The BFG: List 6

by Roald Dahl
When Sophie meets the BFG—the Big Friendly Giant—they concoct a plan to prevent the other giants from eating humans.

This list covers "The Plan"–"Capture!"

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6
20 words 186 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wretch
    someone you feel sorry for
    ‘Work it out for yourself,’ the Queen said. ‘What time is it? Ten a.m. In eight hours those nine blood-thirsty brutes will be galloping off to gobble up another couple of dozen unfortunate wretches. They have to be stopped. We must act fast.’
  2. lofty
    of imposing height; especially standing out above others
    The BFG looked down from his lofty perch and said, this time to the Head of the Air Force, ‘You is having bellypoppers, is you not?’
  3. torpedo
    a long cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile
    ‘Like a torpedo,’ Sophie said.
  4. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    ‘Well, I suppose we could,’ the Head of the Air Force admitted grudgingly.
  5. presume
    take to be the case or to be true
    ‘Where is this place?’ the Air Force man said to the BFG. ‘I presume you can pinpoint it on the map?’
  6. pinpoint
    locate exactly
    ‘Where is this place?’ the Air Force man said to the BFG. ‘I presume you can pinpoint it on the map?’
  7. tact
    consideration in dealing with others
    The Queen, with her usual admirable tact and good sense, came to the rescue.
  8. miffed
    aroused to impatience or anger
    The Head of the Army, who was feeling pretty miffed by the whole business, said, ‘That’s all very well, Your Majesty, but what are we going to do with the blighters once we’ve got them back?’
  9. streak
    move quickly in a straight line
    The nine pilots in their helicopters suddenly realized they were being left behind. The giant was streaking ahead.
  10. throttle
    a valve that regulates the supply of fuel to the engine
    They opened their throttles to full speed, and even then they were only just able to keep up.
  11. truss
    secure with or as if with ropes
    There were six well-trained efficient men working on each giant and within ten minutes eight out of the nine giants had been trussed up like chickens and were still snoring contentedly.
  12. contented
    satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
    There were six well-trained efficient men working on each giant and within ten minutes eight out of the nine giants had been trussed up like chickens and were still snoring contentedly.
  13. winch
    pull or lift up with or as if with a lifting device
    Then very slowly, the giants were winched up into the air, parallel with the ground.
  14. bustle
    a rapid active commotion
    While the giants were being captured, a tremendous bustle and hustle was going on back home in England.
  15. contrivance
    a small mechanical device or tool
    Every earth-digger and mechanical contrivance in the country had been mobilized to dig the colossal hole in which the nine giants were to be permanently imprisoned.
  16. mobilize
    make ready for action or use
    Every earth-digger and mechanical contrivance in the country had been mobilized to dig the colossal hole in which the nine giants were to be permanently imprisoned.
  17. ceaseless
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    Ten thousand men and ten thousand machines worked ceaselessly through the night under powerful arc-lights, and the massive task was completed only just in time.
  18. hoist
    raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
    The BFG grabbed the dangling rope and was hoisted out of the pit just in time.
  19. telegram
    message sent by a device that communicates over a wire
    Every country in the world that had in the past been visited by the foul man-eating giants sent telegrams of congratulations and thanks to the BFG and to Sophie.
  20. modest
    humble in spirit or manner
    This was arranged, but because the BFG was a very modest giant, he wouldn’t put his own name on it. He used somebody else’s name instead.
Created on Thu Aug 08 15:57:34 EDT 2019 (updated Tue May 03 16:30:48 EDT 2022)

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