Indian Horse, Part 1

Tiva Q. (Canada)
Words taken from the back cover, inside cover, & first few chapters of Indian Horse.
12 words 21 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. delineate
    represented accurately or precisely
    The plaza still awaits lampposts, seating and shade structures, but their locations are clearly delineated.
    "[Wagamese is] a master of empathy - of delineating the experience of time passing, of lessons being learned, of tragedies being endured." Jane Smiley, Globe & Mail
  2. endure
    undergo or be subjected to
    The two managers endured several heated arguments on the touchline in the second half. BBC (Aug 21, 2013)
  3. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
    The tiger insisted, but the crane was obdurate, and before long they were quarrelling as if they had been lifelong enemies. Campbell, A.
    But in the harsh realities of 1960s Canada, he battles obdurate racism, and the spirit-destroying effects of cultural alienation and displacement. (Inside front cover)
  4. citadel
    a stronghold for shelter during a battle
    The best regional theatres are no longer citadels of high art with drawbridges, but open to all and deeply engaged with their community.
    Our land existed as an untamed thing... surrounded by citadels of bush and rock and the labyrinthine weave of country. (p. 4)
  5. labyrinthine
    resembling a maze in form or complexity
    But the appeals, which justices are expected to spend about two more months reviewing, offer a new turn in the labyrinthine case.
  6. prowess
    a superior skill learned by study and practice
    Although his lack of batting prowess did at times weigh heavily on Martin, he was not afraid to poke fun at himself either.
    This book took an awful lot of doing, and it was helped immeasurably by the editing prowess of Barbara Pulling and the indefatigable loyalty of my agent, John Pearce... (Acknowledgements)
  7. indefatigable
    showing sustained enthusiasm with unflagging vitality
    But I felt physically strong and, most importantly, spiritually indefatigable.
  8. exhilaration
    the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
    There was an exhilaration in being up and out so early. Brazil, Angela
    To... all the unnamed Native hockey teams that taught me the joy and exhilaration of the game and the shining glory of the rink... (Acknowledgements)
  9. fecund
    capable of producing offspring or vegetation
    Clovers yield several cuttings each year in this fecund territory. Calvert, A. F. (Albert Frederick)
    They say that the deep brown of our eyes seeped out of the fecund earth that surrounds the lakes and marshes. (p.1)
  10. thrall
    the state of being under the control of another person
    European leaders are in thrall to the profession of high finance.
    But I was in the thrall of a power I never understood. (p.3)
  11. exposition
    an account that sets forth the intent of a story
    Amid all the swift but thorough recapping and exposition, two minor subplots played out.
    In the first few chapters of Indian Horse, Wagamese does not address his themes or motifs directly, but it is necessary exposition that helps us understand Saul's character and heritage.
  12. metaphor
    a figure of speech that suggests a non-literal similarity
    His corporate lingo is laced with sports metaphors and analogies.
    When Wagamese writes, "To my wingers, Bob Lee, Ron St. Marie... thanks for helping me keep my stick on the ice and my feet moving towards the goal always." he is using hockey as a metaphor to describe the actions of friends who helped him stay focused on his writing.
Created on Tue Sep 03 21:01:18 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Sep 04 00:51:16 EDT 2013)

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