Slaughterhouse-Five, Chapter 2

Mr. Brian (United States of America)
Important vocabulary for advanced ESL readers of Kurt Vonnegut's masterpiece, Spaughterhouse-Five
40 words 12 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. senile
    mentally or physically infirm with age
  2. widower
    a man whose wife is dead, especially if not remarried
  3. spastic
    suffering from a loss or deficiency of motor control
  4. stage fright
    fear that affects a person about to face an audience
  5. honorable discharge
    a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record
  6. shock treatment
    treatment of certain psychotic states by the administration of shocks that are followed by convulsions
  7. night owl
    a person who likes to be active late at night
  8. optometrist
    a person skilled in testing for defects of vision
  9. flying saucer
    an flying object whose nature is unknown
  10. plunger
    mechanical device that has a plunging or thrusting motion
    A plunger is a modern name for what Vonnegut calls a "plumber's friend."
  11. rumpus room
    a recreation room for noisy activities
  12. storage battery
    a voltaic battery that stores electric charge
  13. flibbertigibbet
    a foolish, flighty, and overly talkative person
  14. laughingstock
    an object of mockery or ridicule
  15. nursing home
    an institution where people are cared for
    This is called an "old people's home" in the novel.
  16. chaplain
    a member of the clergy ministering to some institution
  17. putrid
    morally corrupt or evil
  18. congregation
    group that habitually attends a particular place of worship
  19. furlough
    a temporary leave of absence, especially from military duty
  20. preposterous
    inviting ridicule
  21. addled
    confused and vague; used especially of thinking
  22. fly
    an opening in a garment closed by a zipper or buttons
  23. boiler
    a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
  24. bayonet
    a knife fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
  25. hankering
    a yearning for something or to do something
  26. pamphlet
    a small book usually having a paper cover
  27. prophylactic
    remedy that prevents an illness or disease
  28. bustle
    move or cause to move energetically or busily
  29. hide
    body covering of a living animal
  30. resent
    feel bitter or indignant about
  31. decrepit
    lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality
  32. antique
    an elderly man
  33. snoot
    informal terms for the nose
  34. quarry
    a person who is the aim of an attack by a hostile influence
  35. insinuate
    introduce or insert in a subtle manner
  36. infinitesimal
    immeasurably small
  37. ditch
    forsake
  38. lectern
    desk or stand with a slanted top used to hold a text
  39. waif
    a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
  40. convulsive
    affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions
Created on Wed May 01 22:31:47 EDT 2013 (updated Sat May 04 21:02:49 EDT 2013)

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