English vocabulary (Dune)
44 flashcards · English · by charlie42
She gave a rueful grin
expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way
The fatuous questions that the audience members asked after the lecture suggested to the oceanographer that they had understood little
silly and pointless
The crackdown has been most galling to people mourning family members
markedly irritating
Workers from the refinery roistered in the bars
enjoy oneself or celebrate in a noisy or boisterous way
The church also has an app members can download to watch sermons, get updates and even tithe from their phones.
one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy Russian: десятина
That kind of rude treatment from a young person makes me rankle
to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness to feel anger and irritation
a circus performer walking on stilts
a pile or post serving as one of the supports of a structure above ground or water level one of two poles each with a rest or strap for the foot used to elevate the wearer above the ground in walking
we made stilted conversation
(of a manner of talking or writing) stiff and self-conscious or unnatural
I wince, feigning interest in a TV Guide and mumbling a hello
to give a false appearance of pretend
she wore her hair in tousled curls
(of hair) untidy
Boots made of cow hide
the skin of an animal whether raw or prepared for use — used especially of large heavy skins
the young couple snuggled on the settee
a medium-sized sofa with arms and a back
yeomen of the guard wearing a royal red and gold livery
uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body
"the impact of the railways cannot be gainsaid
deny or contradict (a fact or statement)
he had convened a secret meeting of military personnel
come or bring together for a meeting or activity; assemble
modern contrivances to cook food faster
a mechanical device a device, especially in literary or artistic composition, which gives a sense of artificiality
people caught in the snare of drug addiction
a contrivance often consisting of a noose for entangling birds or mammals
The evidence revealed the cupidity of the company's directors
inordinate desire for wealth strong desire
As many a woman has learned to her chagrin, pathological liars are brilliant at deception
disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure
What a dolt I've been!
a stupid person
The barb of his wit made us wince
a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction
The conflagration destroyed the warehouses.
a large disastrous fire
There’s no functional reason for this slim neck; the choice is pure structural bravura
a show of daring or brilliance
Paul is the heir to House Atreides, whose fief is the oceanic planet of Caladan, a stony, rainy, tumultuous world, limited in its purview and power
a feudal estate Russian: вотчина
The stick got caught in the wheel's spokes
each of the bars or wire rods connecting the centre of a wheel to its outer edge
to burnish copper, I would probably use a drill with a pad attached to the end
polish (something, especially metal) by rubbing
He used to be standing over the cot sometimes, and he'd think nobody was listening to him, and you'd get all this baby talk.
a small bed with high barred sides for a baby or very young child.
the river follows a sinuous trail through the dale
having many curves and turns.
the boat gave a violent lurch and he missed his footing
make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements; stagger.
the door shot open, sending him sprawling across the pavement
sit, lie, or fall with one's arms and legs spread out in an ungainly way.
he was forced to wear rags and tatters a beggar would scorn
irregularly torn pieces of cloth, paper, or other material.
the Straits of Gibraltar
a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.
a display of beautifully hand-painted crockery on the kitchen countertop
plates, dishes, cups, and other similar items, especially ones made of earthenware or china.
The parties to the settlement made a compact not to reveal any details.
an agreement, often one that people make secretly
The metal boxes rasped as they were dragged across the floor
make a harsh, grating noise a coarse file with cutting points instead of lines
the strobe lights fizzled and flickered
make a feeble hissing or spluttering sound
she needed rainwater to clabber the milk
curdle or cause to curdle
bushes blotted out the shed from our view
to make obscure, insignificant, or inconsequential destroy
a hollow stem with vertical flutings
a groove or set of grooves forming a surface decoration.
The respondent in a lawsuit might request a bill of particulars if the complaint has general allegations without getting into the specific details that would be necessary for the respondent to properly defend him/herself in the case.
a written document in which a party has to explain the allegations in his/her complaint, or petition, in more detail
the roofs have survived the buffeting of worse winds than this
irregular oscillation of part of an aircraft, caused by turbulence the action of striking someone or something repeatedly and violently.
normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred
raise objections or show reluctance
he was accused of conspiring to suborn witnesses
bribe or otherwise induce (someone) to commit an unlawful act such as perjury.
he claimed two witnesses at his trial had committed perjury
the offence of wilfully telling an untruth or making a misrepresentation under oath