Activity
Words I didn't know, reading the book:
bowdlerize verb °To remove those parts of a text considered offensive, vulgar, or otherwise unseemly. "The bowdlerized version of the novel, while free of vulgarity, was also free of flavor."
irrefragable adjective °Which cannot be refuted; indisputable, clearly right, incontrovertible. synonyms: incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable, unanswerable, undeniable, unquestionable
achondroplasia noun °A genetic disorder, the most common form of short limb dwarfism.
neoteny noun °The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult. "Most amphibians are aquatic only well young, but some amphibians with neoteny remain aquatic even as adults." °The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage. synonyms: pedomorphism
allometry noun °The science studying the differential growth rates of the parts of a living organism's body part or process.
allometric adjective °Of or pertaining to allometry. °(of a population) That grows at a rate proportional to a power of another population.
sledge dogs Sled dogs, known also as sleightman dogs, sledge dogs, or sleddogs are types of dogs that are used to pull a wheel-less vehicle on runners (a sled or sleigh) over snow or ice, by means of harnesses and lines. The origins of this arrangement are unknown.
profligate adjective °Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly. °Overthrown; beaten; conquered, especially by vice. noun °An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person. °An overly wasteful or extravagant individual. verb °(obsolete) To drive away; to overcome. synonyms: wasteful, extravagant, overthrown, beaten, conquered, wastrel, overcome
doddle noun °A job, task or other activity that is simple or easy to complete. synonyms: bagatelle, breeze, cakewalk, cinch, piece of cake, walk in the park, walkover
P69 advert noun °An advertisement, an ad. verb °To turn attention. °To call attention, refer; construed with to. "He adverted to the problem in the opening paragraph." synonyms: refer
adverted verb °past tense of advert.
P71 midden noun °A dungheap. °A refuse heap usually near a dwelling.
P76
Main Entry: pel•age
Pronunciation: \ˈpe-lij\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from poil hair, from Old French peil, from Latin pilus
Date: circa 1828
: the hairy covering of a mammal
p187 deportment noun °bearing; manner of presenting oneself:. "Her deportment impressed her interviewers." °conduct; public behavior:. "Their deportment changed visibly as the policeman approached."
P220 invaginate verb °(medicine surgery) To fold up or enclose into a sheath-like or pouch-like structure, either naturally or as part of a surgical procedure. °(medicine) To turn or fold inwardly.
P230 apical adjective °of or connected with the apex. °of a meristem: situated at the growing tip of the plant or its roots, in comparison with intercalary growth situated between zones of permanent tissue.
P231 gastrula noun °A stage in the development of embryos of most animals consisting of a two-layered sac of ectoderm and endoderm. gastrulate verb °To form into a gastrula.
P237 catenary noun °The curve described by a flexible chain or a rope if it is supported at each end and is acted upon only by no other forces than a uniform gravitational force due to its own weight. °(nautical) The curve of an anchor cable from the seabed to the vessel; it should be horizontal at the anchor so as to bury the flukes.
P236 scrapie noun °A degenerative prion disease of sheep and goats that attacks the central nervous system.
P250 phantasmagoric adjective °Characterised by rapid changes in light intensity and colour. °The quality of blurring real and imaginary elements as in a dream. synonyms: phantasmagorical
P332 superannuated adjective °obsolete due to age. °retired or discarded due to age. synonyms: antiquated, archaic, dated, obsolete, outdated, outmoded
P347
Main Entry: hal•tere
Pronunciation: \ˈhȯl-ˌtir, ˈhal-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural hal•teres \ˈhȯl-ˌtirz, ˈhal-; hȯl-ˈtir-ēz, hal-\
Etymology: New Latin halter, from Latin, jumping weight, from Greek haltēr, from hallesthai to leap — more at sally
Date: circa 1823
: one of a pair of club-shaped organs in a dipteran fly that are the modified second pair of wings and function as sensory flight stabilizers
P366 bodge verb °To do a clumsy or inelegant job, usually as a temporary repair. "Because of the lack of proper tools he will bodge the repair." noun °A clumsy or inelegant job, usually a temporary repair. °The water in which a smithy would quench items heated in a forge. adjective °(slang Northern Ireland) insane or off the rails.