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occurance at owl creek

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  1. diminuendo
    a gradual decrease in loudness
    An appalling plash within two yards of him was followed by a loud, rushing sound, diminuendo, which seemed to travel back through the air to the fort and died in an explosion which stirred the very river to its deeps!
  2. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
    These pains appeared to flash along well-defined lines of ramification and to beat with an inconceivably rapid periodicity.
  3. aspirate
    suck in (air)
    Although no soldier, he had frequented camps enough to know the dread significance of that deliberate, drawling, aspirated chant; the lieu. tenant on shore was taking a part in the morning's work.
  4. appall
    strike with disgust or revulsion
    An appalling plash within two yards of him was followed by a loud, rushing sound, diminuendo, which seemed to travel back through the air to the fort and died in an explosion which stirred the very river to its deeps!
  5. oscillate
    move or swing from side to side regularly
    The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara, yet he heard the dulled thunder of the volley and, rising again toward the surface, met shining bits of metal, singularly flattened, oscillating slowly downward.
  6. martinet
    someone who demands exact conformity to rules and forms
    The officer," he reasoned, "will not make that martinet's error a second time.
  7. inconceivably
    to an inconceivable degree
    These pains appeared to flash along well-defined lines of ramification and to beat with an inconceivably rapid periodicity.
  8. eddy
    a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind
    The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the beating of the dragon flies' wings, the strokes of the water-spiders' legs, like oars which had lifted their boat--all these made audible music.
  9. presage
    a foreboding about what is about to happen
    How coldly and pitilessly--with what an even, calm intonation, presaging, and enforcing tranquility in the men--with what accurately measured intervals fell those cruel words: "Attention, company!
  10. malign
    speak unfavorably about
    He was sure they were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance.
  11. pivotal
    being of crucial importance
    He had come to the surface facing down the stream; in a moment the visible world seemed to wheel slowly round, himself the pivotal point, and he saw the bridge, the fort, the soldiers upon the bridge, the captain, the sergeant, the two privates, his executioners.
  12. knell
    the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death
    Its recurrence was regular, but as slow as the tolling of a death knell.
  13. interminable
    tiresomely long; seemingly without end
    The forest seemed interminable; nowhere did he discover a break in it, not even a woodman's road.
  14. traverse
    journey across or pass over
    It did not appear to be the duty of these two men to know what was occurring at the center of the bridge; they merely blockaded the two ends of the foot planking that traversed it.
  15. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with the gallant army that had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction.
  16. manifestation
    a clear appearance
    Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him.
  17. dire
    fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
    He thought he shouted these words to his hands, for the undoing of the noose had been succeeded by the direst pang that he had yet experienced.
  18. grotesque
    distorted and unnatural in shape or size
    Their movements were grotesque and horrible, their forms gigantic.
Created on Sun Jan 27 11:23:47 EST 2013

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