Arsenic and Old Lace

Jenny (United States of America)
This list includes chosen words from Joseph Kesselring's Arsenic and Old Lace for a 10th Grade English Language Arts class.
104 words 101 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. unfrock
    divest of the frock; of church officials
  2. humanize
    make more humane
  3. lodger
    a tenant in someone’s house who typically receives meals
  4. venomous
    extremely poisonous or injurious
  5. quarrel
    an angry dispute
  6. prowl
    move about in or as if in a predatory manner
  7. peculiarity
    an odd or unusual characteristic
  8. remonstrate
    argue in protest or opposition
  9. desecrated
    treated with contempt
  10. intercept
    seize, interrupt, or stop something on its way
  11. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
  12. candelabra
    branched candlestick; ornamental; has several lights
  13. appraising
    exercising or involving careful evaluations
  14. pantomime
    a performance using gestures and movements without words
  15. rigor mortis
    temporary stiffness of joints and muscles after death
  16. baleful
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
  17. outsmart
    beat through cleverness and wit
  18. lechery
    unrestrained indulgence in sexual activity
  19. impostor
    a person who makes deceitful pretenses
  20. pince-nez
    spectacles clipped to the nose by a spring
  21. strychnine
    an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica
  22. trussed
    bound or secured closely
  23. sanitarium
    a hospital for recuperation or for treating chronic diseases
  24. cyanide
    any of a class of organic compounds containing the cyano radical -CN
  25. kith
    your friends and acquaintances
  26. blockhouse
    a stronghold that is reinforced for protection from enemy fire; with apertures for defensive fire
  27. dyspepsia
    a digestive disorder characterized by heartburn or nausea
  28. cadaver
    the dead body of a human being
  29. fib
    a trivial lie
  30. misapprehension
    an understanding of something that is not correct
  31. insubordination
    defiance of authority
  32. sidelong
    inclining or directed to one side
  33. smirk
    smile in a mocking or condescending way
  34. lank
    long and thin and often limp
  35. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
  36. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
  37. taut
    pulled or drawn tight
  38. ejaculation
  39. desultory
    marked by lack of definite plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
  40. amputate
    remove surgically
  41. canteen
    a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
  42. proletariat
    a social class comprising those who do manual labor
  43. pneumonia
    a serious illness of the lungs that makes it difficult to breathe
  44. detestable
    offensive to the mind
  45. dope
    an ignorant or foolish person
  46. rave
    talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner
  47. pedestrian
    lacking wit or imagination
  48. intoxicated
    stupefied or excited by a chemical substance
  49. dejected
    affected or marked by low spirits
  50. gratifying
    giving satisfaction or pleasure; pleasing
  51. accomplice
    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
  52. pry
    be nosey
  53. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
  54. insanity
    relatively permanent disorder of the mind
  55. hysterical
    marked by excessive or uncontrollable emotion
  56. garb
    clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
  57. pacify
    ease the anger, agitation, or strong emotion of
  58. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
  59. composure
    steadiness of mind under stress
  60. indignantly
    in a manner showing anger at something unjust or wrong
  61. taint
    place under suspicion or cast doubt upon
  62. inferno
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
  63. sinister
    wicked, evil, or dishonorable
  64. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
  65. articulate
    express or state clearly
  66. poise
    hold or carry in equilibrium
  67. expectant
    marked by eager anticipation
  68. simultaneously
    at the same instant
  69. contemplation
    a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
  70. haze
    confusion characterized by lack of clarity
  71. indefinite
    vague or not clearly defined or stated
  72. ecstasy
    a state of elated bliss
  73. vicious
    having the nature of evildoing
  74. mourning
    state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
  75. tactics
    a plan for attaining a particular goal
  76. benevolent
    showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
  77. brisk
    quick and energetic
  78. resemblance
    similarity in appearance or external or superficial details
  79. omen
    a sign of a thing about to happen
  80. stagger
    walk with great difficulty
  81. dismay
    the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
  82. suspicious
    openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
  83. timid
    showing fear and lack of courage
  84. assurance
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
  85. assurance
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
  86. dissolve
    come to an end
  87. tense
    taut or rigid; stretched tight
  88. hospitable
    disposed to treat guests and strangers with generosity
  89. canal
    long and narrow strip of water for boats or for irrigation
  90. astonishment
    the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
  91. harsh
    disagreeable to the senses
  92. extract
    remove, usually with some force or effort
  93. retreat
    the act of withdrawing or going backward
  94. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
  95. summon
    ask to come
  96. hasty
    excessively quick
  97. distinguished
    standing above others in character or attainment
  98. mercy
    a disposition to be kind and forgiving
  99. virtue
    the quality of doing what is right
  100. eager
    having or showing keen interest or intense desire
  101. inquire
    conduct an investigation of
  102. hymn
    a song of praise, especially a religious song
  103. proclamation
    a formal public statement
  104. esthetic
    concerning an appreciation of beauty or good taste
Created on Mon Oct 28 16:00:47 EDT 2013

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