
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  156. banker
    a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank
    "It's the millionaire banker, Wellington McMillan," said the pretty nurse.
  157. craven
    lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  158. chain
    a series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
    Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles.
  159. gee
    turn to the right side
    "Gee.
  160. blonde
    being or having light hair
    Walter Mitty walked to the door of the dugout humming "AuprËs de Ma Blonde."
  161. Main Street
    any small town
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  162. go through
    go across or through
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    "We're going through!"
  163. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  164. cigarette
    finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
    Walter Mitty lighted a cigarette.
  165. commander
    an official who can give orders or control others
    The Commander's voice was like thin ice breaking.
  166. shake hands
    take someone's hands and shake them as a gesture of greeting or congratulation
    "I've read your book on streptothricosis," said Pritchard-Mitford, shaking hands.
  167. rap
    strike sharply
    The Judge rapped for order.
  168. scornfully
    without respect; in a disdainful manner
    "To hell with the handkerchief," said Walter Mitty scornfully.
  169. adjust
    alter or regulate so as to conform to a standard
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  170. hum
    sing with closed lips
    Walter Mitty walked to the door of the dugout humming "AuprËs de Ma Blonde."
  171. unfamiliar
    not known or well known
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  172. begin
    set in motion, cause to start
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  173. brake
    a restraint used to slow or stop a vehicle
    Walter Mitty jammed on the brakes.
  174. take over
    seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
    "If you would take over, Mitty?"
  175. savagely
    in a vicious manner
    The District Attorney struck at her savagely.
  176. sidewalk
    walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians
    He kicked at the slush on the sidewalk.
  177. humming
    the act of singing with closed lips
    Walter Mitty walked to the door of the dugout humming "AuprËs de Ma Blonde."
  178. circus
    a travelling company of entertainers
    Von Richtman's circus is between here and Saulier."
  179. shouted
    in a vehement outcry
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" he shouted.
  180. complicated
    difficult to analyze or understand
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  181. glistening
    reflecting light
    He began fingering delicately a row of glistening dials.
  182. defendant
    someone against whom an action is brought in a court of law
    "We have shown that the defendant could not have fired the shot.
  183. Navy
    the navy of the United States of America
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  184. operating
    involved in a kind of operation
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  185. Newcastle
    a port city in northeastern England on the River Tyne
    "Coals to Newcastle, bringing Mitford and me up here for a tertiary."
  186. Raleigh
    capital of the state of North Carolina
    "The cannonading has got the wind up in young Raleigh, sir," said the sergeant.
  187. lobby
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    He found a big leather chair in the lobby, facing a window, and he put the overshoes and the puppy biscuit on the floor beside it.
  188. fountain
    a structure from which a jet of water arises
    "Give me a fountain pen!" he snapped.
  189. cylinder
    a surface generated by rotating a line around a fixed line
    The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  190. bombing
    an attack by dropping bombs
    Walter Mitty looked at the pictures of bombing planes and of ruined streets.
  191. misty
    filled or abounding with fog
    He stopped walking and the buildings of Waterbury rose up out of the misty courtroom and surrounded him again.
  192. machine
    a mechanical or electrical device that transmits energy
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  193. come out
    appear or become visible; make a showing
    A door opened down a long, cool corridor and Dr. Renshaw came out.
  194. surround
    extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
    He stopped walking and the buildings of Waterbury rose up out of the misty courtroom and surrounded him again.
  195. wear
    put clothing on one's body
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  196. delicately
    in a careful and gentle manner
    He began fingering delicately a row of glistening dials.
  197. toss
    throw with a light motion
    He poured another brandy and tossed it off.
  198. fading
    weakening in force or intensity
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  199. fade
    become less clearly visible or distinguishable
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  200. Dr.
    a person who holds Ph.D. degree from an academic institution
    I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look you over."
  201. grinning
    a facial expression with the corners of the mouth turned up
    A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman.
  202. wearily
    in a drained or worn down manner
    "Get him to bed," he said wearily.
  203. fly
    travel through the air; be airborne
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  204. buzz
    the sound of rapid vibration
    An excited buzz ran around the courtroom.
  205. go by
    pass by
    A newsboy went by shouting something about the Waterbury trial.
  206. pen
    a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
    "Give me a fountain pen!" he snapped.
  207. insolent
    marked by casual disrespect
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  208. nurse
    one skilled in caring for young children or the sick
    "It's the millionaire banker, Wellington McMillan," said the pretty nurse.
  209. car
    a motor vehicle with four wheels
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  210. fourteenth
    coming next after the thirteenth in position
    We have shown that he wore his right arm in a sling on the night of the fourteenth of July."
  211. pull
    apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  212. jam
    press tightly together or cram
    Walter Mitty jammed on the brakes.
  213. Wellington
    the capital of New Zealand
    "It's the millionaire banker, Wellington McMillan," said the pretty nurse.
  214. take off
    remove clothes
    Since then Mrs. Mitty always made him drive to the garage to have the chains taken off.
  215. battered
    damaged by blows or hard usage
    War thundered and whined around the dugout and battered at the door.
  216. said
    being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
    "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
  217. give way
    move in order to make room for someone for something
    "The new anesthetizer is giving way!" shouted an intern.
  218. menace
    something that is a source of danger
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  219. hurricane
    a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds
    It's spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me."
  220. connect
    fasten or put together two or more pieces
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  221. adjusted
    altered to accommodate to certain requirements
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  222. whistling
    the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  223. go over
    examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
    "I'm going over.
  224. go into
    to come or go into
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  225. vault
    a burial chamber (usually underground)
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  226. yell
    a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  227. have got
    have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
    Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles.
  228. get to
    arrive at the point of
    She didn't like to get to the hotel first; she would want him to be there waiting for her as usual.
  229. tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
    "You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty.
  230. yelled
    in a vehement outcry
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  231. whisper
    speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  232. pour
    cause to run
    He poured a drink for the sergeant and one for himself.
  233. box
    a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
    When he came out into the street again, with the overshoes in a box under his arm, Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing was his wife had told him to get.
  234. rat
    any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  235. nervously
    in an anxiously nervous manner
    "Coreopsis has set in," said Renshaw nervously.
  236. initiative
    readiness to embark on bold new ventures
    No. Toothpaste, toothbrush, bicarbonate, cardorundum, initiative and referendum?
  237. look
    perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  238. look up
    seek information from
    Captain Mitty looked up at him through tousled hair.
  239. build
    make by combining materials and parts
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  240. hello
    an expression of greeting
    "Hello, Mitty," he said.
  241. tract
    an extended area of land
    Obstreosis of the ductal tract.
  242. twist
    cause an object to assume a curved or distorted shape
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  243. begging
    a solicitation for money or food
    "Begging your pardon, sir."
  244. heel
    the back part of the human foot
    He put his shoulders back and his heels together.
  245. lane
    a narrow way or road
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  246. get out
    move out of or depart from
    "We've been all through that," she said, getting out of the car.
  247. drove
    a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  248. gun
    a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity
    Walter Mitty took the gun and examined it expertly.
  249. excite
    act as a stimulant
    An excited buzz ran around the courtroom.
  250. carelessly
    without care or concern
    "A bit of a near thing," said Captain Mitty carelessly.
  251. up here
    in a specified area or place
    "Coals to Newcastle, bringing Mitford and me up here for a tertiary."
  252. district
    a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  253. shoe
    footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
    "Overshoes," he said to himself, and he began looking for a shoe store.
  254. damn
    something of little value
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  255. scream
    utter a sudden loud cry
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  256. ice
    water frozen in the solid state
    The Commander's voice was like thin ice breaking.
  257. arm
    a human limb
    The next time, he thought, I'll wear my right arm in a sling; they won't grin at me then.
  258. left hand
    the hand that is on the left side of the body
    "With any known make of gun," he said evenly, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand."
  259. get
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
    "The old man will get us through" they said to one another.
  260. minute
    a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
    "That will hold for ten minutes," he said.
  261. chin
    the protruding part of the lower jaw
    Without rising from his chair, Mitty let the man have it on the point of the chin.
  262. squad
    the smallest army unit
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  263. conquer
    take possession of by force, as after an invasion
    "Can Germany Conquer the World Through the Air?"
  264. vaguely
    in an unclear way
    "Things close in," said Walter Mitty vaguely.
  265. corridor
    an enclosed passageway
    A door opened down a long, cool corridor and Dr. Renshaw came out.
  266. chair
    a seat for one person, with a support for the back
    Without rising from his chair, Mitty let the man have it on the point of the chin.
  267. blade
    the flat part of a tool or weapon that has a cutting edge
    Kleenex, he thought, Squibb's, razor blades?
  268. bend
    form a curve
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  269. stare
    look at with fixed eyes
    The Commander stared at the ice forming on the pilot window.
  270. hurry
    move very fast
    A nurse hurried over and whispered to Renshaw, and Mitty saw the man turn pale.
  271. handed
    having or involving the use of hands
    Someone handed him a fountain pen.
  272. mask
    a covering to disguise or conceal the face
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  273. roaring
    very lively and profitable
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  274. huge
    unusually great in amount or degree or extent or scope
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  275. driving
    the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal
    You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Mitty.
  276. Gregory
    the pope who sponsored the introduction of the modern calendar (1572-1585)
    "With any known make of gun," he said evenly, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand."
  277. pick up
    take and lift upward
    He picked up an old copy of Liberty and sank down into the chair.
  278. any longer
    at the present or from now on; usually used with a negative
    "You're not a young man any longer."
  279. bomb
    an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
    Walter Mitty looked at the pictures of bombing planes and of ruined streets.
  280. walk
    use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  281. ammunition
    projectiles to be fired from a gun
    "Somebody's got to get that ammunition dump," said Mitty.
  282. cautiously
    as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
    He began cautiously to back out of the lane marked "Exit Only."
  283. key
    metal device that allows a lock's mechanism to be rotated
    "Hey, better leave the key."
  284. get on
    get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
    "Get on with the operation."
  285. row
    an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  286. faintly
    to a faint degree or weakly perceived
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  287. look out
    be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful
    Look out for that Buick!"
  288. pick
    look for and gather
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  289. tube
    a hollow cylindrical shape
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  290. drag
    pull, as against a resistance
    He took one last drag on his cigarette and snapped it away.
  291. shocked
    struck with fear, dread, or surprise
    He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment.
  292. hurried
    moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
    A nurse hurried over and whispered to Renshaw, and Mitty saw the man turn pale.
  293. lieutenant
    a commissioned military officer
    "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
  294. faint
    lacking clarity, brightness, or loudness
    "We only live once, Sergeant," said Mitty with his faint, fleeting smile.
  295. twisted
    having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
    He walked over and twisted a row of complicated dials.
  296. in a way
    from some points of view
    In a way he hated these weekly trips to town-he was always getting something wrong.
  297. wreck
    something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
    A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman.
  298. bending
    movement that causes the formation of a curve
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  299. exit
    move out of or depart from
    He began cautiously to back out of the lane marked "Exit Only."
  300. backed
    having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  301. street
    a thoroughfare that is lined with buildings
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  302. kick
    drive or propel with the foot
    He kicked at the slush on the sidewalk.
  303. looking at
    the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  304. erect
    upright in position or posture
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  305. fleet
    group of aircraft operating under the same ownership
    "We only live once, Sergeant," said Mitty with his faint, fleeting smile.
  306. shine
    emit light; be bright, as of the sun or a light
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  307. gown
    a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  308. lip
    either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  309. forty
    the cardinal number that is the product of ten and four
    "You know I don't like to go more than forty.
  310. crack
    a narrow opening
    "You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?" said the District Attorney, insinuatingly.
  311. motionless
    completely still
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  312. cool
    neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
    A door opened down a long, cool corridor and Dr. Renshaw came out.
  313. pistol
    a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
    The greatest pistol shot in the world thought a moment.
  314. lot
    anything (straws or pebbles etc.) taken or chosen at random
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  315. cannon
    a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  316. handkerchief
    a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose
    "To hell with the handkerchief," said Walter Mitty scornfully.
  317. shouting
    uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement
    A newsboy went by shouting something about the Waterbury trial.
  318. store
    a mercantile establishment for the sale of goods or services
    "Overshoes," he said to himself, and he began looking for a shoe store.
  319. anxiously
    with anxiety or apprehension
    "But you can't, sir," said the sergeant anxiously.
  320. briefly
    for a short time
    Walter Mitty raised his hand briefly and the bickering attorneys were stilled.
  321. Roosevelt
    32nd President of the United States
    "We're having the devil's own time with McMillan, the millionaire banker and close personal friend of Roosevelt.
  322. weekly
    a periodical that is published every week
    In a way he hated these weekly trips to town-he was always getting something wrong.
  323. fast
    acting, moving, or capable of acting or moving quickly
    "Not so fast!
  324. sink
    fall or descend to a lower place or level
    He picked up an old copy of Liberty and sank down into the chair.
  325. set in
    enter a particular state
    "Coreopsis has set in," said Renshaw nervously.
  326. pilot
    someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
    The Commander stared at the ice forming on the pilot window.
  327. whispered
    spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  328. building
    the act of constructing something
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  329. brand
    a name given to a product or service
    "Any special brand, sir?"
  330. walking
    the act of traveling by foot
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  331. leather
    animal skin made smooth and flexible by tanning
    He found a big leather chair in the lobby, facing a window, and he put the overshoes and the puppy biscuit on the floor beside it.
  332. mirror
    polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
    She put her mirror back into her bag.
  333. the Street
    used to allude to the securities industry of the United States
    When he came out into the street again, with the overshoes in a box under his arm, Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing was his wife had told him to get.
  334. three hundred
    being one hundred more than two hundred
    "With any known make of gun," he said evenly, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand."
  335. calmly
    in a sedate manner
    "This is my Webley-Vickers 50.80," he said calmly.
  336. smoking
    the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
    He stood up against the wall of the drugstore, smoking .
  337. objection
    the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
    "Objection!" shouted Mitty's attorney.
  338. bark
    the sound made by a dog
    "It says 'Puppies Bark for It' on the box," said Walter Mitty.
  339. thin
    of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite
    The Commander's voice was like thin ice breaking.
  340. look for
    try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
    "Overshoes," he said to himself, and he began looking for a shoe store.
  341. shot
    the act of firing a projectile
    "You are a crack shot with any sort of firearms, I believe?" said the District Attorney, insinuatingly.
  342. firing
    the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  343. uncertain
    lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  344. ruined
    destroyed physically or morally
    Walter Mitty looked at the pictures of bombing planes and of ruined streets.
  345. roar
    make a loud noise, as of an animal
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  346. take
    get into one's hands
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  347. temperature
    the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment
    "I'm going to take your temperature when I get you home," she said.
  348. shoulder
    a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula
    Something struck his shoulder.
  349. rain
    water falling in drops from vapor in the atmosphere
    It began to rain, rain with sleet in it.
  350. the States
    North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
    "Didn't know you were in the States, Mitty," grumbled Remington.
  351. through
    having finished or arrived at completion
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    "We're going through!"
  352. examine
    observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect
    Walter Mitty took the gun and examined it expertly.
  353. hotel
    a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
    She didn't like to get to the hotel first; she would want him to be there waiting for her as usual.
  354. fix
    restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
    "There is no one in the East who knows how to fix it!"
  355. thunder
    a booming or crashing noise along the path of lightning
    War thundered and whined around the dugout and battered at the door.
  356. increased
    made greater in size or amount or degree
    The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  357. closing
    the act of closing something
    "The box barrage is closing in," said the sergeant.
  358. wave
    (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
    He turned and waved to the sergeant.
  359. facing
    an ornamental coating to a building
    He found a big leather chair in the lobby, facing a window, and he put the overshoes and the puppy biscuit on the floor beside it.
  360. looking for
    the act of searching visually
    "Overshoes," he said to himself, and he began looking for a shoe store.
  361. increase
    a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous
    The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  362. wire
    ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  363. slip
    move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  364. fifty
    the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
    "You were up to fifty-five," she said.
  365. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  366. remote
    located far away spatially
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  367. hated
    treated with contempt
    In a way he hated these weekly trips to town-he was always getting something wrong.
  368. engine
    motor that converts energy into work or motion
    He raced the engine a little.
  369. as usual
    in the usual manner
    She didn't like to get to the hotel first; she would want him to be there waiting for her as usual.
  370. astonishment
    the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
    He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment.
  371. occur
    come to pass
    "Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?"
  372. dry
    free from liquid or moisture
    His wife would be through at the hairdresser's in fifteen minutes, Mitty saw in looking at his watch, unless they had trouble drying it; sometimes they had trouble drying it.
  373. handle
    touch, lift, or hold
    "It takes two men to handle that bomber and the Archies are pounding hell out of the air.
  374. drink
    take in liquids
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  375. uniform
    clothing of distinctive design worn by members of a group
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  376. plane
    an unbounded two-dimensional shape
    Walter Mitty looked at the pictures of bombing planes and of ruined streets.
  377. faced
    having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  378. hair
    a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  379. shaking
    the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
    "I've read your book on streptothricosis," said Pritchard-Mitford, shaking hands.
  380. push
    move with force, "He pushed the table into a corner"
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  381. repeat
    say or state again
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" repeated Lieutenant Berg.
  382. put
    cause to be in a certain state
    She put her mirror back into her bag.
  383. clerk
    an employee who performs office work
    "I want some biscuit for small, young dogs," he said to the clerk.
  384. forget
    dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
    "Don't tell me you forgot the what's-its-name."
  385. looking
    appearing to be as specified
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  386. old man
    a man who is very old
    "The old man will get us through" they said to one another.
  387. have
    possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  388. man
    an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
    "The old man will get us through" they said to one another.
  389. coal
    fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter
    "Coals to Newcastle, bringing Mitford and me up here for a tertiary."
  390. set out
    lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
    She had told him, twice, before they set out from their house for Waterbury.
  391. introduction
    the act of beginning something new
    In the operating room there were whispered introductions: "Dr. Remington, Dr. Mitty.
  392. light
    electromagnetic radiation that can produce visual sensation
    "Throw on the power lights!
  393. shake
    move or cause to move back and forth
    "I've read your book on streptothricosis," said Pritchard-Mitford, shaking hands.
  394. stand
    be standing; be upright
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  395. remove
    take something away as by lifting, pushing, or taking off
    "Yes?" said Walter Mitty, removing his gloves slowly.
  396. bag
    a flexible container with a single opening
    She put her mirror back into her bag.
  397. hastily
    in a hurried manner
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  398. rev
    rate of revolution of a motor
    Rev her up to 8,500!
  399. flame
    combustion of materials producing heat and light and smoke
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  400. shock
    an unpleasant or disappointing surprise
    He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment.
  401. go out
    move out of or depart from
    They went out through the revolving doors that made a faintly derisive whistling sound when you pushed them.
  402. lighted
    set afire or burning
    Walter Mitty lighted a cigarette.
  403. break
    destroy the integrity of
    The Commander's voice was like thin ice breaking.
  404. gray
    of an achromatic color intermediate between white and black
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  405. finish
    come or bring to an end
    Mitty finished one last brandy.
  406. thrust
    push forcefully
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  407. heavily
    slowly, as if burdened by much weight
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  408. Mrs.
    a form of address for a married woman
    You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Mitty.
  409. ask
    make a request or demand for something to somebody
    It's spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me."
  410. beg
    make a solicitation or entreaty for something
    "Begging your pardon, sir."
  411. belong
    be owned by; be in the possession of
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  412. ruin
    an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
    Walter Mitty looked at the pictures of bombing planes and of ruined streets.
  413. block
    obstruct
    It was two blocks to the parking lot.
  414. shining
    the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  415. the devil
    something difficult or awkward to do or deal with
    "We're having the devil's own time with McMillan, the millionaire banker and close personal friend of Roosevelt.
  416. around
    in the area or vicinity
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  417. hide
    prevent from being seen or discovered
    "Why do you have to hide in this old chair?
  418. wife
    a married woman; a partner in marriage
    He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment.
  419. miserable
    very unhappy
    "You miserable cur!"
  420. wish
    an expression of some desire or inclination
    I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look you over."
  421. quiet
    characterized by an absence of agitation or activity
    "Quiet, man!" said Mitty, in a low, cool voice.
  422. finger
    any of the terminal members of the hand
    He began fingering delicately a row of glistening dials.
  423. stop
    have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  424. out of
    motivated by
    "We've been all through that," she said, getting out of the car.
  425. struck
    (used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
    The District Attorney struck at her savagely.
  426. stopped
    (of a nose) blocked
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  427. think
    judge or regard; look upon; judge
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  428. wait
    stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
    She didn't like to get to the hotel first; she would want him to be there waiting for her as usual.
  429. softly
    with little weight or force
    "After all," he said softly, "what isn't?"
  430. door
    a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
    A door opened down a long, cool corridor and Dr. Renshaw came out.
  431. skill
    an ability that has been acquired by training
    The attendant vaulted into the car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged.
  432. Mrs
    a form of address for a married woman
    You're driving too fast!" said Mrs. Mitty.
  433. breaking
    the act of breaking something
    The Commander's voice was like thin ice breaking.
  434. mark
    a distinguishing symbol
    He began cautiously to back out of the lane marked "Exit Only."
  435. wound
    an injury to living tissue
    Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles.
  436. somebody
    a human being
    "Somebody's got to get that ammunition dump," said Mitty.
  437. hand
    the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
    "I've read your book on streptothricosis," said Pritchard-Mitford, shaking hands.
  438. smile
    a facial expression with the corners of the mouth turned up
    "We only live once, Sergeant," said Mitty with his faint, fleeting smile.
  439. fired
    having lost your job
    "We have shown that the defendant could not have fired the shot.
  440. turn
    move around an axis or a center
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  441. witness
    someone who sees an event and reports what happened
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  442. pardon
    accept an excuse for
    "Begging your pardon, sir."
  443. cap
    a tight-fitting headdress
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  444. wrong
    not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  445. operation
    process or manner of functioning
    "Get on with the operation."
  446. up to
    busy or occupied with
    Rev her up to 8,500!
  447. someone
    a human being
    Someone handed him a fountain pen.
  448. trip
    miss a step and fall or nearly fall
    In a way he hated these weekly trips to town-he was always getting something wrong.
  449. figure
    alternate name for the body of a human being
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  450. captain
    the leader of a group of people
    Captain Mitty looked up at him through tousled hair.
  451. thinking
    endowed with the capacity to reason
    "I was thinking," said Walter Mitty.
  452. out
    moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden
    "We've been all through that," she said, getting out of the car.
  453. somewhere
    in or at or to some place
    The pounding of the cannon increased; there was the rat-tat-tatting of machine guns, and from somewhere came the menacing pocketa-pocketa-pocketa of the new flame-throwers.
  454. going
    the act of departing
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    "We're going through!"
  455. window
    a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
    The Commander stared at the ice forming on the pilot window.
  456. loose
    not affixed
    Pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom.
  457. wood
    the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
    There was a rending of wood and splinters flew through the room.
  458. surrounded
    confined on all sides
    He stopped walking and the buildings of Waterbury rose up out of the misty courtroom and surrounded him again.
  459. performance
    the act of doing something successfully
    "A brilliant performance, sir."
  460. hate
    the emotion of intense dislike
    In a way he hated these weekly trips to town-he was always getting something wrong.
  461. strength
    the property of being physically or mentally powerful
    "Full strength in No. 3 turret!" shouted the Commander.
  462. thank you
    a conversational expression of gratitude
    "Thank you," said Walter Mitty.
  463. close
    at or within a short distance in space or time
    "We're having the devil's own time with McMillan, the millionaire banker and close personal friend of Roosevelt.
  464. all over
    over the entire area
    "I've been looking all over this hotel for you," said Mrs. Mitty.
  465. flying
    an instance of traveling by air
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  466. excited
    in an aroused state
    An excited buzz ran around the courtroom.
  467. crew
    an organized group of workers
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  468. trouble
    a source of difficulty
    His wife would be through at the hairdresser's in fifteen minutes, Mitty saw in looking at his watch, unless they had trouble drying it; sometimes they had trouble drying it.
  469. Man
    one of the British Isles in the Irish Sea
    "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!"
  470. copy
    a thing made to be similar or identical to another thing
    He picked up an old copy of Liberty and sank down into the chair.
  471. connected
    joined or linked together
    A huge, complicated machine, connected to the operating table, with many tubes and wires, began at this moment to go pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
  472. brilliant
    full of light; shining intensely
    "A brilliant performance, sir."
  473. fifteen
    the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
    His wife would be through at the hairdresser's in fifteen minutes, Mitty saw in looking at his watch, unless they had trouble drying it; sometimes they had trouble drying it.
  474. asking
    the verbal act of requesting
    "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
  475. hospital
    a medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care
    He drove around the streets aimlessly for a time, and then he drove past the hospital on his way to the parking lot.
  476. smaller
    small or little relative to something else
    He went into an A&P, not the first one he came to but a smaller one farther up the street.
  477. getting
    the act of acquiring something
    "We've been all through that," she said, getting out of the car.
  478. go to
    be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  479. bringing
    the act of delivering or distributing something
    "Coals to Newcastle, bringing Mitford and me up here for a tertiary."
  480. closely
    in a close relation or position in time or space
    "Wrong lane, Mac," said the parking-lot attendant, looking at Mitty closely.
  481. 500
    the cardinal number that is the product of one hundred and five
    Rev her up to 8,500!
  482. East
    the countries of Asia
    "There is no one in the East who knows how to fix it!"
  483. lovely
    lovable especially in a childlike or naive way
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  484. pocket
    a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
    Walter Mitty reached in a pocket and brought out the gloves.
  485. over
    beyond the top or upper surface or edge
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  486. make it
    succeed in a big way; get to the top
    "We can't make it, sir.
  487. farther
    more distant in especially space or time
    He went into an A&P, not the first one he came to but a smaller one farther up the street.
  488. minutes
    a written account of what transpired at a meeting
    "That will hold for ten minutes," he said.
  489. raise
    move upwards
    Walter Mitty raised his hand briefly and the bickering attorneys were stilled.
  490. remember
    recall knowledge; have a recollection
    "Remember to get those overshoes while I'm having my hair done," she said.
  491. driven
    compelled forcibly by an outside agency
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  492. smoke
    a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
    He stood up against the wall of the drugstore, smoking .
  493. worst
    the least favorable outcome
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  494. trial
    the act of testing something
    A newsboy went by shouting something about the Waterbury trial.
  495. off
    from a particular thing or place or position
    He put them on, but after she had turned and gone into the building and he had driven on to a red light, he took them off again.
  496. throw
    propel through the air
    "Throw on the power lights!
  497. marked
    easily noticeable
    He began cautiously to back out of the lane marked "Exit Only."
  498. task
    any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  499. young
    any immature animal
    "You're not a young man any longer."
  500. full
    containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  501. here
    in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
    "Dr. Renshaw and Dr. Benbow, but there are two specialists here, Dr. Remington from New York and Mr. Pritchard-Mitford from London.
  502. storm
    a violent weather condition with winds 64-72 knots (11 on the Beaufort scale) and precipitation and thunder and lightning
    Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind.
  503. companion
    a friend who is frequently with another
    "He said 'Puppy biscuit'," she said to her companion.
  504. possibly
    to a degree possible of achievement or by possible means
    I'll have my right arm in a sling and they'll see I couldn't possibly take the chains off myself.
  505. kill
    cause to die
    "With any known make of gun," he said evenly, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand."
  506. suddenly
    happening unexpectedly
    The District Attorney suddenly thrust a heavy automatic at the quiet figure on the witness stand.
  507. a bit
    to a small degree; somewhat
    "A bit of a near thing," said Captain Mitty carelessly.
  508. draw
    cause to move by pulling
    They slipped a white gown on him; he adjusted a mask and drew on thin gloves; nurses handed him shining .
  509. proud
    feeling self-respect, self-esteem, or self-importance
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  510. hold
    have in one's hands or grip
    "That will hold for ten minutes," he said.
  511. rose
    any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
    A woman's scream rose above the bedlam and suddenly a lovely, dark-haired girl was in Walter Mitty's arms.
  512. twice
    two times
    She had told him, twice, before they set out from their house for Waterbury.
  513. out in
    enter a harbor
    A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman.
  514. bring
    take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
    Walter Mitty reached in a pocket and brought out the gloves.
  515. new
    not of long duration
    "Dr. Renshaw and Dr. Benbow, but there are two specialists here, Dr. Remington from New York and Mr. Pritchard-Mitford from London.
  516. liberty
    freedom of choice
    He picked up an old copy of Liberty and sank down into the chair.
  517. Old
    of a very early stage in development
    "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!"
  518. after all
    in spite of expectations
    "After all," he said softly, "what isn't?"
  519. repeated
    recurring again and again
    "Switch on No. 8 auxiliary!" repeated Lieutenant Berg.
  520. playing
    the action of taking part in a game or sport or other recreation
    Then, with that faint, fleeting smile playing about his lips, he faced the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last.
  521. pale
    very light in color or highly diluted with white
    A nurse hurried over and whispered to Renshaw, and Mitty saw the man turn pale.
  522. in front
    at or in the front
    Walter Mitty stopped the car in front of the building where his wife went to have her hair done.
  523. lose
    fail to keep or to maintain
    Have you lost your gloves?"
  524. ahead
    at or in the front
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  525. sometimes
    on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
    His wife would be through at the hairdresser's in fifteen minutes, Mitty saw in looking at his watch, unless they had trouble drying it; sometimes they had trouble drying it.
  526. grave
    a place for the burial of a corpse
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  527. do it
    have sexual intercourse with
    "Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?"
  528. back
    the posterior part of a human (or animal) body
    She put her mirror back into her bag.
  529. rising
    sloping upward
    Without rising from his chair, Mitty let the man have it on the point of the chin.
  530. tell
    narrate or give a detailed account of
    When he came out into the street again, with the overshoes in a box under his arm, Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing was his wife had told him to get.
  531. laugh
    produce laughter
    A woman who was passing laughed.
  532. seat
    any support where you can sit
    He looked at his wife, in the seat beside him, with shocked astonishment.
  533. thought
    the content of cognition
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  534. dress
    put on clothes
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  535. thank
    express gratitude or show appreciation to
    "Thank you," said Walter Mitty.
  536. finished
    ended or brought to an end
    Mitty finished one last brandy.
  537. name
    a language unit by which a person or thing is known
    "Where's the what's-its-name," she would ask.
  538. memory
    the cognitive process whereby past experience is remembered
    "Perhaps this will refresh your memory."
  539. white
    being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness
    He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye.
  540. expect
    regard something as probable or likely
    How did you expect me to find you?"
  541. come
    move toward, travel toward
    A door opened down a long, cool corridor and Dr. Renshaw came out.
  542. crowd
    a large number of things or people considered together
    She seemed grossly unfamiliar, like a strange woman who had yelled at him in a crowd.
  543. Germany
    a republic in central Europe
    "Can Germany Conquer the World Through the Air?"
  544. July
    the month following June and preceding August
    We have shown that he wore his right arm in a sling on the night of the fourteenth of July."
  545. thing
    a separate and self-contained entity
    When he came out into the street again, with the overshoes in a box under his arm, Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing was his wife had told him to get.
  546. passing
    lasting a very short time
    A woman who was passing laughed.
  547. show
    make visible or noticeable
    "We have shown that the defendant could not have fired the shot.
  548. leave
    go away from a place
    "Leave her sit there," said the attendant.
  549. dog
    a canine domesticated by man since prehistoric times
    "I want some biscuit for small, young dogs," he said to the clerk.
  550. young man
    a teenager or a young adult male
    "You're not a young man any longer."
  551. corner
    the point where three areas or surfaces meet or intersect
    At the drugstore on the corner she said, "Wait here for me.
  552. State
    the federal department in the United States that sets and maintains foreign policies
    "Didn't know you were in the States, Mitty," grumbled Remington.
  553. know
    be cognizant or aware of a fact or a piece of information
    "You know I don't like to go more than forty.
  554. brother
    a male with the same parents as someone else
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  555. fire
    the process of combustion of inflammable materials
    "We have shown that the defendant could not have fired the shot.
  556. spot
    a point located with respect to surface features of some region
    Spot of brandy?"
  557. five
    the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
    "You were up to fifty-five," she said.
  558. sit
    take a seat
    "Leave her sit there," said the attendant.
  559. eight
    the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one
    The crew, bending to their various tasks in the huge, hurtling eight-engined Navy hydroplane, looked at each other and grinned.
  560. main
    most important element
    They're so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything.
  561. rise
    move upward
    Without rising from his chair, Mitty let the man have it on the point of the chin.
  562. again
    anew
    "You're tensed up again," said Mrs. Mitty.
  563. changed
    made or become different in nature or form
    "Pick it up, brother!" snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
  564. floor
    the inside lower horizontal surface
    He found a big leather chair in the lobby, facing a window, and he put the overshoes and the puppy biscuit on the floor beside it.
  565. broke
    lacking funds
    Pandemonium broke loose in the courtroom.
  566. greatest
    highest in quality
    The greatest pistol shot in the world thought a moment.
  567. air
    a mixture of gases required for breathing
    "Can Germany Conquer the World Through the Air?"
  568. face
    the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin
    Mitty looked at him and at the craven figure of Benbow, who drank, and at the grave, uncertain faces of the two great specialists.
  569. give
    transfer possession of something concrete or abstract
    "The new anesthetizer is giving way!" shouted an intern.
Created on Thu Nov 03 01:02:51 EDT 2011

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