Animal Farm Vocabulary PDF

Animal Farm Vocabulary List (by George Orwell) 1. inscribe-v.-to carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface RELEVANT SENTENCE: These Seven Commandments would now be inscribed on the wall; they would form an unalterable law. by which all the animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after. 2. rat...

Animal Farm Vocabulary List (by George Orwell) 1. inscribe-v.-to carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface RELEVANT SENTENCE: These Seven Commandments would now be inscribed on the wall; they would form an unalterable law. by which all the animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after. 2. ration-n.-a fixed portion that is allotted (especially in times of scarcity) RELEVANT SENTENCE: In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields, what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall? 3. ensconce-v-entrench; fix firmly; absorb in RELEVANT SENTENCE: At one end of the big barn, on a sort of raised platform, Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam. 4. knoll-n.-a small natural hill RELEVANT SENTENCE: The oak tree grew on the grassy knoll to the north of the field. 5. quarry-n.- mine RELEVANT SENTENCE: There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm, and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses, so that all the materials for building were at hand. 6. chaff-n.- material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds RELEVANT SENTENCE: They met with many difficulties--for instance, later in the year, when they harvested the corn, they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath, since the farm possessed no threshing machine--but the pigs wit 7. gambol-v.-play boisterously RELEVANT SENTENCE: In the ecstasy of that thought they gamboled round and round, they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement. 8. windfall-n.-a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money) RELEVANT SENTENCE: The early apples were now ripening, and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. 9. superannuated-adj-too old to be useful; retired RELEVANT SENTENCE: Now that the small field beyond the orchard had been set aside for barley, it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals. 10. cryptic-adj-having a secret or hidden meaning RELEVANT SENTENCE: None of you has ever seen a dead donkey," and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer. 11. maxim-n-a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits RELEVANT SENTENCE: Boxer’s first maxim is “I will work harder.” 12. utilise [American spelling, utilize]-v.- to put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals could not utilize tools the way humans do because it is difficult to hold a tool with a hoof. 13. piebald-adj.-having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly RELEVANT SENTENCE: The young pigs were piebald, and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm, it was possible to guess at their parentage. 14. spring-v.-originate; come forth from 1 RELEVANT SENTENCE: "Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings?” 15. resolution-n-determination RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals’ resolution to harvest the field was absolute, and they did it faster than Jones ever did. 16. ignominious-adj.-(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame RELEVANT SENTENCE: And so within five minutes of their invasion the troops were in ignominious retreat. 17. disinter-v-dig up for reburial or for medical investigation RELEVANT SENTENCE: The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred. 18. collaborate-v-work together on a common enterprise of project RELEVANT SENTENCE: Don’t you miss the days when students could put desks together to collaborate? 19. tureen-n-large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews RELEVANT SENTENCE: Please pass the tureen; I could really use some soup. 20. laborious-adj-characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; esp. physical effort RELEVANT SENTENCE: Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. 21. shirk-v-avoid (one's assigned duties) RELEVANT SENTENCE: Nobody shirked--or almost nobody. 22. toil-v.-work hard RELEVANT SENTENCE: For that day we all must labor, though we die before it break; Cows and horses, geese and turkeys, All must toil for freedom's sake. 23. decreed-v-to make a legally binding command (as if issued by a court or judge) RELEVANT SENTENCE: He decreed the hens' rations to be stopped, 24. slag-n-the refuse or waste formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals RELEVANT SENTENCE: The slag at the bottom of the wheelbarrow made my hand dirty when I touched it. 25. procure-v.-get by special effort SENTENCE: (How mechanisms for the windmill were to be procured, Snowball did not say.) 26. clime-n-the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time RELEVANT SENTENCE: The clime of northern England is cold and dreary most of the year. 27. capitulate-v.-to acquiesce; give-in; surrender under agreed conditions RELEVANT SENTENCE: For five days the hens held out, then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes. 28. mincing-v.affectedly dainty or behaving obviously refined [note: its more typical usage is shredding--but not in this book] RELEVANT SENTENCE: At the last moment Mollie, the foolish, pretty white mare who drew Mr. Jones's trap, came mincing daintily in, chewing at a lump of sugar. 29. uproarious-adj-uncontrollably noisy RELEVANT SENTENCE: That night there was the sound of uproarious singing. 30. surveying-v-to look around with scrutiny; more formally, RELEVANT SENTENCE: After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. 31. indefatigable-adj-showing sustained enthusiastic action with unflagging vitality; never tires 2 RELEVANT SENTENCE: Boxer is an indefatigable worker, schlepping from dawn to dusk for the farm. 32. tractable-adj.-easily managed (controlled or molded); docile RELEVANT SENTENCE: Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. 33. grudging-adj-petty or reluctant in giving or spending RELEVANT SENTENCE: Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure, now that it was truly their own food, produced by themselves and for themselves, not doled out to them by a grudging master. 34. unscathed-adj.-not injured Remarkably, she emerged unscathed from the accident. 35. posthumous-after death The award, animal hero second class was awarded to the sheep who died in the battle posthumously. 36. poultice-n-a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc. RELEVANT SENTENCE: Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them and applying to the wounds. 37. impending-adj.-close in time; imminent; about to occur RELEVANT SENTENCE: As the summer wore on, and the windmill neared completion, the rumors of an impending attack grew stronger and stronger. 38. incite-v.-to provoke or stir up a strong reaction The angry leader incited a riot by riling up the other people. 39. implements-n.-instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end RELEVANT SENTENCE: Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals, and it was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind legs. 40. complicity-n.-guilt as an accomplice in a crime or offense RELEVANT SENTENCE: On the same day it was evidence had been discovered which revealed further details about the Black Jihad’s complicity in the murder of Castillo and Tison, both. 41. dregs-n.-sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid RELEVANT SENTENCE: There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. 42. taciturn-adj-habitually reserved and uncommunicative RELEVANT SENTENCE: Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever, except for being a little greyer than usual and maybe more taciturn than ever due to his grief. 43. restive-adj.-anxious; being in a tense state RELEVANT SENTENCE: Animals on the neighbouring farms grew more restive than ever, as rumours spread that Jones was expelled from the Manor Farm.. 44. skulk-v.-to creep about in a secretive manner RELEVANT SENTENCE: Snowball was thought to bel skulking about on Pinchfield Farm. 45. accord-n.-agreement RELEVANT SENTENCE: 3 With one accord, though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand, they flung themselves upon their tormentors. 46. machination-n-a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends RELEVANT SENTENCE: In the late summer yet another of Frederick’s machinations was revealed. 47. morose-adj.-miserable; ill-humored RELEVANT SENTENCE: Benjamin the donkey was morose, moping around the farm complaining. 48. subversive-adj.-in opposition to the government RELEVANT SENTENCE: For a long time there had been rumors--circulated,that Old Major was subversive--planning a revolution. 49. vivacious-adj.-vigorous and enthusiastic RELEVANT SENTENCE: Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but was not considered to have the same depth of character. 50. impromptu-adj.-with little or no preparation or forethought; spontaneous RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals broke into an impromptu rendition of The Beasts of England. 51. pretext-n-a fictitious reason concocted to conceal the real reason; excuse RELEVANT SENTENCE: On every kind of pretext Molly would run away from work and go to the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. 52. compensated-v.-to give a benefit to make up for a loss RELEVANT SENTENCE: They had had a hard year, and after the sale of part of the hay and corn, the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful, but the windmill compensated for everything. 53. confer-v-to present RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration, "Animal Hero, First Class," which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. 54. arable-adj-(of farmland) capable of being farmed productively, fertile fields RELEVANT SENTENCE: And again, since no animal now stole, it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land, which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates. 55. menacing-adj.-threatening RELEVANT SENTENCE: But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls. 56. irrepressible-adj.-impossible to stop or control RELEVANT SENTENCE: And yet the song was irrepressible, even after its singing was banned. 57. wean-v-gradually deprive someone of something until they are used to not having it RELEVANT SENTENCE: As soon as the piglets were weaned, Napoleon took them away from their mothers. 58. gruff-adj.-abrupt, surly and forbidding RELEVANT SENTENCE: The grumpy old troll has a gruff manner with Dora. 59. reverent-adj.-feeling or showing profound respect RELEVANT SENTENCE: After the hoisting of the flag, the animals were required to file past it in a reverent manner. 60. expel-v-eliminate; to eject 4 RELEVANT SENTENCE: The waste was expelled from the tool when the animal tapped it on the ground firmly. 61. unison-n.-corresponding exactly; as one RELEVANT SENTENCE: And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in unison. 62. conciliatory-adj.-peacemaking; appeasing RELEVANT SENTENCE: In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington. 63. pervade-v-spread or diffuse through; permeate RELEVANT SENTENCE: It seemed to them as though Frederick were some kind of invisible influence, pervading the air about them. 64. conjure-v-summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic RELEVANT SENTENCE: The magician conjured a rabbit from the hat. 65. filial-adj-designating the generation or generations following the parental generation RELEVANT SENTENCE: The mares had a filial relationship with the elder female horse. 66. cower-v-crouch as if in fear or curl up RELEVANT SENTENCE: They all cowered silently in their places, seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen. 67. stupefy-v.-to befuddle; to shock into confusion RELEVANT SENTENCE: I was stupified as to why the woman slapped me. 68. retinue-n-the group following and attending to some important person RELEVANT SENTENCE: When he did appear, he was attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before he spoke. 69. plait-v-to braid or twist the hair RELEVANT SENTENCE: Molly took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane, hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. 70. disperse-v.-to move away from each other; when the members of a gathering separate RELEVANT SENTENCE: Once Jones scared them, the animals dispersed from their meeting in the barn. 71. retribution-n-punishment RELEVANT SENTENCE: They did not know which was more shocking--the treachery of the offending animals or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed. 72. prod-v-to push against; to jab RELEVANT SENTENCE: Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward and prodded the men from every side. 73. speculate-v-reflect deeply on a subject andd guess at outcomes RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case, they had little time for speculating on such things now. 5 74. faction-n-A group aligned in interests or belief RELEVANT SENTENCE: The animals formed themselves into two factions, with opposing ideologies. 75. apathy-n-an absence of emotion RELEVANT SENTENCE: He showed apathy, not seeming to care one way or the other. 76. dishearten-v-discourage; dampen the spirits of RELEVANT SENTENCE: He had become much disheartened after losing money in a lawsuit, and had taken to drinking more than was good for him. 77. rally-v-to bring together; to unite RELEVANT SENTENCE: They all remembered, or thought they remembered, how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed, how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. 78. distill-v-to make an alcoholic beverage; to extract RELEVANT SENTENCE: By the evening of that day it was discovered Jones was distilling his own whskey. 79. canvass-v-get the opinions (of people) by asking questions; to recruit people to a cause RELEVANT SENTENCE: At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. 80. repose-n-rest; freedom from activity (work or strain or responsibility) RELEVANT SENTENCE: You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? 81. expound-v-clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing RELEVANT SENTENCE: Several nights a week, after Mr. Jones was asleep, they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. 82. stratagem-n-an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade RELEVANT SENTENCE: It now appeared that the traitor had not, as the animals had previously imagined, merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem, but had been openly fighting on Jones' side. 83. preeminent-adj-distinguished; held in higher esteem than others RELEVANT SENTENCE: Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon, whom Mr. Jones was breeding up for sale. 84. seldom-adv-not often; rarely RELEVANT SENTENCE: He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark--for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. 85. denounce-v-speak out against RELEVANT SENTENCE: Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. 86. contrive-v-scheme; make or work out a plan for; devise RELEVANT SENTENCE: A rumor went round that the traitorl had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. 87. wistful-adj-longing; reflective RELEVANT SENTENCE: 6 Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. 88. despair-adj-a state in which all hope is lost or absent RELEVANT SENTENCE: When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop. 89. sordid-adj-foul and run-down and repulsive RELEVANT SENTENCE: In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. 90. advocate-v-to plead for a cause or idea RELEVANT SENTENCE: I advocated for my clients wholeheartedly in court. 7