Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter wise Word Meanings

by Jatinder Kaur | Aug 6, 2025 | General | 0 comments

Cl-11 Eng (Elective) Chapter wise Word Meanings

Class 11 NCERT English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter Wise difficult word meanings

Here, the difficult words and their meanings of all the Chapters of CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book have been compiled for the convenience of the students. This is an exhaustive list of the difficult words and meanings of all the Chapters from the NCERT Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book. The difficult words’ meanings have been explained in an easy language so that every student can understand them easily.

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book- Short Stories

Chapter 1 – The Lament
Chapter 2- A Pair of Mustachios
Chapter 3 – The Rocking-horse Winner
Chapter 4 – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
Chapter 5 – Pappachi’s Moth
Chapter 6- The Third and Final Continent

Poetry

Poem 1 – The Peacock
Poem 2- Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
Poem 3 – Coming
Poem 4 – Telephone Conversation
Poem 5 – The World Is Too Much with Us
Poem 6 – Mother Tongue
Poem 7 – Hawk Roosting
Poem 8 – Ode to a Nightingale

Essays

Chapter 1- My Watch
Chapter 2 – My Three Passions
Chapter 3 – Patterns of Creativity
Chapter 4 – Tribal Verse
Chapter 5 – What is a Good Book?
Chapter 6 – The Story
Chapter 7 – Bridges

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book -Short Stories

Chapter 1 – The Lament

Twirling: turning around and around quickly; whirling.
Phantom: a ghost or apparition; something existing in appearance only.
Snowdrift: a bank of deep snow piled up by the wind.
Angularity: the quality of having sharp corners or distinct angles, rather than curves.
Gingerbread horse worth a kopek: a small, inexpensive gingerbread cookie shaped like a horse. A “kopek” is a small Russian coin, indicating something of very little value.
Plunged: thrust or pushed suddenly and forcefully into something.
Snatched: seized quickly and forcefully.
Plough: a large farming implement with one or more blades fixed in a frame, drawn by a tractor or by animals and used for turning over and furrowing the soil before sowing.
Slough: a swamp, bog, or marsh; a situation characterized by lack of progress or activity.
Monstrous: extremely and shockingly large or ugly; exceptionally dreadful.
Unceasing: not stopping; continuous.
descending over: moving downwards and spreading across or covering something.
Hubbub: a loud, confused noise caused by a crowd of people; a commotion.
Viborg: a Danish town located in north central Jutland. It was originally a center of pagan worship and was later a royal town and the early capital of Jutland. The name Viborg translates to “sacred hill”.
Nod of assent: a brief, upward and downward movement of the head to signify agreement, approval, or understanding
Reins: long, narrow straps held by a rider or driver to control and guide a horse or other animal.
Sleigh: a vehicle with runners instead of wheels, used for traveling over snow or ice, typically pulled by horses or reindeer.
Brandishes: waves or flourishes (something, especially a weapon) menacingly or ostentatiously.
To and fro: moving backwards and forwards repeatedly; back and forth.
Sweeps: moves quickly and forcefully so as to clear (something) away or along.
As if he were on needles: extremely agitated, restless, anxious, or uncomfortable.
Equilibrium: a state of balance; a stable condition where opposing forces or influences are equal.
Gasps: inhales suddenly and sharply, typically with an open mouth, out of astonishment, horror, or having difficulty breathing.
Scoundrels: dishonest or unprincipled people; villains.
Jostle: push, elbow, or bump against (someone) roughly, typically in a crowd.
Snuffle: breathe audibly through the nose, especially because of a blocked nose.
Hoarsely: with a rough or grating sound in the voice, as if from a sore throat or shouting.
Fare: the money paid for a journey on public transport.
Popped off: died.
Tavern: a public house selling alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. It can also be a restaurant serving simple food and drinks.
Squeak of galoshes: a high-pitched sound made by rubber overshoes (galoshes) rubbing against a surface, likely snow or ice.
Griveniks: plural form of “grivenik,” which is a historic Russian coin. It was a silver coin, equivalent to 10 kopeks, and was used in the Russian Empire before 1917.
Smacks: brings the lips together quickly and audibly, often to encourage a horse or express anticipation or satisfaction.
Jostling: pushing, elbowing, or bumping against someone roughly, typically in a crowd.
Wrangling: having a long and complicated dispute or argument.
Petulance: the quality of being childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
Twanging: having a sharp, vibrating sound, like a plucked string that is slightly nasal in tone.
Furry: covered with fur.
Cognac: a high-quality grape brandy, distilled in the Cognac region of France.
Lanky: tall and thin with long limbs.
Brute: a savagely violent person or animal.
‘Pshaw: an exclamation of impatience, contempt, or disbelief.
Indignantly: in a manner indicating anger or annoyance at something perceived as unfair.
Hurled: threw something with great force.
Wriggling: moving with short, quick twisting and turning movements.
I’ll bone your neck for you: it’s a threat of violence, implying breaking or severely injuring the neck bones.
Gorinytch: a fearsome three-headed (or sometimes more) dragon in Slavic folklore. In the context of the story, it’s used as an insulting epithet, comparing the cabdriver to a monstrous, old serpent.
Abated: became less intense or widespread; subsided.
Illimitable: unable to be limited or measured; boundless.
Sacking: coarse material, typically woven from burlap or similar fibers, used for making bags or for rough protection.
Trot: a moderately fast gait of a horse or other quadruped, between a walk and a canter, in which the diagonal pairs of legs move together.
Fodder: food for farm animals, especially dried hay or straw.
Tucking in: eating food with enthusiasm or vigor.
Foal: A young horse
Munches: eats steadily and often audibly.

Related:

Chapter 2- A Pair of Mustachios

Mustachios (n): a large moustache (line of hair above the upper lip) with curly ends
Demarcation (n): a border or a rule that shows the limits of something or how things are divided
Notorious (adj.): famous for something bad
Queer (adj.): strange, unusual, or not expected
Conventions (n): a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a similar interest
Prejudices (n): an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge
Smear (v): to spread a liquid or a thick substance over a surface
Frock coats (n): formal men’s coat characterised by a knee-length skirt cut all around the base just above the knee
Bankruptcy (n): a situation in which a business or a person becomes unable to pay their debts, and is officially bankrupt
Fearsome (adj.): frightening, especially in appearance
Resplendent (adj.): having a very bright or beautiful appearance
Uncanny (adj.): strange or mysterious
Unbending (adj.): If someone is unbending, they often make fixed judgments and decisions that they are unwilling to change
Unchanging (adj.): not changing
Mementoes (n): an object that you keep to remember a person, place, or event
Heirlooms (n): a valuable object that has been given by older members of a family to younger members of the same family over many years
Nouveau riche (n): people who have recently acquired wealth
Commercial bourgeoise (n): the middle-class, specifically those involved in trade and commerce, as opposed to industrial or financial activities
Humility (n): the quality of not being proud because you are aware of your bad qualities
Prosperous (adj.): successful, usually by earning a lot of money
Devotion (n): loyalty and love or care for someone or something
Feudal gentry (n): a class of landowners, typically below the nobility but still holding significant land and power
Coolies (n): an offensive word for a person whose job is to carry things, especially travellers’ bags at stations, airports, etc.
Peasants (n): a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows crops, keeps animals, etc. on it, especially one who has a low income, very little education, and a low social position.
Indicative (adj.): being or relating to a sign that something exists, is true, or is likely to happen
Rigorously (adv): in a careful way so that every part of something is looked at or considered to make certain it is correct or safe
Adhered (v): to stick firmly
Patented (adj.): obtain a patent for (an invention)
Sanctioned (n): an official order
Poaching (n): the act of taking and using something, usually an idea, for yourself unfairly or dishonestly
Abstract (adj.): existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object
Rumpus (n): a lot of noise, especially a loud and confused argument or complaint
Grocer (n): a person who owns or works in a shop selling food and small things for the home
Moneylender (n): a person or organization whose job is to lend money to people in return for payment
Integral (adj.): necessary and important
Beholden (adj.): feeling you have a duty to someone because they have done something for you
Mortgage (v): to offer something of value in order to borrow money from a bank or similar organization
Vicinity (n): the area around a place or where the speaker is
Dilapidated (adj.): old and in poor condition
Mussulman (n): a follower of the religion of Islam; a Muslim
Councillors (n): an elected member of a local government
Moghul (n): the Mughals or the Mughal Empire
Dignified (adj.): controlled, serious, and calm, and therefore deserving respect
Remnants (n): a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece or amount
Gold-brocaded (n): a fabric, typically brocade, that has been embellished with a raised design using gold threads or materials
Waistcoat (n): a close-fitting waist-length garment, typically having no sleeves or collar and buttoning down the front, worn especially by men over a shirt and under a jacket.
Maliciously (adv): in a way that is intended to cause harm, upset, or damage
Impostor (n): a person who pretends to be someone else
Blue blood (n): here, royal or upper class ancestors and heritage
The bluff of a rascal (n): the deceptive or dishonest act of a mischievous and trickster-like person
Manifestly (adv): very obviously
Forefathers (n): members of a family, national, or religious group who lived in the past
Vandalism (n): the deliberate destruction of a property
Inordinately (adv): in a way that is much more than usual or expected
Headstrong (adj.): very determined to do what you want without listening to others
Tottering (adj.): shaking and moving from side to side, and likely to fall
Upturning (v): turn (something) upwards or upside down
Tendency (n): a likelihood to happen or to have a particular characteristic or effect
Lentil (n): a very small dried bean that is cooked and eaten
Asked sourly (adv): in a way that is unfriendly or easily annoyed
Raged (n): extreme or violent anger
Dropped like a dead fly (v): here, to fall down
Appeased (v): to prevent further disagreement or fighting by letting the opposing side have something that they want
Humbly (adv): in a way that shows that you do not think you are important
Behest (n): a request or because someone has asked or ordered you to do something
Swine (n): a person who you consider to be extremely unpleasant and unkind
Trinket (n): a small decorative object, or a piece of jewellery that is cheap or of low quality
Sarkars (n): governments (in Hindi)
Aping (v): to copy something or someone badly and unsuccessfully
Pledging (n): a serious or formal promise
Humble milk-skimmer (n): A skimmer is a flat, sieve -like scoop or spoon used for skimming cooking liquids or lifting ripened cream from milk, such as a spider used in Chinese cuisine; here the shape of the Seth’s moustache is said to be like the milk skimmer
Imperturbable (adj.): always staying calm and controlled, even in difficult situations that would cause other people to worry
Wring your neck (idiom): used for emphasizing that you are very angry at someone
Landlord (n): a person or organization that owns a building or an area of land and is paid by other people for the use of it
Chimed (v): join or interrupt a conversation by making a remark
Sheepishly (adv): in a way that is embarrassed because you have done something wrong or silly
Impulses (n): a sudden strong wish to do something
Fetched (v): to go to another place to get something
By all means (idiom): used to give permission
Ceremoniously (adv): in a way that is very formal or polite
Dubiously (adv): in a way that is probably not true or fair, or that is probably not honest
Exalted (adj.): (of a person or their rank or status) at a high or powerful level
Illusion (n): something that is not really what it seems to be
Adornment (n): something decorative, or the act of decorating something or someone
Insignia (n): an object or mark that shows that a person belongs to a particular organization or group, or has a particular rank
Worldly possessions (n): everything that one owns
Spluttered (v): to speak in a quick and confused way, producing short, unclear noises because of surprise, anger, etc.
Goods and chattels (n): all kinds of personal possessions
Siesta (n): a rest or sleep taken after lunch, especially in hot countries
Deed (n): a legal document that is an official record of an agreement
Excommunicate (v): to banish someone from their religion
Hubbub (n): a loud noise, especially caused by a lot of people all talking at the same time
Forthwith (adv): immediately
Muttered (v): to speak quietly and in a low voice that is not easy to hear, often when you are worried or complaining about something
Valiant (adj.): very brave
Pauper (n): a very poor person

Related:

Chapter 3 – The Rocking-horse Winner

Turned to dust: to be reduced to nothing, to lose all value or significance, or to be completely destroyed
Bonny: Attractive and healthy-looking
Thrust upon: Forced or imposed on someone unwillingly.
Cover up: To prevent people from discovering something dishonorable or criminal.
Go hard: To become emotionally hardened or unfeeling.
Discreet: Careful and circumspect in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense or attracting undue attention.
Anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Keep up: To maintain a certain standard or level, especially of expenditure or social position.
Good prospects: Likely chances for future success or improvement.
Materialised: Became real or actual; happened.
Grinding: Oppressive or relentless; causing weariness or distress.
Racked her brains: Made a great effort to think of or remember something.
Splendid: magnificent; very impressive.
Nursery: a room in a house for the special use of young children.
Champing: Making a noisy chewing sound, often repeatedly. It can also describe the action of a horse moving its jaws and biting on the bit.
Smirking: Smiling in a silly or unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased with yourself, or with someone else’s bad luck.
Pram: A four-wheeled carriage for a baby, pushed by a person walking. (Also known as a stroller or baby carriage in some regions).
Timidly: in a manner that shows a lack of courage or confidence.
Vaguely:in a way that is uncertain, indefinite or unclear; roughly.
Filthy lucre: Money obtained in a dishonorable way; ill-gotten gains. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting the money is tainted or morally questionable.
Stoutly: With courage and determination; firmly. It implies a resolute or bold manner of speaking or acting.
Asserted: Stated a fact or belief confidently and forcefully. It means to declare something as true.
Brazening it out: To face a difficult or embarrassing situation with bold confidence or defiance, often when one is in the wrong or knows they are lying. It implies a shameless or impudent way of carrying oneself.
Exclamations: a sudden cry or remark expressing surprise, strong emotion, or pain.
Compel: To force or oblige someone to do something.
Heed: To pay attention to; take notice of.
Stealth: Secret, cautious, or surreptitious action or movement.
Charging into: To rush quickly and perhaps haphazardly into a room, building, or other space
Frenzy: A state of uncontrolled excitement or wild behavior.
Peer: look with difficulty or concentration at someone or something.
Careered: Moved swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.
Slash: lash, whip, or thrash.
Steed: a horse being ridden or available for riding.
Mount: To get on or climb onto (something, especially a horse or bicycle).
Furious: Extremely angry.
Glared: Looked at someone or something in an angry or hostile way.
Gave him up: Stopped trying to do something or achieve something
Make nothing of him: disregarding someone or failing to understand them.
Going beyond her: Moving beyond her influence or control
Close set eyes: eyes are positioned closer together than what is typically considered average or wide-set.
Tilt: a state of intense activity, energy, or excitement, often to the point of being overwhelmed or single-minded
Mechanical: done without thought or spontaneity; automatic.
Gallop: (Of a horse or other quadruped) move at its fastest pace, using all four limbs in such a way that all are off the ground at some point in each stride.
Slid down: to move downwards along a surface in a smooth, gliding motion.
Fiercely: In a savagely violent or aggressive way.
Sturdy: Strongly and firmly built; robust.
Straddling apart: Standing or sitting with the legs wide apart.
Flared back: Replied in a sudden, angry, or aggressive way.
Delighted: Feeling or showing great pleasure.
Batman: (chiefly British, historical) An officer’s personal servant in the armed forces. In the context of the story, it refers to Bassett having served Uncle Oscar in this capacity during the war.
Blade: While “blade” can mean a sharp edge or a leaf of grass, here it’s used in a more figurative sense. Think of it as someone who is perfectly suited to, knowledgeable about, and integrated into the “turf.”
Turf: In this context, “turf” refers to the racecourse or the world of horse racing.
Blade of the Turf: Bassett is likely to know the horses, the jockeys, the form, and all the intricacies of the sport. He isn’t an outsider or a novice.
Fancies: regard (a horse, team, or player) as a likely winner.
Gave him away: betrayed someone
Serious as church: extremely serious, solemn, or grave.
Parried: answer (a question or accusation) evasively.
Sped on: something continued moving quickly, often forward
Going down: a downward movement
obscure: hidden
sonny: used by an older person as a familiar form of address for a young boy.
damned: condemned
shillings: a former British coin and monetary unit equal to one twentieth of a pound or twelve pence.
Stirred: arouse strong feelings in (someone); move or excite.
Tip: predict as likely to win or achieve something.
Reserve: retain for future use.
Romancer: storyteller
Gravely: seriously
Roar of laughter: A loud, unrestrained outburst of amusement.
Pennies: a British bronze coin and monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a pound.
Pounds: the basic monetary unit of the UK, equal to 100 pence.
Amusement: the state or experience of finding something funny.
Pursued: to follow someone or something
Fancy: To have a liking or preference for (something). In the context of betting, it means to believe a particular horse will win.
Fiver: (British slang) A five-pound note (£5).
Pursed: (of lips) tightly compressed and narrowed, typically expressing disapproval or concentration.
Flayed his arms: a person is moving their arms in a rapid, energetic, and sometimes uncontrolled way, often like a thrashing or flapping motion
Accent: a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.
Yelling: shouting loudly, typically to express strong emotion or to attract attention.
Flushed: (of a person’s face) red and hot, typically as a result of illness or strong emotion.
Blazing: burning fiercely or brightly; also used figuratively to describe eyes shining intensely with emotion.
Serene: calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.
Spinning yarns: telling long, often exaggerated or imaginative stories.
He had it from heaven: This phrase implies that someone possesses knowledge or insight that seems to come from a divine or supernatural source, suggesting absolute certainty or an inexplicable understanding.
Religious voice: a divine or spiritual communication, guidance, or inspiration that individuals perceive or interpret as coming from a higher power.
As sure as eggs: absolutely certain; without a doubt; as reliable or predictable as the fact that hens lay eggs.
I made my bit: an informal way of saying “I did my part” or “I contributed what I could.”
Obstinately: stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
Turf Commission deposit: This refers to money deposited with a Turf Commission, which is an organization that regulates horse racing and betting. The deposit would likely be a stake or security for placing bets on horse races.
Reiterated: say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.
Inconsiderable: Small in size, amount, or importance; not worth considering.
No luck: used to express disappointment that something has not happened or is unlikely to happen.
Fidgeted: Made small, restless movements, often due to nervousness, impatience, or boredom.
Writs: formal written orders issued by judicial or executive authorities
Awful: very bad or unpleasant.
Uncanny: Strange or mysterious, often in a way that is unsettling or difficult to explain; seeming to have supernatural qualities.
Cold fire: a paradoxical phrase that describe a look that is passionate or intense, like the intensity of fire, but also cold or detached.
Writhed: Twisted or squirmed, often violently, usually due to pain, agony, or great discomfort
Knack: A special talent, skill, or aptitude for doing something easily and well.
Drapers: Retailers or dealers in cloth, fabrics, and sometimes sewing materials and clothing.
Sequins: Small, shiny, often disc-shaped ornaments sewn onto clothing for decoration.
Drapery advertisements: Advertisements for cloth, fabrics, curtains, or the services of a draper (a seller of fabrics).
Face hardened: The expression on someone’s face became stern, severe, or showed a lack of emotion, often indicating anger, determination, or disappointment.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush: An idiom meaning it is better to hold onto something you have and are certain of, even if it seems less valuable, than to risk losing it by trying to get something more appealing but uncertain.
Laddie: A familiar Scottish term of address for a young boy.
chorus: a part of a song which is repeated after each verse.
Sprays of mimosa: Small branches or stems bearing clusters of bright yellow, fluffy flowers of the mimosa tree or shrub.
Almond-blossoms: The delicate pink or white flowers that appear on almond trees in early spring.
Iridescent: Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles. These colors often have a rainbow-like effect.
Frightened: Feeling or showing fear; terrified.
Reiterated: Said something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity.
Overwrought: In a state of nervous excitement or anxiety.
Gambling: The activity of betting money or possessions on an event with an uncertain outcome, typically with the intention of winning money or material goods.
Divulged: Made known (private or sensitive information).
Let your nerves go to pieces: To become extremely nervous, anxious, or emotionally unstable.
Emancipated: Freed from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberated. In this context, likely freed from the control of a nurse and governess.
Remonstrated: Made a forcefully reproachful protest.
Quaint: Attractively unusual or old-fashioned.
Prance: Move with high springy steps.
Frail: Weak and delicate; easily damaged or broken.
Seizures: Sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness.
might and main: with all one’s strength and effort
Rung up: Called someone on the telephone.
As right as a trivet: In excellent condition; perfectly well or correct. A trivet is a three-legged stand, so something “as right as a trivet” is stable and well-balanced.
Intruded: Forced one’s way in without permission or welcome.
Reluctantly: Unwillingly; hesitantly.
Cloak: An outer garment, typically long and sleeveless, worn loosely over the shoulders.
Hushed: Very quiet or silent.
Frozen with anxiety: Unable to move or act due to extreme worry and nervousness.
Amazement: A feeling of great surprise and wonder.
Blaze: A very bright or fiercely burning fire or light.
Tormented: Experiencing severe mental or physical suffering; deeply troubled or distressed.
Flooding upon her: Overwhelming her suddenly and intensely, like a rush of water. In this context, it refers to a sudden and powerful surge of emotion.
Heartfrozen: Emotionally numb or devoid of feeling, often due to extreme shock, grief, or fear.
Ceaselessly: Without stopping or pausing; continuously.
Regained: Recovered something lost or taken away; in this context, it refers to returning to a normal state of awareness.
Consciousness: The state of being aware of and responsive to one’s surroundings.
Intrusion: The act of entering a place or situation where one is not welcome or has no right to be.
Moustache: A strip of hair left to grow above the upper lip.
Tiptoed: Walked quietly and carefully with one’s heels raised and only the toes touching the ground.
Glittering: Shining brightly with flashes of light.
Gone out of a life: someone or something is no longer a part of a person’s life, either permanently or temporarily.

Related:

Chapter 4 – The Adventure of the Three Garridebs

Blood-letting (n): in the past, a medical treatment in which blood was taken from a person who was ill, here used as a phrase
Penalties (n): a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law
Knighthood (n): in Britain and some other countries, the rank of knight, a rank of honour given to a man by a king or queen because of his special achievements, which gives him the right to be called “Sir”
Obliged (adj.): to be forced to do something or feel that you must do something
Indiscretion (n): lack of care in saying or doing things that should be kept secret, or an act or statement that shows such lack of care
Foolscap (n): paper of a standard size, measuring 17.2 cm x 21.6 cm
Twinkle of amusement (v): to sparkle with joy or delight
Austere (adj.): very simple, plain
Lay your hand upon (idiom): to find, obtain, or control something
Whimsical (adj.): unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying
Complexities (phrase): the features of something that make it difficult to understand or find an answer to
Fellow (n): a man, used especially in the past by people in a higher social class
Cross-examination (n): the act of asking detailed questions to someone, especially a witness in a trial
Hopeless (adj.): without hope
Quest (n): a long search for something that is difficult to find, or an attempt to achieve something difficult
Amazement (v): to cause someone to be extremely surprised
Cry of triumph (n): a victorious shout or declaration, often marking a moment of significant achievement or overcoming a challenge
Counsellor (n): a lawyer
Men of affairs (n): a person engaged in commercial or industrial business (especially an owner or executive)
Arresting (adj.): very attractive in a way that attracts a lot of attention
Seldom (adv): almost never
Bespoke (adj.): specially made for a particular person
Inward (adj.): directed toward your self, your mind, or your spirit
Responsive (adj.): saying or doing something as a reaction to something or someone, especially in a quick or positive way
Eccentricity (adj.): strange or unusual, sometimes in a funny way
Namesake (n): a person or thing having the same name as another person or thing
Suspicion (n): doubt or lack of trust
Expressive (adj.): showing what someone thinks or feels
Ruffled (adj.): upset
Amiable (adj.): pleasant and friendly
Soothing (adj.): making you feel calm
Digressions (n): the action of moving away from the main subject you are talking about
Bearing (n): to have an influence on something or a relationship to something
Outflame of anger (phrase): a sudden, intense, and uncontrollable feeling of anger
What in thunder (phrase): to convey surprise, disbelief, or annoyance
Detective (n): someone whose job is to discover information about crimes and find out who is responsible for them
Fool-trick (v): to trick someone, often in a playful way
Zeal (n): great enthusiasm or eagerness
Vital (adj.): necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely important
Gradually (adv): slowly over a period of time
Butting (v): to interrupt
Surveyed (v): to look at or examine all of something, especially carefully
Gaze (v): to look at something or someone for a long time
Wheat pit (n): market or exchange where wheat stalks(stems of the wheat plant) are bought and sold.
Counties (n): the largest political division of most states in the US
Grazing land (n): land where farm animals can feed on grass
Lumber land (n): land where wood is harvested
Mineralised land (n): land where valuable minerals are found
Kith nor kin (n): people you are connected with, especially by family relationships
Queerness (n): the fact of being strange, unusual, or not expected
Tickled to death (idiom): to be very pleased or happy about something
Pet fad (n): a style, activity, or interest that is very popular for a short period of time
Will (n): an official statement of what a person has decided should be done with their money and property after their death
Cent (n): a unit of money worth 0.01 of a dollar
Fine toothed comb (n): a comb with narrow teeth that are close together
Vacancy (n): a place or position that is available
Advertise (v): to make something known generally or in public, especially in order to sell it
Agony column (n): the part of a magazine or newspaper where letters from readers about their personal problems are printed, together with advice about how to deal with them
Leisure (n): the time when you are not working or doing other duties
Correspondent (n): a person who writes letters to another person
Mayor (n): a person who is elected or chosen to lead the group who governs a town or city
Honoured (n): to show great respect for someone or something
Reckon (v): to think or believe
Assurance (n): a promise to tell something to someone confidently or firmly
Departed (v): to go away or leave
Pipe (n): a short, narrow tube with a small container at one end, used for smoking tobacco
Rigmarole of lies (phrase): a long set of lies and words without any real purpose
Frayed (adj.): with the threads at the edge coming loose
Provincial (n): a person who comes from somewhere in a country outside its capital city
Covert (adj.): hidden or secret
Overlooked (v): to fail to notice or consider something or someone
Cock pheasant (n): male pheasant (a type of bird), here used as a slang or phrase meaning something or someone very obvious or easy to spot
Preposterous (adj.): very silly or stupid
Rascal (n): a dishonest person
Ingenious (adj.): very intelligent and skilful
Quavering (n): a slight shake in someone’s voice
Syncopated dialogue (n): a conversation or discussion where the rhythm and flow of speech are not regular or cannot be predicted, often with emphasis or pauses placed on unexpected parts of a phrase or sentence
Captivating (adj.): holding your attention by being extremely interesting, exciting, pleasant, or attractive
Prospect (n): the chance of something happening
Twilight (n): the period just before it becomes completely dark in the evening
Offshoots (n): something that has developed from something larger that already existed
Stone-cast (n): a short distance
Edifice (n): a large building, especially an impressive one
Bay windows (n): a window that sticks out from the outer wall of a house and usually has three sides
Bore (v): to carry or contain something
Discoloured (adj.): changed in colour in a way that is less attractive
Chambers (n): a private room
Abode (n): the place where someone lives
Bohemian (n): a person who is interested in artistic and unusual things, for example art, music, or literature, and lives in an informal way that ignores the usually accepted ways of behaving
Bachelors (n): a man who has never married
Loose jointed (adj.): A loose-jointed person moves and bends their body, especially their arms and legs, very easily
Round-backed (adj.): having the back and shoulders rounded and not straight
Gaunt (adj.): very thin, especially because of sickness or hunger
Cadaverous face (adj.): looking pale, thin, and ill
Stooping (v): to bend the top half of the body forward and down
Peering (v): to look carefully
Cupboards (n): a piece of furniture or a space for storing things, with a door or doors and usually with shelves
Cabinets (n): a piece of furniture with shelves, cupboards, or drawers, used for storing or showing things
Specimens (adj.): used to refer to a container for things collected for medical or scientific use
Geological (adj.): relating to geology, i.e., the study of the rocks and similar substances that make up the earth’s surface
Anatomical (adj.): relating to the scientific study and representation of the physical body and how its parts are arranged
Flanked (v): to be at the side of someone or something
Littered (n): small pieces of rubbish that have been left lying on the ground
Debris (n): broken or torn pieces left from the destruction of something larger
Microscope (n): a device that uses lenses to make very small objects look larger, so that they can be scientifically examined and studied
Bristled (v): to stand up
Flint (n): shiny grey or black stone that is like glass
Fossil (n): the shape of a bone, a shell, or a plant or animal that has been preserved in rock for a very long period
Neanderthal (n): a type of primitive people who lived in Europe and Asia from about 150,000 to 30,000 years ago
Heidelberg (n): fossils of archaic humans that are dated to between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago found in various locations across the globe, including Europe, Africa, and Asia
Cro magnon (n): an early type of human being whose fossil remains have been found in Europe and the surrounding areas
Chamois leather (n): a soft material, traditionally made from the skin of the chamois, a small animal like a goat that lives in the mountains of Europe and southwestern Asia
Syracusan (n): a city in Sicily, Italy
Degenerated (v): to become worse in quality
Alexandrian (n): the coins produced by the city of Alexandria in ancient Egypt, particularly during the Roman period
Cataloguing (v): to record something, especially in a list
Absorbing (adj.): Something that is absorbing is very interesting and keeps your attention
Terrific (adj.): very good
Unparalleled (adj.): having no equal; better or greater than any other
Fortune (n): a large amount of money, goods, property, etc.
Disqualified (v): to stop someone from being in a competition or doing something because they are unsuitable
Anxious (adj.): worried and nervous
Estate (n): a large area of land in the country that is owned by a family or an organization and is often used for growing crops or raising animals
Nucleus (n): the central part of something
Hans Sloane (n): Anglo-Irish physician and collector. He had a collection of 71,000 items which he gave to the British nation, thus providing the foundation of the British Museum
Gleamed (v): when eyes gleam, they shine in a way that expresses a particular emotion
Spared (v): left over
Acquaintance (v): used in some expressions about knowing or meeting people:
Narrative (n): a particular way of explaining or understanding events
Cheerful (adj.): happy and positive
Course of action (n): something that is done in order to get a particular result
Puzzled (n): a situation that is difficult to understand
Burglars (n): a person who illegally enters buildings and steals things
Imperative (adj.): extremely important or urgent
Unlatched (v): to open the latch (a device for keeping a door or gate closed) of a door or gate
Glorious (adj.): an exclamation of praise, and honour
Inquiries (n): the act of asking for information
Hustle (v): to act quickly
Wandering (n): someone who often travels from place to place, especially without any clear aim or purpose
References (n): a person who knows you
Affidavit (n): a written statement that someone makes after promising officially to tell the truth
Hotly (adv): in an angry or excited way
With a disconsolate air (adj.): extremely sad and disappointed
Thoughtful (adj.): carefully considering things
Perplexity (n): a state of confusion or a complicated and difficult situation or thing
Storehouse (n): something that provides a lot of information, ideas, memories, etc.
Classified (adj.): used to describe information that is arranged by type
Glancing (v): to give a quick short look
House-agent (n): someone whose job is to help you sell or buy a house
Amazed (adj.): extremely surprised
Archaeologist (n): someone who studies the buildings, graves, tools, and other objects of people who lived in the past
Ascertained (v): to discover something
Plough (n): a large farming tool with blades that digs the soil in fields so that seeds can be planted
Misspelt (v): to fail to spell a word
Buckboards (n): a four-wheeled vehicle with a floor made of longboards
Artesian wells (n): a well that brings groundwater to the surface without pumping
Purporting (v): to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy to believe
Wild-goose chase (n): a search that is completely unsuccessful and a waste of time
Grave (adj.): urgent and very bad; serious
Of sinister and murderous reputation (phrase): suggesting someone is known for bad and dangerous actions, cruelty, or violence
None the wiser (phrase): not understand something, even though it has been explained
Want of imaginative intuition (n): The ability to imagine things that are not real
Thoroughness (n): a large amount of care and attention to detail
Inscription (n): words that are written or cut in something
Dossier (n): a set of papers containing information about a person, often a criminal, or on any subject
Penitentiary (n): a state or federal prison
Forger (n): a person who makes an illegal copy of something in order to deceive
Coiner (n): a person who coins money, in particular a maker of illegal coins
Arms (n): weapons and equipment used to kill and injure people
Sporting bird (n): a bird that is hunted for sport or food
Tenant (n): a person who pays rent for the use of land or a building
Hypothesis (n): an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved
Devotes (v): to give all of something, especially your time, effort, to something you believe in
Revolver (n): a type of small gun held in one hand that can be fired several times without putting more bullets in it
Siesta (n): an afternoon nap
Spring lock (n): a type of lock with a spring bolt which requires a key only to open it
Bonnet (n): the metal cover over the part of a car where the engine is
Premises (n): a house or other building and the land on which it is built
Crouched (v): to bend your knees and lower yourself so that you are close to the ground and leaning forward slightly
Devilish ingenuity (adj.): wicked skill of thinking, performing, or using things in new ways, to solve problems
Cunning (adj.): the quality or skill of being clever at planning something so you get what you want, especially by tricking other people
Confederate in crime (n): a person who participates in a criminal or illegal activity alongside someone else.
Inhabited (v): to live in a place
Jimmy (n): a short, strong metal bar with a curved end, often used to force things open, for example by thieves to force open windows or doors
Vigorously (adv): in a way that is very forceful or energetic
Stump of candle (n): a short remaining part of a candle
Trapdoor (n): a small door in a ceiling or floor
Creaked (v): When a door, floorboard, etc. creaks, it makes a long low sound when it moves or is moved
Baffled (v): to cause someone to be completely unable to understand or explain something
Shamefaced grin (adj.): a smile showing showing shame or embarrassment
Pistols (n): a small gun that is held in and fired from one hand
Scrambled (v): to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you
Sprawling (adj.): spreading out over a large area
Rummaged (v): to search for something that is difficult to find among other things
Culminated (v): to have as a result or be the final result of a process
Revelation (n): the act of making something known that was secret, or a fact that is made known
Superficial (adj.): on the surface only; not deep
Scowled (v): to look at someone or something with a very annoyed expression
Cellar (n): a room under the ground floor of a building, usually used for storing things
Illuminated (adj.): lit with bright lights
Rusted (n): a reddish-brown substance that forms on the surface of iron and steel as a result of reacting with air and water
Printing press (n): a machine that prints books, newspapers, or magazines
Counterfeiter (n): a person who makes a copy that looks like the original of something, usually for dishonest or illegal purposes
Staggering (v): walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall
Bolt-hole (n): a place where a person can escape and hide
Boob of a bughunter (phrase): here, used as an insult meaning a foolish or silly detective or investigator
Unexpected (adj.): not expected
Dissipated dreams (n): dreams that have faded or disappeared
Castle in the air (idiom): plans that have very little chance of happening
Unappreciative (adj.): not grateful for something

Related:

Chapter 5 – Pappachi’s Moth

Pickles (n): vegetables (especially cucumbers) preserved in vinegar or brine.
Commercially (adv): related to making a profit or being intended for sale.
Fair (n): a type of entertainment in a field or park
Persist (v): to continue to exist or try to do something despite difficulties
Thrilled (adj.): extremely happy or excited
Ignominy (n): public shame or disgrace
Prime (adj.): someone or something is at its best, most successful, or most productive stage
Conical (adj.): shaped like a cone
Corneas (n): the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil
Resented (v): felt bitterness or indignation at a situation, action, or person
Weaving (v): forming fabric by interlacing threads
Sullen (adj.): bad-tempered and sulky; showing irritation or ill humor by a gloomy silence
Slouch (v): to stand, sit or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored
Immaculate (adj.): perfectly clean or tidy
Mound (n): a large pile of earth, stones, etc. like a small hill. Here, pile of red chillies
Bow (n): a thin piece of wood with hair from the tail of a horse stretched along it, which is used to play musical instruments that have strings. Violins are played with bows.
Rowing (n): the sport or activity of rowing a boat
Balliol (n): here, the Balliol College in Oxford, England
Smash (v): to cause something to break noisily into a lot of small pieces.
Intermediary: someone who carries messages between people who are unwilling or unable to meet.
Verandah (n): a raised, covered, sometimes partly closed area, often made of wood, on the front or side of a building
Stonily (adv): in a way that shows no sympathy or kindness
Ornamental (adj.): beautiful rather than useful
Mahogany (n): a dark red-brown wood used to make furniture
Driveway (n): a private area in front of a house or other building onto which you can drive and park your car
Varnished (adj.): covered with varnish, a liquid that is painted onto wood or paintings to protect the surface, or the hard shiny surface it produces when it dries
Wicker (adj.): made of very thin pieces of wood twisted together
Splintered (n): a small, sharp, broken piece of wood, glass, plastic, or similar material
Wrench (n): a tool for holding and turning objects, especially one that can be made larger and smaller to hold different sized objects
Neglected (adj.): not receiving enough care or attention
Corroding (v): to destroy or be destroyed
Plymouth (n): Plymouth was an automobile brand that was discontinued after the 2001 model year
Outwardly (adv): in a way that relates to how people, situations, or things seem to be, rather than how they are inside
Coasting (v): to move forward in a vehicle without using the engine, usually down a hill
Entomologist (v): the scientist who studies insects.
Designation (n): an official title or name
Equivalent (adj.): having the same amount, value, purpose, qualities, etc
Imperial (adj.): relating or belonging to an empire, here the British empire
Moth (n): an insect with wings that is similar to a butterfly, usually flies at night, and is attracted to light
Setback (n): something that causes delay or stops progress
Dorsal (n): of, on or near the back of an animal
Tuft (n): a number of short pieces, especially of hair or grass, which closely grow together or are held together near the base.
Taxonomic (n): systematic naming and organizing of things, especially plants and animals into groups which share similar qualities
Mounted (adj.): something that is mounted is fixed to a wall, in a frame, etc., so that it can be looked at or used
Radical (adj.): believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or political change
Kepidopterists (n): someone who studies butterflies and moths
Hitherto (adv): until now or until a particular time
Genus (n): a group of animals or plants, more closely related than a family, but less similar than a species
Pernicious (adj.): having a very harmful effect or influence.
Ill-humored (adj.): unfriendly or in a bad mood
Tormented (n): great mental suffering and unhappiness, or great physical pain
Stifling (adj.): extremely hot and unpleasant
Cologne (n): a type of perfume, liquid with a pleasant smell used on the skin
Abruptly (adj.): sudden and unexpected
Exceptionally (adv): in a way that is much greater than usual, especially in skill, intelligence, quality, etc.
Clipping (n): a piece that has been cut off something
Funeral (n): a (usually religious) ceremony for burying or burning the body of a dead person
Contact lenses (n): a small round curved piece of transparent plastic, worn on the surface of the eye to improve your sight

Related:

Chapter 6- The Third and Final Continent

LSE: This is an abbreviation for the London School of Economics and Political Science, a prestigious public research university located in London, England.
Lounged: To sit, lie, or stand in a relaxed or lazy way.
Drawstring: A string, cord, or tape inserted through a hem or casing and pulled tight to close to gather material.
Set out: To begin a journey or course of action.
Crammed: To compress or pack something tightly into a limited space.
Grundig reel-to-reel: Grundig was a German manufacturer of electronics. A reel-to-reel was a type of magnetic tape audio recorder where the recording tape is held on reels that are wound onto spools during playback or recording.
Moved out: To leave a place of residence.
Paperback: A book bound in a flexible paper cover.
Descent over: A movement downwards has ended or is complete.
Hollered: Cried out loudly; shouted.
Aisle: A passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theater, or between shelves in a shop.
Cot: A small bed with high sides for a baby or very young child; a crib. It can also refer to a simple, lightweight bed.
Bare: Not clothed or covered; naked. Also, empty or plain.
Overlooked: Failed to notice or consider something. Also, having a view from above.
Thoroughfare: A main road through a town or city, allowing the free movement of traffic.
Shrill: High-pitched and piercing in sound.
Prolonged: Continuing for a long time or longer than usual; extended.
Blared: Made a loud, harsh, piercing noise.
Flashing sirens: Bright, intermittent warning lights and a loud, wailing sound produced by emergency vehicles.
Heralded: Signaled the coming of; announced.
Rumbled past: Made a deep, resonant sound while moving by.
Felt it deep in my ribs: Experienced a strong physical sensation, often vibration or a deep emotional feeling.
Furious drone: A continuous humming or buzzing sound that suggests anger or intensity.
Glittering: Shining with a bright, shimmering light.
Fortlike: Resembling a fort, often suggesting something sturdy, secure, or imposing.
Thermos: A vacuum flask that keeps liquids hot or cold for many hours.
Windowsill: A shelf below a window, either inside or outside a building.
Stifling: Oppressively hot and lacking in fresh air; suffocating.
Drifted onto: Was carried slowly by air or water and ended up on a particular surface or place.
Drifted off: Gradually fell asleep.
Classified: Arranged in categories according to shared qualities or characteristics. Also, officially designated as secret.
Occupancy: The state of being occupied; the fact of residing or being present in a place.
Clamorous: Making a loud and confused noise.
Tentatively: In a hesitant or uncertain manner.
Listerine: A brand name for a commercially available antiseptic mouthwash.
Perpendicular: At an angle of 90° to a given line, plane, or surface; perfectly upright or vertical.
Stray blades of grass: Individual, isolated pieces of grass that are growing out of place or are separated from a larger patch.
Poked: Thrust or jabbed something quickly and sharply.
Chain-link fence: A type of fence made of woven wires forming a mesh of diamond shapes.
Trim: To make something neat and tidy by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.
Stucco row house: One of a series of similar houses joined together in a row, with an exterior wall covered in stucco (a type of plaster).
Shingles: Small, flat, rectangular pieces of wood, asphalt, or other material used to cover a roof or walls.
Tangle of forsythia bushes: A dense, disorganized mass of forsythia bushes, known for their bright yellow spring flowers.
Sack: A large bag made of strong, coarse material such as burlap or canvas, used for storing and carrying goods.
Peered up: Looked up or gazed upwards, often with curiosity or difficulty.
Stiff: Rigid and difficult to bend or move.
Ruffles: Gathered or pleated strips of fabric used for trimming or decoration.
Pallid: Pale, typically because of poor health or lacking vitality.
Chapped: (Of skin) cracked, rough, and sore, especially because of exposure to cold or dry weather.
Concealed: Kept secret; hidden from sight or notice.
Transistor: A semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power.
Propped against: Supported by being leaned against something else.
Chimed: (of a bell or a set of bells) make a clear ringing sound, typically a series of harmonically related tones.
Proclaimed: Announced officially or publicly; declared.
Intoned: Say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.
Hailed: Called out to (someone) to attract attention or to greet them.
Inflated: Filled with air or gas so as to increase in size.
Splendid: Very impressive; magnificent.
Verses: Lines of poetry. They often have a specific rhythm and sometimes rhyme.
Bellowed: Spoke or shouted in a loud, deep voice, often expressing anger or pain.
Mounted: Gotten on or climbed onto something, especially a horse or bicycle
Sloping ceiling: A ceiling that is not flat but angles downwards, usually following the pitch of a roof.
Rug: A thick piece of woven material used to cover part of a floor.
foyer: an entrance hall or other open area in a building used by the public, especially a hotel or theatre.
Accessible: Easy to approach, enter, or use.
Ledge: A narrow shelf projecting from a wall or cliff.
Proposition: A suggested plan or action.
Spinsterhood: The state of being an unmarried woman, especially one considered past the usual age for marrying.
Dictated: Spoken or read aloud for someone else to write down; also, controlled or determined the nature or form of something.
Pallet: A straw-filled mattress; or a flat structure used for transporting goods.
Excrement: Waste matter discharged from the bowels; feces.
Perched: Rested or sat on a high or narrow place.
Overhear: Hear (someone or something) without intending to or without the speaker knowing.
Hidden away: Put or kept in a place where it is not easily seen or found; concealed.
Oblivious: Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.
Nightly encounter: An unplanned or unexpected meeting that happens every night.
Inevitably: As is certain to happen; unavoidably.
Budge: Make or cause to make the slightest movement.
Hovered: Remained in one place in the air; lingered or remained very near a place or person.
Draped over: Arranged loosely or casually by laying it across something. Imagine a shawl draped over a chair.
Eggplant: A dark purple, oval-shaped vegetable. It’s also known as aubergine in British English.
Boarder: A person who pays for lodging and often meals at someone’s house.
Electrifying: Very exciting, startling, or thrilling. It can also literally mean charged with or producing electricity.
Banister: The railing at the side of a staircase or balcony, supported by posts.
Chaperone: A person, usually an older woman, who accompanies and supervises a young unmarried woman or a group of young people.
Sniffed: Inhaled audibly through the nose, often to smell something or to express disapproval or disdain.
Cranks of a can opener: the mechanical turning motion or handle used to operate the can opener and cut the lid off a can.
Trailing: Following behind someone or something; hanging down loosely or extending along the ground.
Rim: The outer edge of something circular or roughly circular.
Mortified: Extremely embarrassed or ashamed.
Widow: A woman whose husband has died and who has not remarried.
Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a viral infection.
Tram: (Primarily British English) A public transportation vehicle that runs on rails along streets, typically powered by electricity supplied through overhead wires.
Vigorous: Strong, healthy, and full of energy.
Imperious: Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering.
chaste: without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained.
knuckles: a part of a finger at a joint where the bone is near the surface, especially where the finger joins the hand.
Salutation: A greeting, especially a formal one used in a letter or speech (e.g., “Dear Sir or Madam,” “Hello”).
Vermilion: A brilliant red pigment originally made from powdered cinnabar (mercury sulfide). A symbol of being married in Hindu culture.
Conjure up: To bring to mind; recall or evoke. It can also mean to create or bring into existence as if by magic.
Stroller: A small carriage with wheels in which a baby or young child is pushed around. (Sometimes also called a pushchair or buggy).
Leapt up: Rose quickly and suddenly from a lying or sitting position, typically with a jump. It implies a quick, energetic movement.
Seized: Took hold of suddenly and forcibly. It suggests a firm and often forceful grasp.
retreated: move back or withdraw.
Modesty: The quality of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one’s abilities or achievements. It can also refer to propriety in dress, speech, or behavior.
Stacked with: Filled with a large quantity of something, often arranged in layers or piles. It implies an abundance or a dense arrangement.
Peeling the skin off: To remove the outer layer of something, especially fruit, vegetables, or a person’s skin. It suggests a process of stripping away the surface.
fragrance: a pleasant, sweet smell.
Reluctantly: unwilling and hesitant; disinclined.
cardigan: a knitted jumper fastening down the front.
knitting: a method for production of textile, fabrics by interlacing yarn loops with loops of the same or other yarns.
Coiled: arranged in a series of circles, one above or inside the other
Flattering side part: a way of dividing the hair on one side of the head that is specifically chosen to enhance a person’s facial features and overall appearance.
balmy: mild and gentle weather.
fence: a barrier, railing, or other upright structure, typically of wood or wire, enclosing an area of ground to prevent or control access or escape.
boarder: a person who receives regular meals when staying somewhere, in return for payment or services.
sedately: In a calm, quiet, or composed manner; serenely. It often implies a sense of dignity and a lack of hurry.
Decipher: To succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something obscure).
Scrutinising: Examining or inspecting closely and critically.
Placid: Calm and peaceful, with little movement or disturbance.
Disdain: The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one’s consideration or respect; contempt.
Obscured: Kept from being seen or noticed; hidden.
Instamatic camera: A type of inexpensive, easy-to-use camera introduced by Kodak in the 1960s, known for its drop-in film cartridge.
Obituary: A notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief account of the person’s life.
Interlude: An intervening period; a pause or break.
Stricken: Seriously affected by an unpleasant feeling or condition.
Mourned: Felt or showed deep sorrow or regret for (someone’s death or loss).
strayed: move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place.
drapes: arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely or casually on or round something.
weeps: shed tears.
Astonishment: surprised
Inconceivable: Impossible to imagine or believe.
Hurled: Threw something with great force.
Pave his way: To make it easier for him to achieve something.
Obstacle: Something that blocks one’s way or prevents progress.
Bewildered: Confused and perplexed.

Related:

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book – Poetry

Poem 1 – The Peacock

Sharp: Clear and distinct, often loud or piercing.
Flash: A sudden brief burst of light or color, or a quick, sudden appearance.
Turquoise: A greenish-blue color, typical of a peacock’s feathers.
Pipal tree: A type of large, sacred fig tree found in India.
Slender: Thin and graceful.
Arched: Curved in the shape of an arch.
Descends: Moves or goes downwards.
Darts away: Moves suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, usually away from something.
Glimpse: A very brief, quick, or incomplete view.
Veranda: An open, roofed platform or gallery attached to the outside of a house. (Similar to a porch or balcony).
Preferably: More desirable or suitable; ideally.
Concentration: The ability to focus all one’s attention on something.
Immersed / To live inside the book: To become completely absorbed or deeply involved in the book’s content, feeling as though one is part of its world.
Hum: A low, steady, continuous buzzing sound, like that made by an insect (e.g., bees).
Awaken: To wake up from sleep.
Stretch: To extend one’s limbs or body to full length, often after waking up or to relax.
Broken your attention: Interrupted or disturbed your concentration.
In time: At the correct moment; not too late.
Gathers his tail: Brings his long, elaborate tail feathers together, often folding them up.
Glowing: Shining with a steady, soft light.
Fringed: Having an edge or border, often with decorative threads or projections.
Violet: A color in the spectrum between blue and purple.
Amber: A hard, translucent, yellowish-brown resin, often used as a color description for a warm, golden-yellow hue.
Blink: To close and open the eyes quickly. Here, it refers to the closing movement of the eye-like patterns on the tail.

Related:

Poem 2- Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds

Admit: To allow, to permit.
Impediments: Obstacles, hindrances, things that get in the way.
Alters: Changes.
Alteration: A change or modification.
Bends: Changes direction, gives way, yields.
Remover: Someone or something that tries to take love away or end it.
Remove: To take away or get rid of.
Ever-fixed mark: Something that is permanently in place and cannot be moved or changed; often refers to a landmark or a navigational beacon like a lighthouse.
Tempests: Violent storms or tumultuous periods. In this context, it refers metaphorically to life’s challenges, difficulties, or crises.
Shaken: Moved strongly, disturbed, or made to waver.
Wandering bark: A ship that is lost or sailing without clear direction. “Bark” is an archaic word for a small ship or boat.
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken: This means that the true value or significance of something cannot be fully measured, even though its physical position or quantifiable aspects can be determined.
Time’s fool: something that is mocked, played with, or easily defeated by Time. The poet is saying love is not like that.
Rosy lips and cheeks: the fresh, healthy, and vibrant appearance of youth and beauty.
Bending sickle’s compass: A “sickle” is a curved blade used for cutting crops, often associated with the Grim Reaper, a symbol of death, whereas “His” refers to Time, personified as a harvester. So, “within his bending sickle’s compass come” means that physical beauty eventually falls within the reach or power of Time’s destructive force, leading to aging and decay.
Alters: change
Brief hours and weeks: Short periods of time; emphasizes that love isn’t affected by quick changes.
Bears it out: Endures it
Edge of doom: the end of time, the Last Judgment, or even beyond death. It signifies eternity or the absolute end of all things.
If this be error, and upon me proved: If this statement (his definition of love) is wrong, and someone can show him that it is.
I never writ: I never wrote anything (referring to his poetry).
Nor no man ever loved: And no human being has ever truly experienced love.

Related:

Poem 3 – Coming

Bathes (v): to cover something in a way that causes a pleasant feeling or appearance
Serene (adj.): peaceful and calm
Foreheads (n): the part of the face above the eyebrows, here, the top of the houses
Thrush (n): a brown bird with a pale breast with spots on it that is known for its singing
Laurel (n): a small tree, that never loses its leaves and has shiny leaves and small, black fruit
Bare (v): the least possible, nothing or empty
Astonishing (adj.): very surprising
Brickwork (n): the bricks in a wall or building
Spring (n): the season of the year between winter and summer
Boredom (n): the state of being bored
Reconciling (v): to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are opposed to each other can agree and exist together
Unusual (adj.): different from others of the same type in a way that is surprising, interesting, or attractive

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Poem 4 – Telephone Conversation

Indifferent: an average, not good, not bad; neutral. The location wasn’t particularly appealing or unappealing.
Off premises: not living in the same building as the property being rented. The landlady lived somewhere else.
Self-confession: the act of revealing something personal or significant about oneself, which in this case, was the narrator’s race.
Wasted journey: A trip or effort that turns out to be pointless or useless because of some unforeseen problem.
Silenced transmission: The sudden cutting off of the sound or flow of the conversation, implying the landlady’s immediate, unspoken reaction.
Pressurised good-breeding: It refers to the landlady’s polite, well-mannered, and refined behavior that was usually well-controlled and evident. “Pressurised” suggests it was being held in check due to the unexpected revelation.
Lipstick coated: her voice sounded as if it came from someone wearing lipstick, implying a refined or artificial tone, rather than a natural one.
Gold-rolled Cigarette-holder pipped: a fancy, elegant cigarette holder, usually used by sophisticated people. “Pipped” suggests it was held tightly or emphasized the sound. It highlights the landlady’s outwardly refined appearance, which contrasts sharply with her prejudiced question.
Caught I was, foully: the speaker felt trapped or unfairly cornered. “Foully” emphasizes the unjust and unpleasant nature of the situation.
Button B. Button A.: the buttons on old public telephones for making calls or getting money back. They represent the speaker’s internal confusion and feeling stuck, unable to simply hang up.
Stench: A very bad smell.
Rancid breath: The smell of something that has gone bad or rotten, like old fat or butter. Here, it’s a metaphor for the offensive and morally decayed nature of the hidden racism.
Public hide-and-speak: This refers to the public phone booth where people could speak anonymously, potentially hiding their true, prejudiced selves. It suggests a place where ugly truths are revealed.
Pillar-box: A public mailbox
Double-tiered Omnibus: A double-decker bus
Squelching tar: The sound of the bus tires making a wet, sticky sound as they move over warm tar on the road.
Ill-mannered silence: The landlady’s prolonged and judgmental silence, which the speaker finds rude and shameful, though the shame is directed at her behavior, not his own.
Surrender / Pushed dumbfounded: The speaker felt forced to give in because he was so utterly confused and shocked (“dumbfounded”) by her question.
Beg simplification: To desperately ask for a clearer, simpler explanation of her question.
Considerate: Showing careful thought for the rights and feelings of others; thoughtful. Here, it’s used ironically, as her “consideration” is actually a thinly veiled attempt to get a specific racist answer.
Varying the emphasis: Changing where the stress or importance is placed in a sentence or question. In this context, she’s trying different ways of asking the same offensive question about skin color.
Revelation: The act of revealing or disclosing something, often surprising or enlightening. Here, it refers to the speaker’s sudden, ironic realization of how to communicate his skin tone to her.
Assent: The expression of approval or agreement. She’s agreeing to his “chocolate” analogy.
Clinical: meaning it lacks warmth, empathy, or personal connection.
Crushing: Overwhelming or devastating. Here, it implies the emotional impact of her cold, impersonal agreement on the speaker.
Impersonality: The quality of not being personal; lacking human feeling or warmth. Her impersonal manner makes the speaker feel like an object being categorized, not a human being.
Rapidly: at a fast pace.
Wave-length adjusted: This is a metaphorical phrase, borrowing from radio or communication technology. It means the speaker quickly adapted his communication style or “tuned in” to her prejudiced way of thinking to respond effectively.
Sepia: A reddish-brown color, often used in old photographs. The speaker uses “West African sepia” as a more refined, precise, and culturally specific way to describe his skin tone, contrasting with her crude “dark/light.”
Spectroscopic: Relating to a spectroscope, an instrument used to analyze light by separating it into a spectrum of colors. Here, it’s used metaphorically to suggest a detailed or scientific analysis of the word “sepia,” implying the landlady is trying to mentally process or categorize this new term.
Flight of fancy: An imaginative but unrealistic idea or notion; a whimsical thought. The speaker ironically calls his sophisticated description a “flight of fancy” because it’s clearly beyond the landlady’s comprehension or interest.
Truthfulness changed her accent: This is a metaphorical way of saying that her true, prejudiced nature or lack of sophistication came through, causing her polite accent to disappear and be replaced by a harsher, blunter tone.
Conceding: Admitting that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it. Here, she’s admitting her ignorance.
Brunette: A person, especially a woman, with dark hair, and often, by extension, a darker complexion. The speaker uses this common term as a last resort to make his skin tone understandable to her.
Facially: Referring to his face
Brunette: A person with dark brown hair, often also implying a dark complexion (though the speaker plays with this meaning).
Peroxide blonde: A very light, almost bleached-looking blonde color, suggesting extreme fairness. Here, it refers to the very light color of his palms and soles.
Friction: The rubbing of one surface against another. Here, used comically to explain a change in skin color.
Raven black: A very deep, shiny black color, like the feathers of a raven. Used here for extreme darkness.
Receiver rearing on the thunderclap about my ears: This is a vivid image. “Receiver” refers to the phone handset. “Rearing” suggests it’s about to fly off or be hung up violently.
Plead: To make an earnest or emotional appeal.

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Poem 5 – The World Is Too Much with Us

Too much with us: the worldly concerns, specifically materialism and consumerism, overly dominate or occupy people’s lives and thoughts.
Late and soon: constantly, all the time, or from an early age until late in life. It emphasizes the continuous nature of this worldly preoccupation.
Getting and spending: the acts of earning money and then buying things; essentially, it signifies materialism and consumerism.
Lay waste our powers: to squander, deplete, or destroy our natural abilities, spiritual energy, or potential for deeper connection and appreciation.
Nature that is ours: a spiritual or intrinsic connection to nature that humans have lost, rather than a literal ownership of land.
sordid: dirty, ignoble, shameful, or morally degrading
Boon: a helpful or beneficial thing; a blessing or an advantage. The poet uses it ironically here, calling the “giving away of hearts” a “boon” but immediately qualifying it as “sordid,” indicating it’s a false or harmful benefit.
Bares her bosom: “bosom” is used to personify the sea, giving it a feminine quality, and it suggests the sea openly and intimately displays itself to the moon, reflecting its light.
Howling: making a long, mournful cry, like a wolf or a strong wind. It suggests a powerful, loud, and active presence.
Up-gathered: Collected, pulled together, or gathered up. In the poem, it describes the winds settling down and becoming still.
Like sleeping flowers: A simile comparing the quiet, still winds to flowers that are at rest. It suggests a gentle, passive state.
Out of tune: Not in harmony; not in agreement or synchronization. Like a musical instrument that is not properly adjusted and therefore sounds discordant. In the poem, it means humanity is not in sync with the natural world.
Moves us not: Does not affect us emotionally.
Great God!: An exclamation expressing strong emotion, like frustration, despair, or a plea.
Pagan: a person whose religious beliefs do not belong to any of the main religions of the world.
Suckled: educated or raised within a particular belief system.
Creed outworn: An old, outdated, or no longer widely accepted system of religious belief or principles. “Outworn” means worn out, obsolete.
Pleasant lea: A nice or enjoyable meadow; an open, grassy field. “Lea” specifically means a piece of grassland or a meadow.
Glimpses: Brief, quick views or sudden, brief experiences.
Forlorn: Feeling lonely and miserable; sad and abandoned.
Proteus: a character in Greek mythology who had the gift of prophecy but who, when questioned, would assume different shapes to elude their grasp.
Triton: a sea-deity in Greek mythology, who is generally represented as blowing a shell, his body above the waist being that of a man, below it of a dolphin.
Wreathèd horn: A horn (in this case, a conch shell) that is twisted or coiled, like a wreath. It refers to Triton’s characteristic shell horn.

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Poem 6 – Mother Tongue

Stem (n): the stick-like part of a plant that grows above the ground and from which leaves and flowers grow
Reed (n): (the hollow stem of any of various types of tall, stiff plants like grasses growing together in groups near water
Quill (n): a pen usually made from a bird’s feather or stems, used in the past
Irritated (adj.): showing or feeling slight anger
Accountant (n): someone who keeps or examines the records of money received, paid, and owed by a company or person
Shah (n): the title of a ruler of Iran in the past or, a king
Account books (n): the records of money that a business or organization has spent and received
Shahni (n): a queen
Well off (adj.): rich
Servants (n): a person who is employed in another person’s house, doing jobs such as cooking and cleaning, especially in the past
Bidding (n): a request or an order
Mother tongue (n): the first language that you learn when you are a baby, rather than a language learned at school or as an adult
Dogri (n): a language spoken by some people in India, centred on Jammu.
Cut off (v): to remove something

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Poem 7 – Hawk Roosting

Inaction (n): lack of action or activity
Falsifying (v): to change something in order to deceive people
Hooked (adj.): A hooked nose is large and curved
Rehearse (v): to practice something
Convenience (n): the fact that something is suitable for your purposes and causes
Buoyancy (n): the ability to float
Inspection (n): the act of looking at something carefully
Bark (n): the hard outer covering of a tree
Feather (n): one of the many soft, light things that cover a bird’s body, consisting of a long, thin, central part with material like hairs along each side
Revolve (v): to move in a circle
Sophistry (n): the clever use of arguments that seem true but are really false, in order to deceive people
Allotment (v): to give something, especially a share of something available, for a particular purpose
Assert (v): to say that something is certainly true
Permitted (v): to allow something

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Poem 8 – Ode to a Nightingale

Drowsy: feeling sleepy
Numbness: a lack of sensation
Hemlock: A highly poisonous plant, historically used to execute people.
Opiate: A drug (like opium) that causes sleep or dulls the senses and reduces pain.
Drains: throwing something away completely, emptying it.
Lethe: in ancient Greek mythology, an imaginary river whose water, when drunk, was thought to make the dead forget their life on Earth.
Thy: An old form of “your.”
Thine: An old form of “your” or “yours”
Thou: An old form of “you.”
Light-winged: Having light or delicate wings.
Dryad: in stories, a female spirit that lives in a tree.
melodious: a pleasant musical sound.
beechen: Made of wood from a beech tree, or referring to a place with beech trees.
singest: An old form of “sings.”
full-throated ease: singing strongly, clearly, and effortlessly, with no strain.
Draught: a drink
Vintage: wine of high quality from a particular year.
Hath been: Has been
Deep-delved earth: Earth that has been dug deep down.
Tasting of Flora: the taste or essence of flowers.
Provencal: (pronounced Provensaal) of the district of Provence in France, known for its bards and its grapevines.
Sunburnt mirth: Joy or merriment associated with being out in the sun
Beaker: A large cup or goblet, often used for drinking.
Warm South: Refers to the sunny, vibrant regions of southern Europe (like Provence), Hippocrene: a fountain in Mount Helicon associated with poetry; in the poem it refers to the wine that inspires poetic ability.
Beaded bubbles winking at the brim: Tiny, sparkling bubbles that appear and disappear quickly at the very edge of the glass, like winking eyes.
Purple-stained mouth: A mouth colored purple from drinking red wine.
Forest dim: A forest that is dark and shadowy.
fade far away: to gradually disappear into the distance
What thou among the leaves hast never known: What the nightingale, living among the leaves, have never experienced or understood.
Weariness: fatigue
Fever: a state of restless excitement, agitation, or a restless illness, not necessarily a high body temperature.
Fret: To be constantly worried or anxious; to feel agitated.
Groan: To make a deep, mournful sound, usually expressing pain or despair.
Palsy: A medical condition that causes shaking or uncontrolled trembling, often associated with old age.
Spectre-thin: Extremely thin, like a ghost or skeleton.
Leaden-eyed despairs: Feelings of hopelessness that make one’s eyes look heavy, dull, and lifeless (as if made of lead).
Pine at them: To suffer emotional or physical decline because of longing or grief; here, to yearn for beauty but be unable to keep it.
Beyond tomorrow: lasting beyond a very short period of time; implying fleetingness.
Immortal Bird: the nightingale’s song and its species, not an individual bird’s literal immortality.
Hungry generations: New generations coming after, eager to replace the old ones.
Tread thee down: To crush you or suppress you
Passing night: The current night that is going by.
Ancient days: A very long time ago, in the past.
Emperor: A ruler of an empire, a very powerful person.
Clown: A common, ordinary person; someone of low social status
Self-same song: The exact same song.
Ruth: a woman in the Bible who left her own people to live with her mother-in-law, Naomi. After the death of her husband, marries Boaz and is the ancestor of King David.
Amid the alien corn: In the middle of unfamiliar fields of grain
Oft-times hath: Often has (archaic).
Magic casements: Magical windows, especially those that open outwards.
Faery lands forlorn: Distant, deserted, or lonely mythical lands of fairies.
Forlorn: Feeling sad and lonely, abandoned, or deserted.
Toll me back: To call or draw him back, like a bell ringing to signal a return.
Sole self: His single, lonely self
Adieu: Goodbye
Fancy: Imagination personified as a female entity.
Fam’d to do: Famous or well-known for doing something.
Deceiving elf: An elf that tricks or misleads; refers to imagination’s ability to create illusions.
Plaintive: Sounding sad and mournful.
Anthem: A song, usually a hymn or a song of praise. Here, it refers to the nightingale’s characteristic song.
Still stream: A quiet, slow-moving stream.
’Tis: It is (an old contraction of “it is”).
Valley-glades: Open, grassy clearings within valleys.
Vision: Something seen in a dream or trance; a supernatural sight.
Waking dream: A dream experienced while one is awake; a vivid daydream.
Fled is that music: That music has gone away or disappeared.

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CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book – Essays

Chapter 1- My Watch

Losing or gaining: slow or fast
Infallible: always correct or accurate
Constitution: The way something is put together or structured; its fundamental makeup.
Anatomy: The structure of something, especially its internal parts, like the machinery of a watch.
Imperishable: lasting forever
Run down: to cause or allow (an engine, battery, etc) to lose power gradually and cease to function
Grieved: Felt very sad or distressed
Recognised messenger: Something that is widely known to bring news or signs.
Forerunner of calamity: A sign or warning that a great misfortune is about to happen.
By and by: after a short period of time
Commanded my bodings and superstitions to depart: Told his feelings of foreboding (a sense of future bad events) and irrational beliefs to leave his mind.
Chief jeweller’s: the most important jeweler’s shop in town.
Head of the establishment: the person in charge of the shop; the owner or manager.
Proceeded to set it: started to adjust the time on it.
Regulator wants pushing up: The part of the watch that controls its speed needs to be adjusted to make it go faster.
Human cabbage: A disrespectful term used by the narrator to describe the jeweler, suggesting he is dull-witted or unresponsive.
Anguish: Severe mental suffering.
Implored him: Begged him strongly and emotionally.
Began to gain: Started to go too fast (showing a later time than it should).
Sickened to a raging fever: Became very faulty or out of control, like someone extremely ill with a high fever.
Pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade: Refers to the watch ticking extremely fast, beyond normal limits, even in cooler conditions (in the shade implies a baseline, not direct heat).
Left all the timepieces of the town far in the rear: Was much, much faster than all other clocks and watches in the town.
Fraction over thirteen days ahead of the almanac: was more than thirteen days ahead of the correct date on the calendar.
Bills payable: Money that needs to be paid.
Ruinous way: In a very damaging or destructive manner.
Abide it: tolerate
Regulated: Adjusted to make it keep accurate time.
Vicious happiness: A mean or cruel kind of joy, suggesting delight in someone else’s misfortune or a chance to mess with something.
Pried the watch open: Forced the watch casing open carefully.
Dice-box: A small container for throwing dice; here, it’s used humorously to describe a magnifying glass that a watchmaker might use, perhaps shaped like one or held like one.
Peered into its machinery: Looked very closely and carefully into its inner parts.
Ticked all appointments I go to: The watch ticked so slowly that it showed the wrong time, making the narrator miss his appointments.
Gradually drifted back: Slowly moved backward in time.
Comprehension: understanding
World was out of sight: The rest of the world was living in a different time, far ahead.
Sneaking fellow-feeling: A secret or quiet sense of shared understanding or sympathy.
Mummy in the museum: A preserved dead body, usually from ancient Egypt, implying something very old and out of touch with the present.
Swap news: Exchange information or stories.
Took the watch all to pieces: Disassembled the entire watch.
Barrel: A cylindrical part in a watch movement, usually containing the mainspring.
‘Swelled’: Here, it means expanded, warped, or out of shape, causing a problem in the watch’s mechanism.
Barking and wheezing and whooping and sneezing and snorting: Exaggerated, loud, and irregular sounds made by the malfunctioning watch.
Stood any chance against it: Had any hope of competing with its speed.
Fooling along: Moving slowly and inefficiently, not keeping proper time.
Caught up again: Reached the same time as the problematic watch.
Fair and square average: A true and accurate average.
Done more or less than its duty: Performed better or worse than it was supposed to.
Mild virtue: A small or gentle good quality.
Instrument: A tool or device; here, referring to the watch.
King-bolt: A specific, likely made-up, part of a watch’s mechanism; the narrator pretends to know what it is.
Gained in one way it lost in another: Improved in one aspect but worsened in another.
Discretion: The freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation; here, the watch made its own choices.
Intervals: The spaces of time between events.
Went off: Started to run
Kicked back like a musket: Jerked backward violently, like a gun when it fires.
Padded my breast: Put padding or protection on his chest (due to the watch’s kicking).
Picked it all to pieces: Took it apart completely.
Turned the ruin over and over: Examined the broken watch from all angles.
Appeared to be fresh start: It seemed like a new problem had begun.
Make head or tail of: To understand something at all.
Crystal: The clear cover over the face of a watch.
Mainspring: The coiled spring that provides power to a watch.
Performed unexceptionably: Worked perfectly,
Let go all of a sudden: Everything inside would suddenly release or stop working properly.
Individuality was lost completely: The hands moved so fast that they couldn’t be seen as separate.
Delicate spider’s web: A very fine and fragile web made by a spider.
Reel off: To quickly complete or produce something.
Heavy heart: Feeling very sad or troubled.
Cross-question him rigidly: To question him very strictly and in detail, like a lawyer.
Presently recognised: Soon realized
Acquaintance: Someone known casually.
Steam-boat engineer of other days: Someone who used to operate engines on steam boats in the past.
Delivered his verdict: Gave his judgment or opinion.
Confidence of manner: A confident way of speaking and acting.
She makes too much steam— you want to hang the monkey-wrench on the safety-valve!: a funny, non-sensical suggestion from the watchmaker, using terms from steam engines (which make “steam” and have “safety-valves”). He’s pretending the watch is like a steamboat engine that needs pressure released, even though it’s a watch.
Brained him on the spot: This is an exaggerated, humorous way of saying the narrator hit him on the head and killed him immediately. It’s not meant to be taken literally.
Deceased: Dead.
Alas!: An old-fashioned word used to show sadness or regret.
Tinkers: People who do small repairs, especially on metal items, often not very skillfully.
Gunsmiths: People who make or fix guns.
Blacksmiths: People who work with iron, usually by heating and shaping it with a hammer.

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Chapter 2 – My Three Passions

Overwhelmingly strong: Extremely powerful
Unbearable pity: A feeling of deep sadness and sympathy for someone else’s suffering that is so strong it’s hard to stand.
Hither and thither: here and there.
Wayward course: A path or direction that is not straight, planned, or steady
Anguish: Severe mental or physical suffering
Verge of despair: The very edge or point of being completely without hope.
Ecstasy: An overwhelming feeling of great happiness.
Shivering consciousness: A trembling or fragile sense of self; a mind that feels vulnerable.
Rim of the world: The edge of what one knows or experiences; a boundary.
Unfathomable: Impossible to understand completely; too deep to measure.
Abyss: A deep, bottomless hole or vast empty space.
Mystic miniature: A small, mysterious, or symbolic representation.
Prefiguring vision: An early sign or indication of something that will happen or be seen later; a foreshadowing.
Apprehend: To understand or grasp something, especially an idea or concept.
Pythagorean power by which number holds sway over the flux: This refers to the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras’s belief that numbers and mathematics are the fundamental principles that govern the changing and flowing (flux) nature of the universe.
Flux: Continuous change; flow.
Reverberate: To echo or re-echo, like a sound bouncing back repeatedly.
Famine: Extreme scarcity of food, leading to widespread starvation.
Oppressors: People or groups who rule others in a harsh and cruel way, keeping them down.
Hated burden: Something that is disliked and felt to be a heavy responsibility or difficulty.
Mockery: An action or statement that makes something seem ridiculous or pointless; a poor imitation.
Alleviate: To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.

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Chapter 3 – Patterns of Creativity

Practitioners: People who regularly do a particular job or activity, especially one that requires skill or training (here, referring to artists and scientists).
Assortment: A collection or mixture of various kinds of things.
Remarks: Comments or statements.
Bear on: To be relevant to something.
View one another: How they see or perceive each other.
Off-quoted lines: Lines from their writings that are frequently mentioned or referred to.
Fingering slave: someone who is overly focused on small, minute details, almost enslaved by the need to meticulously touch and examine everything.
Peep: To look quickly and secretly, often at something small or hidden.
Botanises: To study plants, especially in a scientific way by collecting, identifying, and classifying them. Here, it implies a cold, analytical approach to something that should be felt or appreciated emotionally.
Reasoning self-suffering thing: Someone who relies purely on logic and analysis, which paradoxically leads to their own emotional or spiritual distress because they miss the broader beauty or meaning.
Intellectual All-in-All: Someone who believes they are entirely knowledgeable and supreme in their intellect, knowing everything there is to know.
Lore: A body of traditions and knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth; here, wisdom or knowledge.
Meddling intellect: The human mind that interferes or intrudes in a way that is unwelcome or harmful, especially by over-analyzing.
Misshapes: Distorts or spoils the shape
Murder to dissect: A very strong metaphor meaning that by breaking things down to analyze them scientifically, we destroy their living essence, beauty, or wonder. The act of “dissecting” (cutting apart for study) is equated with “murdering” (destroying life).
Charms: qualities that delight or attract; magic or fascination.
Cold philosophy: scientific or purely rational, analytical thought that lacks emotion or appreciation for beauty. “Philosophy” here stands for scientific inquiry and explanation.
Awful: deeply impressive and wondrous.
Woof: The threads woven crosswise in a fabric. Here, it refers to the basic structure or composition of the rainbow, its physical make-up.
Texture: The feel or appearance of a surface; here, also referring to the physical composition and arrangement.
Dull catalogue of common things: A boring list of ordinary, unexciting items.
Clip an Angel’s wings: An idiom meaning to restrict, limit, or take away the power, beauty, or ability to soar (spiritually or imaginatively). It suggests that scientific explanation removes the magic or divine aspect of something.
Echo: A similarity or parallel; something that reminds one of something else.
Expels: drives away or pushes out.
Countering: Arguing against; opposing.
Complementary: Combining in such a way as to enhance or improve each other
Mutually sustaining: Supporting each other.
Pointing accusing fingers: Blaming someone.
Typical: Showing the usual characteristics of a particular type of person or thing.
Discriminating literary criticism: Very perceptive and insightful judgment or analysis of literature.
Distinguished: respected and successful.
Emphasises: Gives special importance or attention to something.
Surprising modern climate of thoughts: Ideas that were ahead of their time or unusually progressive.
Mechanisms of nature: The ways in which natural things and processes work.
Precision: The quality of being exact and accurate.
Wealth of detail: A large amount of specific information.
Unparalleled: Having no equal or match; exceptional.
Testimony: A formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in court; evidence or proof.
Opposite pole: Completely opposite.
Symbolises: Represents or stands for something else.
Illumination: Enlightenment; a greater understanding of something.
Fuses together: Combines or blends together.
Creative myth: A story that explains something in a imaginative way.
Scientific monograph: A detailed and scholarly written study on a single, specialized subject in science.
Gay picaresque tale: A cheerful and adventurous story, often about a wandering hero who gets into various situations.
Pores: Tiny holes or openings.
Nursling: Someone or something that is nursed or cared for.
Pavilion of Heaven: A poetic way of referring to the dome or expanse of the sky.
Convex gleams: Curved, outward-bulging reflections or beams of light.
Cenotaph: A monument built to honor a dead person whose body is buried elsewhere, or whose body is lost. Here, it’s used poetically by the cloud for itself when it disappears before reforming.
Unbuild it again: To take apart or dissolve something that was previously built or formed. In the context of the cloud, it means to reform itself after dissipating.
Prometheus Unbound: The title of Shelley’s famous play. Prometheus is a figure in Greek mythology known for bringing fire (knowledge/enlightenment) to humanity and being punished for it. “Unbound” means set free.
Intellectual light: knowledge or enlightenment.
Spiritual liberty: Freedom of spirit or soul; inner freedom.
Utmost deep: The deepest or furthest extent of something, here referring to heaven’s depths.
Flock of sheep: A group of sheep. Used here as a comparison for how stars move past Prometheus.
Tempest: A violent windy storm.
Steed: A horse, especially a warhorse or a horse for riding.
Strides the air: Walks or moves with long steps through the air.
Abyss shouts from her depth laid bare: The deep, seemingly bottomless space (like the universe) revealing its secrets, as if speaking from its exposed inner parts.
Aspect: A particular part or feature of something.
Confession: A formal statement admitting something, often something difficult or regrettable.
Nauseated: Made to feel sick to the stomach
Atrophy: The wasting away or decline of a part of the brain or the loss of a skill or function, due to lack of use or disuse.
Higher tastes: Refers to appreciation for things like art, music, and poetry, which are often considered more intellectual or refined pleasures.
Conceive: To form a plan or idea in the mind; to imagine or understand
Electromagnetic induction: The process by which a changing magnetic field produces an electric current.
Formulate concepts: To create or develop new ideas or principles.
Foreign to the then prevailing modes of thought: Very different from the common or accepted ways of thinking at that time.
Looked askance by many of his contemporaries: Many people living at the same time as him viewed his ideas with suspicion, disapproval, or distrust.
Prophetic discernment: The ability to understand or judge something with great insight into the future; having a wise and clear foresight.
Coordinating the phenomenon: To organize or bring together different events or observations in a logical way.
Mathematician of a very high order: A mathematician of exceptional skill and ability.
Derive valuable and fertile methods: To get or obtain useful and productive ways of doing things.
Materials we are now collecting: The scientific information and observations being gathered at that time.
Chancellor of the Exchequer: The finance minister in the British government.
Impatient inquiry: A question asked without waiting calmly, showing eagerness for an answer.
Apposite: Very appropriate or suitable to the situation.
Cultivation: The development or improvement of something.
Enlarged the limits of the empire of man over the external world: Increased humanity’s control and understanding of the outside physical world (nature, environment).
Poetical faculty: The ability to create poetry or to think in a creative, imaginative, and intuitive way; the power of imagination and aesthetic understanding.
Proportionally: In a corresponding way; in relation to how much something else has changed.
Circumscribed: Restricted or limited.
Internal world: A person’s thoughts, feelings, imagination, and spiritual life.
Enslaved the elements: Gained control over natural forces (like electricity, gravity, etc.).
Lest: For fear of that; to avoid the risk of.
Sensitive to: Aware of and understanding of something.
Promoters of utility: People who advocate for or develop things that are practical and useful (often referring to engineers, inventors, technologists).
Moving documents: Writings that stir strong emotions or feelings.
Profoundest: The deepest or most insightful.
Foundation: The underlying basis or principle.
Apparitions: Ghostly figures or sudden, unusual appearances.
Interlunations: The periods of darkness or gaps between phases of life, like the new moon.
Divine: Relating to a god; sacred or heavenly.
Hierophants: Priests in ancient Greece who interpreted sacred mysteries and revealed divine things. Someone who reveals or interprets a hidden or sacred knowledge.
Unapprehended: Not yet understood, grasped, or perceived.
Futurity: The future time or state.
Trumpets which sing to battle: A poetic image for something that inspires action or courage, like a trumpet call before a battle.
Unacknowledged: Not recognized or formally admitted.
Legislators: Lawmakers; people who make laws.
Insistently occurs: Keeps coming to mind strongly.
Endowment: A natural ability, talent, or quality given to someone. A scientist having a similar level of intellectual and expressive talent as Shelley.

Related:

Chapter 4 – Tribal Verse

Roots: The origins or beginnings.
Traced: Followed back to its source or origin.
Oral literatures: Stories, poems, or songs that are passed down by speaking, rather than writing.
Adivasis: Indigenous tribal communities of India.
Chanting: Repeating words or sounds in a rhythmic, often melodic, way.
Verses: Lines of poetry or parts of a song.
Orally transmitted: Passed down by word of mouth; spoken from one person to another.
Orality: The characteristic of being spoken rather than written.
Urbanisation: The process by which cities grow and more people live in urban areas.
Print culture: The widespread use and influence of printed materials (like books, newspapers).
Commerce: Business activity; trade.
Marginalisation: The process of pushing a group or community to the edges of society, making them less important or powerful.
Literary cultures: The ways of creating, sharing, and appreciating stories, poems, and other forms of literature.
Concerted efforts: Efforts that are planned and carried out together by many people.
Accelerated pace: A faster rate or speed.
Literary heritage: The tradition of stories, poems, and other written or spoken works passed down from previous generations.
Occasion: A particular time or event when something happens.
Chanting: Saying or singing words in a repetitive, rhythmic way, often for a ritual or prayer.
Ritualistic: Relating to or done as part of a ritual (a fixed series of actions performed in a ceremony, especially a religious one).
Religious: Connected to religion or belief in a god or gods.
Representation: A display or example of something.
Immense: Extremely large or great.
Diversity: The quality or state of being different or varied.
Inevitably: As is certain to happen; unavoidably.
Historical: Relating to history or past events.
Cultural: Relating to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
Geographical: Relating to the physical features of the Earth or an area.
Reproduce: To produce again; to make a copy or something similar.
Distinctive: Clearly different from others of the same kind.
Traditions: Customs or beliefs passed down from generation to generation.
Possessing: Having or owning something.
Bilingual: Able to speak two languages fluently.
Literary streams: Major movements or categories within literature.
Sociopolitical: Relating to both social and political factors.
Movements: Groups of people working together to advance shared political, social, or artistic ideas.
Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Exploitation: The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.
Emergence: The process of coming into being, or of becoming known.
Jharkhand Movement: A political movement for the creation of a separate state of Jharkhand for tribal people in India.
Glimpse: A quick, brief look.
Repository: A place where a large amount of something is stored; a collection.
Expression: A way of showing or communicating something.
Tribal vision of life: The unique way a tribal community understands and sees the world, their beliefs and values.
Interdependence: The state of depending on each other; mutual reliance.
Coexistence: The state of living or existing together at the same time or in the same place.
Native languages: The original or indigenous languages of a particular place or group of people.
Spirit: the essential character/mood of something.
Conscious effort: Deliberate and intentional work or attempt.
Preserve: To keep something in its original state or in good condition; to prevent it from decaying or being lost.
Limitedly: In a restricted or small way; to a small extent.
Access: The ability, right, or opportunity to approach or use something.
Culturally similar: Having similar ways of life, customs, beliefs, and traditions.
Cohesive: Sticking together; forming a united and close group.
Organically unified: Naturally growing together to form a single, complete, and harmonious whole, like parts of a living body.
Accumulating wealth: Gathering or collecting a lot of money, possessions, or riches.
Labour as a device to gather interest and capital: Using work not just for immediate needs, but to earn more money from money (interest) or to build up large sums of money for investment (capital).
World-view: A particular philosophy of life or conception of the world; how someone sees and understands the world.
Intimately linked: Very closely connected or related.
Spell and interpret truth: To understand, explain, and make sense of truth.
Intuition: The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. It’s a gut feeling or instinct.
Secular: Not connected with religious or spiritual matters; worldly rather than spiritual.
Personal (sense of time): Time experienced and felt individually, often based on natural rhythms or events, rather than measured by clocks or calendars.
Objective (sense of time): Time measured independently of individual feelings or perceptions, like clock time (e.g., minutes, hours, years).
Radically different: Completely or fundamentally different.
Secular: Not religious; not connected with spiritual or religious matters.
Mode: A way or manner in which something is done or experienced.
Creativity: The ability to make new things or think of new ideas.
Creator: A person who makes or invents something.
Imaginative transactions: The exchange or expression of ideas that come from imagination.
Self-conscious: Aware of oneself as an individual or of one’s own actions, thoughts, and appearance. The creative act is highly aware of itself and its maker.
Tribal: Relating to a tribe (a group of people, often with a common language and culture, especially in a traditional society).
Dreamlike: Resembling a dream; vague or unreal.
Hallucinatory: Producing hallucinations (experiences that seem real but are not), or like a hallucination; vivid or fantastical.
Fusion: The process or result of joining two or more things together to form a single entity.
Various planes of existence: Different levels or realities of being (e.g., physical, spiritual, dream).
Levels of time: Different points or dimensions of time (e.g., past, present, future) that can merge.
Natural way: In an unforced or instinctive manner.
Spatial order: The arrangement of things in space; how things are organized geographically or visually.
Temporal sequence: The order of events in time; chronological order.
Conventions: Established rules or practices.
Dialects: Forms of a language spoken in a specific region or by a specific group, often considered less standard.
Principle of association: A basic rule that allows ideas, emotions, or things to be linked together.
Narrative motif: A repeated theme, idea, or element in a story.
Racial memory: This refers to a collective memory or shared experiences believed to be inherited or deeply ingrained within a particular racial or ethnic group, passed down through generations, rather than learned individually.
Sensory memory: Memory related to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste), recalling experiences based on what was physically felt or perceived.
Cultivated imagination: Imagination that has been developed, trained, or refined through education, learning, or deliberate practice, rather than being purely innate or spontaneous.
Animate world: The world of living things (plants, animals, humans), as opposed to inanimate (non-living) objects.
Consciousness: The state of being aware of one’s own existence and surroundings; awareness.
Material realities: Physical things that actually exist, as opposed to abstract ideas or concepts.
Space: The continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or occupied. The physical environment around us.
Time: The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
Perceiving: Becoming aware or conscious of something; understanding something in a particular way.
Images: Mental pictures or representations; visual forms.
Image making faculty: The mental ability or power to create or form images in the mind.
Genetic gift: A natural ability or characteristic that is inherited from one’s parents or ancestors, part of one’s DNA.
Envelops: Surrounds or covers completely
Acute: Very strong, keen, or sharp.
Domination: Control or power over something.
Territorial space: Physical areas of land or regions.
Obsessively: In a way that shows a persistent and unwanted preoccupation with something.
Urge: A strong desire or impulse.
Substantiated: Supported with evidence or proof; confirmed.
Ritual: A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
Terracotta: A type of reddish-brown clay, often used for pottery and building.
Aspiring: Directing one’s hopes or ambitions toward achieving something.
Trance: A half-conscious state, resembling sleep, in which a person appears detached from their surroundings.
Amazingly: In an astonishing or surprising manner.
Classify: To arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics.
Aesthetic proportions: The pleasing or beautiful relationships between the parts of something in terms of size, quantity, or degree.
Fascinate: To attract the strong attention and interest of (someone).
Curious onlooker: A person who watches something with interest and a desire to know more.
Institutional training: Formal education or instruction received in an organized school, college, or other institution.
Tutoring: Instruction or teaching given by a private tutor or instructor.
Vast: Very large in extent or quantity.
Literary compositions: Creative written or spoken works, such as poems, stories, or plays.
Feast: Something that provides great pleasure or enjoyment, often in abundance.
Folklorist: A person who studies folklore (the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations by word of mouth).
Anthropologist: A person who studies human societies, cultures, and their development.
Linguist: A person who studies languages.
Literary critic: A person who analyzes and evaluates literary works.
Nomadic: Living a life of wandering; not settled in one place.
Communities: Groups of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
Bound by: Held together or united by.
Oral epics: Long narrative poems or stories that are traditionally passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another.
Wealth: A large amount of valuable possessions or resources; here, it means a rich abundance of literary works.
Pure shame: Deep and strong feeling of shame.
Itinerant: Traveling from place to place, especially to perform work.
Circulate: To move around freely.
Overwhelmed: deeply impressed or greatly affected.
Profound: Very great or intense; having deep meaning or importance.
Dispute: To argue against something; to question the truth or validity of something.
Claim: A statement that something is true, often without direct proof; or a right to something.
Status: The position or standing of something in relation to others; its rank or importance.
Modify: To change something slightly, especially to make it more suitable for a particular purpose.
Established notion: A widely accepted or commonly held idea or belief that has been in place for a long time.
Silently witness: To see something happen without doing anything to stop it or without making any protest.
Distinct: Easily noticeable or different from others.
Constructing: Building or creating.
Hallucinatory: Like a hallucination; dream-like, visionary, or seeming to see things that aren’t really there.
Representation: The way something is shown or described.
Demarcated: Clearly marked or separated.
Trivial: Of little value or importance.
Merge: To combine or come together to form one thing.
Deliberate: Done on purpose; planned.
Sequence: A particular order in which related things follow each other.
Apparently: As far as one knows or can see; seemingly.
Chaotic: In a state of complete confusion and disorder.
Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language; the rules for forming sentences.
Grammar: The whole system and structure of a language or, here, the rules for how a painting is structured.
Ordering principles: Rules or methods that bring structure and organization.
On the contrary: The opposite is true; in opposition to what has just been said.
Strict: Very precise, exact, or rigid in following rules.
Convention: A widely accepted way of doing something; tradition or custom.
Casual spectator: Someone who is watching without deep interest or specific knowledge; an ordinary observer.
At its back: Supported by; based on; originating from.
Adhering to: Sticking firmly to; following closely.
Subverting: To undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution); gently change or challenge the established tradition.
Playful: Full of fun and lightheartedness; not serious.
Ironic: Meaning the opposite of what is expressed; characterized by sarcasm or a mocking tone.
Intimately: Very closely; in a close and personal way.
Rituals: A series of actions performed in a fixed order, especially as part of a religious or solemn ceremony.
Sacred: Holy; connected with God (or gods) or religion; treated as very special and deserving respect.
Pretentious: Trying to appear more important, skillful, or knowledgeable than one actually is; showy or trying to impress.
Epics: Long narrative poems or stories, typically about heroic deeds and adventures.
Spared: Protected from; saved from experiencing something unpleasant.
Patronage: The support, encouragement, financial aid, or influence given by a patron (a person or group who supports artists, writers, etc.).
Invariably: Always; in every case or on every occasion.
Static: Lacking in movement, action, or change; fixed; not moving or changing.
Dynamic: Characterized by constant change, activity, or progress.
Misconception: A view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding.
Orally transmitted: Passed down by word of mouth, spoken rather than written.
Tradition-bound: Strictly adhering to or limited by customs and practices passed down from generation to generation.
Scope: The extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant; the opportunity for something.
Distort: To pull or twist out of shape; to give a misleading or false account or impression of.
Reception: The way in which a person or thing is received or welcomed. Here, how the audience reacts or responds.
Non-tribals: People who do not belong to a tribal community.
Bilingual: Able to speak two languages equally well or with similar fluency.
Innate: Existing naturally; inborn, not learned or acquired.
Capacity: The ability or power to do something.
Assimilate: To take in and understand fully; to absorb into the mind or culture. Here, it means to adopt or integrate outside influences.
Outside influences: Ideas, customs, or trends that come from people or cultures different from one’s own.
Evolved mechanism: A system or way of doing things that has developed and become highly effective over time.
Responding: Reacting or behaving in answer to something.
Employ: To make use of.
Complexity: The state of being intricate or complicated.
Linguist: A person who studies language and its structure.
Alert to: Aware of or watchful for something.
Dismissing: Treating something as unworthy of consideration or belief; rejecting.
Dialects: Forms of a language that are peculiar to a specific region or social group, often considered less standard than the main language.
Major tongues: Important or widely spoken languages.
Massive colonial baggage: A huge amount of historical negative influence or problems caused by colonialism (when one country takes control of another, often exploiting it). The historical power imbalance and the way English, as a colonial language, shaped perceptions.
Contemporary: Belonging to or occurring in the present time; modern.
Inherit: To receive something from a predecessor (someone who came before). Indian writers get their literary traditions from past generations.
Comical: Causing laughter, especially because of being strange or absurd; funny.
Classification: The action or process of arranging something into categories or groups.
Assert: To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
Adivasis: Indigenous tribal communities of India.
Movement: A group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas.
Folklore: The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations by word of mouth. Often used in a way that implies it’s not “high” literature.
Dialect: A particular form of a language that is specific to a region or social group. Often seen as less formal or complete than a “standard” language.
Unconventional: Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed; unusual.
Scripts: Systems of writing, like alphabets or characters.
Transcend: To go beyond the limits of; to rise above..
Substantial: Of considerable importance, size, or worth.
Orality: The quality of being spoken or communicated by word of mouth, rather than written.
Prose fiction: Literary works that are not poetry or drama; regular storytelling written in sentences and paragraphs.
Effective: Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
Depleted: This means to be used up or to become empty; significantly reduced in number or quantity. “The cowshed was depleted” means it became less full of cows.
Filled up: Became full; completely occupied. “The cowshed filled up” means it became full of cows.
Tribals: Groups of people who live in traditional communities, often with their own distinct culture, language, and customs, typically in remote areas.
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa: These are states in India.
Horohon or Mura: Specific names or titles used by the Munda people.
Headman of a village: The main leader or chief of a village.
Encyclopaedia Mundarica: A very detailed book (or set of books, 16 volumes) containing information about the Munda people.
Reverend John Baptist Hoffman: A title (Reverend for a priest) and the name of a person who wrote about the Munda.
Jesuit scholars: Educated people who belong to the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order.
Adivasis: Indigenous or original inhabitants of India, often referring to tribal communities.
Colonialism: The control of one country over another, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Revolted repeatedly: Rebelled or fought back many times.
Agrarian issues: Problems or matters related to farming, land, and agriculture.
Tamar insurrection: A specific rebellion or uprising by the Munda people in the Tamar region.
Protested against: Showed strong disagreement with something.
Break-up of their agrarian system: The destruction or disruption of their traditional way of farming and managing land.
Quest: A long or difficult search for something.
Establish Munda Raj: To set up or create their own Munda rule or kingdom.
Reform their society: To make improvements or changes to their society.
Cope with the challenges of time: To deal successfully with the difficulties that came with changing times.
Millennial movement: A large social or religious movement often based on a belief in a coming golden age or great transformation.
Birsa Munda: A significant leader of the Munda people.
Hindu and Christian idioms: Ways of speaking or common expressions and ideas from Hinduism and Christianity.
Create a Munda ideology and worldview: To form a specific set of beliefs, ideas, and a way of understanding the world unique to the Munda people.
Uprising was quelled: The rebellion or revolt was put down or suppressed by force.
Ceremonies: Formal events or rituals for a special occasion.
Rituals: A series of actions performed according to a prescribed order, often for religious or traditional purposes.
Associated: Connected with something else.
Synchronised: Happening at the same time or rate; moving or operating together.
Rhythms: A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. The natural cycles like seasons or day/night.
Invariably: Always; in every case.
Communicates: Shows or expresses.
Pastures: Fields of grass where animals, like cattle, feed.
Sundown: The time when the sun sets; evening.
Depletion: The act of using up a supply or resource; making something empty or less full.
Precious: Of great value; highly esteemed or cherished.
Asset: A useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.
Dominant: Most important, powerful, or influential.
Economic: Relating to money, trade, industry, and the production of goods and services.
Offer: To present something (like a gift or sacrifice) to someone.
Fowl: A bird, especially one raised for food, like a chicken or duck.
Departure: The act of leaving a place.
Inflict: To cause something harmful or unpleasant to be experienced by someone.
Dravidian: Referring to a family of languages spoken mainly in southern India.
Segments: Parts or sections.
Distributed: Spread out over an area.
Bilingual: Able to speak two languages fluently.
Conversant: Familiar with or knowledgeable about something, in this case, a language.
Traditional: Relating to customs or beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Adivasis: Indigenous tribal communities of India.
Dowry system: A custom where the bride’s family gives money or property to the groom or his family at the time of marriage.
Bride price: A payment (money or goods) made by the groom or his family to the bride’s family before the marriage.
Rituals: A series of actions or a ceremony performed in a set way, often for religious or traditional purposes.
Puberty: The stage of a person’s life when they become physically able to have children.
Benevolent: Kind and good; wishing to do good.
Malevolent: Evil or harmful; wishing to do harm.
Beseeching: Asking someone urgently and seriously to do something; pleading.
Reluctant: Unwilling and hesitant; not wanting to do something.
Hearth: The area in front of a fireplace, often representing home and family.
Customary: Done or established by custom; usual or traditional.
Beloved one: the loved nephew or niece who is ill.
Ill luck: Bad fortune or bad luck.
I come forward here to save you: the maternal uncle of the sick person comes forward to perform the ritual for the return of the spirit of good health.
Emul: An amulet; specifically, a healing ornament used in the ritual.
Listen to the sound of this ornament: this line and the ones that follow are addressed to the spirit of good health to request it to return to the ill body.
Ornament: A decorative object or a small article used for adornment; here, it refers to the Emul.
Your sweet home: the ill body which is the real home of the spirit of good health.
Ridin: a creeper that is supposed to have special medicinal qualities.
Ridin creeper: A type of climbing plant believed to have special medicinal qualities.
Fasten your soul to your body: the Ridin creeper will tie the spirit of good health to the body to ensure its continued presence.
Fasten: To attach securely; to tie firmly.
Soul: the spirit of good health that is believed to have left the body.
Follow the footprints of this cock: usually an offering like a cock or a hen is made to propitiate the spirit of good health and persuade it to return to the ill body.
Cock: A male chicken, often used as an offering in rituals.
Generic (term): A general or inclusive term; not specific.
Denoting: Meaning or indicating.
Concentrated: Mostly located or gathered in one place.
Propitiated: Pleased or made favorable; often by making offerings or performing rituals.
Equilibrium: A state of balance.
Rhythmic: Having a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
Headman: The chief or leader of a village or tribe.
Expert: A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
Living languages: Languages that are still being used and learned by a community, not dead or extinct.
Mantra: A sacred word, sound, or phrase repeated to aid concentration in meditation or ritual, often believed to have spiritual or healing power.
Lure: To tempt or attract someone or something.

Related:

Chapter 5 – What is a Good Book?

Converse (v): to have a conversation with someone
Good-humoured (adj.): friendly or in a good mood
Witty (adj.): using words in a clever and funny way
Pathetic (adj.): unsuccessful, useless, or worthless
Peculiar (adj.): unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way
Usurp (v): to take control of a position of power, especially without having the right to
Delightful (adj.): very pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable
Amusing (v): to keep someone happy, especially for a short time
Occasional (adj.): not happening or done often or regularly
Permanence (n): staying the same or continuing for a long time
Conveyance (n): the process of moving something or someone from one place to another
Perceives (v): to think of something in a particular way
Melodiously (adv): in a way that is very pleasant to listen to
Fain (adv): willingly or happily
Inscription (n): words that are written or cut in something
Scripture (n): the holy writings of a religion
Benevolence (n): the quality of being kind and helpful
Redundant (adj.): unnecessary because it is more than is needed
Statesmen (n): an experienced politician, especially one who is respected for making good judgments
Mapped out (v): to plan something in detail
Housemaid (n): a woman servant whose job is to clean a large house, and who often lives there
Stable-boy (n): a young man who works in a stable and takes care of the horses
Consciousness (n): the state of understanding and realizing something
Jostle (v): to compete with each other in order to get what they want
Entrée (n): the right to join a group of people or enter a place
Multitudinous (adj.): consisting of many things or parts
Fellowship (n): a group of people or an organization with the same purpose
Aristocracy (n): a class of people who hold high social rank
Companionship (n): the enjoyment of spending time with other people
Inherent (adj.): existing as a natural or basic part of something
Overawe (v): to cause someone to feel a mixture of respect and fear
Artifice (n): a clever trick or something intended to deceive
Elysian (adj.): relating to heaven
Vile (adj.): unpleasant, immoral, and unacceptable
Vulgar (adj.): not polite or socially acceptable; not suitable or acceptable in style
Portieres (n): a curtain hung over a door or doorway
Faubourg St. Germain (n): a historic district in Paris, known for its aristocratic residences and association with French nobility
Courtesy (n): polite behaviour, or a polite action or remark
Feign (v): to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, etc.
Gladdened (v): to make someone or something glad
Ambition (n): a strong wish to achieve something
Scorn (n): a very strong feeling of no respect for someone or something that you think is stupid or has no value
Ascertain (v): to discover something
Parables (n): a short, simple story that teaches or explains an idea, especially a moral or religious idea
Reticence (n): an unwillingness to do something or talk about something
Fissures (n): a deep, narrow crack, especially in rock or the earth
Miner (n): a person who works in a mine
Pickaxes (n): a tool for breaking hard surfaces, with a long wooden handle and a curved metal bar with a sharp point
Shovels (n): a tool consisting of a wide, square metal or plastic blade, usually with slightly raised sides, attached to a handle, for moving loose material such as sand, coal, or snow
Trim (adj.): tidy and well ordered
Tiresomeness (adj.): annoying and making you lose patience
Smelting (n): the act or process of getting a metal from rock by heating it to a very high temperature, or of melting objects made from metal in order to use the metal to make something new
Furnace (n): a container that is heated to a very high temperature, so that substances that are put inside it, such as metal, will melt or burn
Chiselling (v): to use a chisel, a tool with a long metal blade that has a sharp edge for cutting wood, stone, etc.
Fusing (v): to melt or make two things melt together, especially at a high temperature
Authoritatively (adv): in a way that shows you are confident, in control, and expect to be respected and obeyed
Syllable (n): a single unit of speech, either a whole word or one of the parts into which a word can be separated, usually containing a vowel
Nomenclature (n): a system for naming things, especially in a particular area of science
Peerage (n): the position of being a peer
Canaille (n): the common people, a derogatory term
Ancestry (n): your ancestors who lived a long time ago, or the origin of your family
Seaman (n): a sailor
Illiterate (adj.): unable to read and write
House of Commons (n): one of the two parts of parliament in the UK and Canada, whose members are each elected to represent a particular official area of the country, or its members, or the place where it meets

Related:

Chapter 6 – The Story

Fundamental (adj.): forming the base, from which everything else develops
Assent (v): to agree to something
Subsequent (adj.): happening after something else
Placidly (adv): in a calm way
Tempered (n): mood or emotional state
Vague (adj.): not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided
Motor-bus (n): a bus
Brisk (adj.): quick, energetic, and active
Drooping (adj.): to become depressed or weakened
Regretful (adj.): showing that you feel sorry about something
Admire (v): to respect and approve of someone or their behaviour
Detest (v): to hate someone or something very much
Perception (n): a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based on how things seem
Atavistic (adj.): happening because of a very old habit from a long time ago in human history, not because of a decision or because it is necessary now
Disentangle (v): to separate things that have become joined or confused
Tape-worm (n): a long, flat organism that lives on or inside another organisms
Arbitrary (adj.): based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason
Neolithic (adj.): relating to the period when humans used tools and weapons made of stone and had just developed farming
Palaeolithic (adj.): relating to the period when humans used tools and weapons made of stone
Neanderthal (adj.): relating to a type of primitive people who lived in Europe and Asia from about 150,000 to 30,000 years ago
Primitive (adj.): relating to human society at a very early stage of development, with people living in a simple way without machines or a writing system
Shock-heads (adj.): having a shock or thick mass of hair on the head
Gaping (adj.): open wide, here in reference to feeling suspense or shock, because of the stories
Fatigued (adj.): tired
Contending (v): to compete in order to win something
Mammoth (n): a type of large elephant, now extinct, that was covered in hair and had tusks
Incurred (v): to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a result of actions you have taken
Fate (n): what happens to a particular person or thing, especially something final or negative, such as death or defeat
Wield (v): to hold a weapon or tool and look as if you are going to use it
Tyrants (n): a ruler who has unlimited power over other people, and uses it unfairly and cruelly
Savages (adj.): extremely violent, wild, or frightening
Exquisite (adj.): very beautiful and delicate
Tolerant (adj.): willing to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different from your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them
Ingenious (adj.): very intelligent and skilful
Delineations (n): the action of describing or marking the edge of something
Oriental capitals (n): Capital cities of countries in East and Southeast Asia
intolerable (adj.): too bad or unpleasant to deal with or accept
Incidental (adj.): less important than the thing something is connected with or part of
Discreet (adj.): careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret
Uninteresting (adj.): not interesting
Primeval (adj.): ancient; existing at or from a very early time
Ludicrous (adj.): stupid or unreasonable and deserving to be laughed at
Narrative (n): a story or a description of a series of events
Qua (conjunction): in the capacity of; as being
Isolate (v): to separate something from other things with which it is connected or mixed
Nobler (adj.): moral in an honest, brave, and kind way
Forceps (n): a metal instrument with two handles used in medical operations for picking up, pulling, and holding things, here used figuratively
Interminable (adj.): continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying
Unlovely (adj.): not attractive or pleasant
Conveniently (adv): in a way that is suitable for your purposes and needs and causes the least difficulty
Pinnacles (n): the most successful or admired part of a system or achievement
Chronological (adj.): following the order in which a series of events happened
Anticipation (n): a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen in the near future
Father Time (n): a personification of time referring to the continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
Allegiance (n): loyalty and support for a belief
Imperative (adj.): extremely important or urgent
Mystics (n): someone who attempts to be united with God through prayer
Unintelligible (adj.): not able to be understood
Lunatic asylum (n): an outdated and offensive term for a mental hospital or institution that housed people with mental illnesses
Cling (v): to stick onto or hold something or someone tightly, or to refuse to stop holding it
Blunder (n): a serious mistake, usually caused by not taking care or thinking
Philosophic (adj.): relating or devoted to the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
Fatal (adj.): very serious and having an important bad effect in the future
Eminent (adj.): famous, respected, or important
Metaphysicians (n): an expert in or student of the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being and knowing
Dethroned (v): to beat someone who is the best at something
Retain (v): to keep or continue to have something
Supper (n): a main meal eaten in the evening
Contravene (v): to do something that a rule does not allow, or to break a rule
Thesis (n): the main idea, opinion, or theory of a person, group, piece of writing, or speech
Auspices (n): with the protection or support of someone or something, especially an organization
Mitigate (v): to make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad
Consequently (v): as a result
Distinguished (adj.): very successful and commanding great respect
Colloquial (adj.): informal and more suitable for use in speech than in writing
Backwaters (n): a place that does not seem to know much about the world and its ways
Shallows (adj.): not showing, requiring, or capable of serious thought

Related:

Chapter 7 – Bridges

Incredulous: feeling or showing disbelief.
Decipher: to understand or interpret something complex.
Comprehension: The ability to understand something.
Choreography: The sequence of steps and movements in a dance or other staged routine.
Envious: Feeling or showing a desire to have what someone else has.
Assertion: A confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
Dubious: Hesitating or doubting; not to be relied upon; questionable.
Discipline: a field of study or activity that requires strict training and control.
Patchwork: Something made up of many different parts; a varied collection.
Bridges: Connections or links between two things.
Doting: Extremely fond of someone
Kept his peace: Remained silent
Trying conditions: Difficult circumstances.
Endured: Suffered through something difficult or unpleasant without giving in.
Ante-room: A smaller room leading into a larger, more important room; a waiting room.
Spurred: Encouraged or caused to happen.
Enrol: To officially sign up someone for a course or activity.
Fascinated: Strongly attracted
Prancing: Moving around with high steps, often in a showy or playful way.
Imitating: Copying mannerisms of someone.
Ironically: In a way that is contrary to what is expected or intended.
Recollection: a memory.
Innate: Existing naturally; inborn.
Gruelling: Extremely exhausting
Vacuum: living in isolation
Volatile era: A time that was unstable
Compounded by: Made worse or more complicated by something else.
Cantonment areas: Military camps or garrisons, often with permanent housing.
Allotted: Given or assigned something.
Sprawling: Spreading out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way.
Mali: A gardener
Army construction: Building work needed for the army, like camps or facilities.
Boarding school: A school where students live during the school term.
Packed off: Sent away, usually quickly or without much choice.
Lahore: A city that was in India at that time, but later became part of Pakistan.
Worrisome: Causing anxiety or concern.
Curiosity: A strong desire to know or learn something.
Shuffling: the slow, tiring walk.
Overbearing: Acting in a dominating way.
Guruji: A respectful term for a teacher, especially in arts like dance.
No such luck: An informal phrase meaning something hoped for did not happen.
Hired: Paid money to use something for a short time (like an apartment) or to employ someone (like a teacher).
Arranged a schedule: Planned the times and days for something to happen.
Gruelling: Extremely tiring and demanding.
Quite frankly: To be honest
Progressed: improved or developed.
Gyrating: Moving rapidly in a circle or spiral; spinning.
Envious: Feeling or showing a desire to have what someone else has.
Curb: To restrain
Religious freedom: The right to practice one’s religion without interference from the government or others.
Matriculation: The final examinations taken at the end of high school, which allow one to enter university.
Dramatically: In a sudden and striking way.
Infraction: A violation or breaking of a rule or law.
Diplomatic: Skillful in handling sensitive situations or people; tactful.
Demeanour: Outward behavior
Dormitory: A large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution.
Overwhelmed: feeling a strong emotional effect.
Vibrates with: Filled with or strongly suggests a particular feeling or quality.
Motionless: Not moving at all; perfectly still.
Summoned: Ordered or requested to come.
Clutched: Grasped or held tightly.
Hunger pangs: Sharp, uncomfortable feelings in the stomach caused by hunger.
Emptiness: The state of containing nothing
Underplayed: Made something seem less important, serious, or emotional than it actually was.
Yearning: A feeling of intense longing or desire for something.
Gnawed: Chewed at persistently; in this context, constantly troubled or tormented her.
Dangling: Hanging loosely or swaying.
Choreography: The art of creating and arranging dances.
Duvidha: Hindi word meaning conflict or dilemma.
Plight: A difficult, serious, or unfortunate situation.
Chained to: Restricted or held back by something, like being tied with chains.
Domestic circles: The home and family life.
Forbidden: Not allowed.
Cater to: to try to please someone.
Waving images: Showing pictures or depictions, possibly in a newspaper or magazine.
Bold streak: A strong, noticeable line or mark
Intently: With great concentration or attention.
Intrigued: Very interested and curious.
Conflicting emotions: Feelings that are opposite or in opposition to each other.
Torn between: Divided or in conflict between two choices or situations.
Yielded: Produced or provided
Cropped up: Appeared or occurred unexpectedly.
Composition: A piece of music, writing, or art.
Atah Kim: A Sanskrit phrase meaning “And then what?” or “What next?”
Pre-recorded cassettes: Old-fashioned audio tapes with music or sound already recorded on them. Used metaphorically here for memories stored in the brain.
Crossroads: A point where two or more roads meet; metaphorically, a critical point where a choice must be made.
Priority: more important than others.
Driven: Strongly motivated to achieve something.
Stems from: Originates from; is caused by.
Relatively subdued: Comparatively quiet, restrained, or lacking excitement.
Enveloped: Covered or surrounded completely.
Mist of protection: Metaphor for a period of being heavily shielded or guarded.
Emerge: To come out into view, especially from obscurity.
Address: To deal with or discuss (a subject).
Possess: To have or own something.
Off-beat: Unusual; not conventional or traditional.
The done thing: The usual or expected way of doing something.
Deflated: Let the air out of something, like a tire.
Worthless: Having no value or importance.
Fascinated: Strongly interested and attracted.
Peering: Looking closely or carefully, especially when something is difficult to see.
Dignity: The state or quality of being worthy of honor and respect.
Underplay: To make something seem less important or noticeable than it really is.
Texture: the underlying nature or fabric of society.
Embrace: To accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.
Inhibit: To prevent or restrain
Took issue with: challenged an idea.
Bargained with: Negotiated or made a deal with someone to get something.
Endowed: Provided with a quality, ability, or asset.
Activates your senses: Makes your senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch) more alive and aware.
Grandeur: Impressiveness, especially of appearance or style.
Mingle: To mix or combine together.
Panchamrut: A sacred mixture used in Hindu worship, typically made of five ingredients: milk, yogurt, ghee (clarified butter), honey, and sugar.
Differentiate: To recognize or express the difference between things.
Sensitivity: a deep appreciation for things.
Sentimentality: being overly emotional in a way that might not be genuine or practical.
Realm: A field or domain of activity or interest.
Prospects: Chances or opportunities for success or advancement, especially in a career.
Crossroads: A point where a crucial decision must be made; a turning point.
Beckoning: A gesture inviting someone to come closer or follow
Tedious: Long, tiresome, and boring.
Fused: Joined or blended together to form a single entity.
Synergy: The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Legend: A very famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field.
Adjust: To get used to a new situation.
Opportunity: A chance or favorable time.
Exposed: Made aware of or introduced to.
Aspect: A particular part or feature of something.
Repertoire: All the pieces like dances or songs that a performer or group knows and can perform.
Disciplinarian: Someone who believes in or enforces strict rules of behavior.
Fetish: A strong and unusual need or desire for something.
Perfection of line: Achieving absolute flawlessness in the shape, posture, or movement, especially in dance.
Throw it overboard: To get rid of it; to discard it.
Experimenting: Trying out new ideas or methods.
Personality: The combination of qualities and traits that make a person unique.
Encountering: Meeting or coming across someone or something, often unexpectedly.
Glaringly: Very obviously or noticeably
Context: The circumstances or background that surround an event,
Striking: Very noticeable, impressive, or attractive.
Post-war: The period of time after a major war.
Evokes: bring or recall (a feeling, memory, or image) to the conscious mind.
Choreographic piece: A created dance work or routine.
Exhausting: Very tiring; making one feel extremely weary.
Agenda: A list of items to be discussed or done; here, it refers to a list of things to achieve or consider for making a home.
Visa: An official endorsement on a passport allowing the bearer to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period in a country.
Apolitical: Not interested or involved in politics.
Strings attached: Hidden or unstated conditions or drawbacks that come with something seemingly good.
Overwhelmed: Feeling too much to handle; buried or drowned by a large amount of something.
Special breed: A unique or exceptional type of person, often implying they are treated with extra privilege or care.
Suspicion: A feeling or belief that someone is guilty of an illegal or dishonest act without proof; a feeling of distrust.
Vocabulary: The words a person knows or uses.
Association: A connection or relationship with someone or something.
Instilled: Gradually but firmly put an idea or feeling into someone’s mind.
Bar-at-law: A qualification that allows someone to practice as a barrister (a type of lawyer) in England.
Pushed him into: Encouraged or forced him into a particular situation or profession.
Philosophies: A person’s basic beliefs about life and the universe.
Extended sense of ambition: A strong and broad desire to achieve a lot or be very successful.
Variety: The quality or state of being different or diverse; a range of different things.
Personalities: The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinct character.
Beneath one roof: Living in the same house.
Artistes: Professional performers, especially dancers or musicians.
Equation: A situation or problem in which several factors must be considered; the relationship between different parts.
Space factor: How space is used or affects interactions.
Vibrations: feelings, moods, or emotional atmospheres created by people.
Performing solo: Performing alone, by oneself.
Performing skills: Abilities needed to perform well.

Related:

Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter wise Word Meanings

Class 11 NCERT English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter Wise difficult word meanings

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book -Short Stories

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book – Poetry

CBSE Class 11 English (Elective) Book – Essays

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