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Call of the Wild – Vocabulary

Approx. words: 330

Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 1

Page Word Definition
1 brumal in the winter
1 chafing rubbing against, irritating
1 ferine feral, wild
1 nomadic wandering
3 aristocrat a member of the privileged class
3 besetting constantly present
3 egotistical self-important
3 insular alone
3 progeny children; descendant
3 sated satisfied
3 tonic a drink acting like a medicine
3 trifle a little, unimportant
4 futilely with no hope of success
4 intimated suggested
4 treachery betrayal of trust
4 vilely highly offensive
5 conveyance a vehicle; some sort of transportation
5 hydrophoby dialect pronunciation of “hydrophobia;” more accurately: rabies
5 lacerated torn, ripped, cut
5 unbridled unrestrained; without limits
6 assailed attacked
6 calamity disaster
6 impending about to happen
6 oppressed overpowered by someone/something or a heavy emotional feeling
6 sullenly in a dark, gloomy way
6 tallow a white, processed fat similar to wax
7 accumulated collected; built up
7 detestable creating intense dislike
7 metamorphosed changed
7 parched extremely dry or thirsty
7 retaliated responded; fought back
7 stout heavy, roundish, fat
7 wrath extreme anger
8 surcharged filled to the very top; overfilled
9 cayuses regional idiom: horses
9 consignment a single shipment

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9 druther prefer
9 ruction a noisy fight
9 slaver drool; slobber
9 soliloquized talked to himself
10 conciliated getting along
10 docilely calmly
10 latent present, but hidden craftiness or trickery
10 uncowed bold, bravely
10 weazened shriveled, wizened
10 wheedlingly to get something by gentle talk or flattery
11 destined a sure thing; must happen
11 impartial even-handed; evenly considering both sides of an issue
11 swarthy dark complexion or skin color
11 uncouth crude, rough
12 estimation guess or opinion
12 incurious without curiosity
12 meditated contemplated
12 morose sullen, sad, depressed
12 treacherous likely to betray trust
13 uproariously very noisy

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 2

14 imperative adj. absolutely necessary

14 vicarious adj. substituted from one thing for another

15 intentness n. plan or purpose

15 swart adj. having a dark, weather-beaten complexion

16 draught adj. pulling heavy loads

16 traces n. the ropes or cords connecting the dogs to the sled.

16 tuition n. teaching

16 introspective adj. given to private thought

16 perpetual adj. unending; lasting forever

16 malignant adj. actively evil in nature

16 comradely adj. friendly

16 appeasement n. pleasing or satisfying someone.

16 scored v. cut into

17 diabolically adv. evily

17 incarnation n. something represented in a person

17 belligerent adj. hostile; aggressive

17 discomfiture n. embarrassed awkwardness

17 inoffensive adj. not offending

17 gaunt adj. haggard and emaciated

17 prowess n. superior skill

17 indiscretion n. an unwise act

17 consternation n. shocked feeling of alarm or concern

17 ignominiously adv. shamefully

18 disconsolate adj. hopelessly sad

18 forlorn adj. lonely, abandoned, sad

18 placatingly adv. appeasingly giving in easily

18 arduous adj. difficult and tiring

19 harking v. recalling; listening

19 unduly adv. excessively

19 contracted adj. compressed; shrank

19 spasmodically adv. intermittently; happening unpredictably

19 despatches n. (dispatches) official messages

20 retaliate v. to fight back

20 trouncing n. a severe beating

20 cañon n. Spanish word from which comes the English word, canyon

21 gee-pole n. device at back of sled for directing/turning the sled

21 indispensable adj. required; unable to do without

21 ravenous adj. extremely hungry

21 perpetual adj. unending; lasting forever

21 fastidiousness n. carefulness in all details

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22 malingerer n. one who pretends to be ill in order to escape work

22 adaptability n. ability to adjust easily to a new environment or different

conditions

22 vain adj. excessively proud, especially of personal appearance

22 accommodated n. adapted to something new

22 decivilization n. the process of becoming less civilized

23 cunningly adv. cleverly, in a way that is intended to deceive

23 retrogression n. the act of deteriorating

23 loathsome adj. repulsive, arousing intense dislike and disgust

23 indigestible adj. difficult or impossible to digest

23 conspicuous adj. easily or clearly visible

23 inevitably adv. something that is certain to happen

23 leeward adj. situated away from the wind, sheltered from the wind

23 domesticated adj. accustomed to living with or near people

23 heredity n. ancestral background

24 cadences n. beat or rhythm of movement

24 divers adj. many, more than one, and of various types

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 3

25 cunning adj. clever in a way that is intended to deceive

25 poise n. calm self-assured dignity…OR…a graceful controlled way of

standing, moving, or performing an action

25 deliberateness n. quality of being carefully thought out and done intentionally

25 prone adj. inclined to do something or inclined to be affected by

something

25 rashness n. the quality of being thoughtless and or reckless

25 precipitate v. to make something happen suddenly and quickly

26 grope v. to search for something uncertainly with the hands

27 malingerer n. one who pretends to be ill, especially in order to avoid work

27 adversary n. an opponent in a conflict,

28 jugular n. a main blood vessel in the side of the neck.

28 goaded v. to cause somebody to act…OR… to prod an animal with a stick

28 famished adj. starving; extremely hungry

28 unpursued adj. not followed

28 plight n. unfortunate condition

28 grievously adv. very seriously

28 rent v. (past tense of “to rend”) tore violently apart

28 warily adv. cautiously, in guarded manner

28 marauders n. raiders

29 contemplation n. the act of considering something

29 daunted adj. frightened, discouraged

29 resolutely adv. in a determined manner

31 conspicuous adj. easily or clearly visible

32 rejoinder n. a reply, especially sharp, critical, or angry

32 acknowledged adj. recognized

32 supremacy n. position of authority over all others

32 preeminently adv. standing out among others because of superiority

32 incomprehensible adj. not understandable; impossible to understand

33 sour adj. unfriendly, unpleasant

33 sullen adj. quietly bad tempered

33 uncontent n. restless unhappiness

33 shirked v. avoided (as a responsibility)

33 prostrate adj. flat, face down on the ground

34 insubordination n. the act of refusing to submit to authority

34 bickering n. bad-tempered arguing about something unimportant

34 nocturnal adj. occurring at night, of the night

35 pall n. a covering, most commonly a covering for a casket

35 defiance n. open, bold, or hostile refusal to obey or conform

35 articulate adj. clearly expressed

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35 travail n. hard, physical work over a long period
35 recuperated v. caused someone to regain his/her health
35 trim v. top condition
35 vexation n. displeasure, irritation
35 insidious adj. slowly but relentlessly harmful or destructive
35 solidarity n. unified in a common cause or belief
36 misdemeanors n. a less serious crime
36 placatingly adv. soothingly, making someone less angry or hostile by doing or
saying something to please
36 swaggering v. walking in an arrogant or proud way
36 bedlam n. chaos, a situation full of noise, frenzied activity, and confusion
36 irritable adj. bad-tempered
36 squabbling v. noisy arguing over unimportant things
36 barbarous adj. extremely cruel, uncivilized
36 futile adj. hopeless, useless
36 avail n. a help or advantage
36 precipitate v. to make something happen quickly
36 blundered v. made a serious mistake; in this case, failed to succeed
37 wan adj. pale
37 wraith n. a ghost, or apparition of someone soon to die.
37 infinitely adv. unendingly, immeasurably
37 intimate adj. private and personal, often between two individuals
37 paradox n. a contradiction
37 ecstasy n. extreme happiness
37 womb n. a secure place of origin
37 sheer adj. complete, pure
37 sinew n. muscle, tendon, therefore: strength, power
38 rampant adj. growing wildly
38 exultantly adv. triumphantly, joyfully (resulting from success)
38 apex n. the highest point
40 Thrice adv. three times
40 antagonist n. opponent; someone in conflict with another
40 inexorable adj. unstoppable
40 mercy n. compassion
40 climes n. a place with a particular type of climate
40 maneuvered v. moved into position
40 impending adj. soon to happen; awaiting
40 dominant adj. in control
40 primordial adj. existing at the beginning of time.

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 4

41 gaping adj. large, wide, deep (usually referring to a hole or opening)
41 coveted adj. desired by someone other than the owner
42 obdurate adj. stubborn
42 whereupon conj. at which point; as a result of
42 thrashing n. a severe beating
43 complied v. (past tense) obeyed; conformed
43 forevalued v. (past tense) giving value before really knowing
44 celerity n. quickness in movement or in doing something
44 infrequent adj. not happening very often
44 comparatively adv. in comparison with something else.
45 deluged v. (past tense) overwhelm with a large amount of something.
45 mushers n. dog sled drivers
45 aspired v. (past tense) to have an ambition to do something or attain a
goal.
45 riddled v. (past tense) covered with holes.
45 idols n. an object which is worshipped or adored
45 monotonous adj. repetitious, uninteresting, boring as a result of not changing
46 fivescore n. 5 X 20 = 100 (a score equals a group of 20 things)
47 resiliency n. ability to recover quickly from problems or setbacks.
47 perpetual adj. unending; lasting forever
47 suppressedly adv. held back, haltingly
48 morose adj. having a gloomy personality, sullen
49 lugubriously adj. morose, extremely mournful or sad
50 comrades n. friends or companions, or coworkers
50 involuntarily adv. without wanting to, happening on its own
50 convulsive adj. jerky, sudden, uncontrollable
50 yearning adj. longing for something
51 mournfully adv. sadly

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 5

52 deceit n. the act of tricking or misleading

52 feigned v. (past tense) faked; pretended

53 recuperation n. recovery from an illness; the regaining heath

53 congested adj. overcrowded; packed

54 callowness adj. young and lacking the experience of life that comes with

adulthood

54 sheer adj. complete, total

54 unutterable adj. so emotional as to be impossible to describe

54 manifestly adv. obviously

54 chaffering v. haggling or bargaining to set a price for something

54 slipshod adj. sloppy; careless

54 apprehensively adv. fearfully, worried that something bad will happen

54 remonstrance n. an argument or protest

55 hastened v. to do something immediately

55 affirmed v. confirmed; agreed

56 imploringly adv. in a begging manner; seriously asking

56 repugnance n. disgust, extreme dislike

56 clannish adj. keep with a group; sticking together

56 sympathetically adv. feeling or showing sympathy

57 thoroughfare n. public road; heavily used route

58 inexorable adj. impossible to stop

58 superfluous adj. not needed; more than necessary

58 averred v. agree that something is true

58 imperative adj. very important

58 formidable adj. difficult to deal with; aw-inspiring

58 bulk n. a large body

58 indeterminate adj. impossible to determine

59 forlorn adj. sad; lonely; abandoned

59 Q.E.D. literally “that which is to be demonstrated”

59 slack n. careless

59 slovenly adv. carelessly

60 commence v. begin

60 orthodox adj. following in a traditional or approved manner

60 quaver n. a tremble in the voice

60 cajole v. persuade someone gently

60 incompetence n. lack of skill; bad at doing something

61 amenities n. pleasant qualities; niceties

61 shorn v. cut; stripped

61 irritability n. the state of being easily annoyed

62 grievance n. complaint

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62 chivalrously adv. in the manner of a knight; considerate and courteous
62 impeachment n. the act of bringing charges or complaints against someone
62 prerogative n. right or privilege
62 persisted v. kept at something
62 importuned v. bother somebody with continual requests
63 callous adj. unfeeling
64 perambulating v. walking
64 insensible adj. not conscious, not aware of
64 malignant adj. harmful; wanting to do harm
64 malinger n. one who pretends to be ill in order to avoid work.
65 fraught adj. accompanied
65 fissures n. narrow cracks
65 innocuously adv. harmlessly
65 wistfully adv. deep in sad thoughts about something desired or lost
66 monosyllabic adj. brief and unhelpful
66 folly n. misguided thing
67 inarticulate adj. expressing oneself poorly

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 6

71 enticed v. tempted by offering something attractive
71 forbear v. hold back from somethnig
71 convalescence n. recovery from an injury or illness
71 pompous adj. self-important
72 ecstasy n. extreme joy
72 eloquent adj. spoken clearly and convincingly
72 vibrant adj. energetic; pulsing with energy
72 feigned v. pretended
72 caress n. a gentle touch
72 wont adj. accustomed to something
73 transient adj. short in duration; not permanently in place
73 cunning n. craftiness meant to trick or deceive
73 antagonist n. opponent
73 forewent v. went ahead of something
74 primordial adj. existing from the beginning
74 shades n. spirits; ghosts
74 peremptorily adv. absolutely; without question
74 compelled v. forced
74 imperiously adv. arrogantly
75 demonstrative adj. obviously affectionate
75 grubstaked v. bought supplies for
76 conclusively adv. proving without doubt
76 apprehensions n. dreads; worries
76 malicious adj. harmful on purprose
76 array n. assortment; group of something
76 sufficient adj. enough
76 provocation n. cause to act or attack
76 discharged v. released; allowed to leave
77 mill-race n. the current of water that drives a mill wheel
79 extremity n. dying stage
80 waxed v. grew
80 stoutly adv. strongly; courageously
80 vaunt n. boast, bragging statement
81 plethoric adj. too full
82 contagion n. disease
82 superfluous adj. not needed; more that what is needed
82 repose n. at rest
83 conjuration n. making a magic spell
84 manoeuvre n. a planned action or move
84 incoherent adj. not making sense
85 indiscreet adj. not tactful

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Call of the Wild Vocabulary – Chapter 7

86 wherefore adv. because o f which
87 abundance n. large amount
87 descended v. go down
87 ascended v. go up
88 melancholy n. sadness
88 obliterated v. wiped out
88 placer n. a deposit of sand mixed with gold
89 salient adj. noticeable or striking
90 concealment n. the quality of being hidden
90 recurrent adj. repeating
91 unwonted adj. unusual
91 commingled v. mixed together
91 overture n. an initial proposal or beginning suggestion
91 pertinacity n. stubbornness; perseverance
92 belie v. to tell lies about
93 imperiously adv. overbearing; arrogant; domineering
93 latent adj. hidden, dormant (present, but inactive)
93 remnants n. small parts still left; a trace of something
94 chaff n. husks of grain that are separated when the grain is beaten
during threshing
94 prowess n. superior skill; valor in combat
94 contagion n. a disease that can be transmitted
94 carnivorous adj. meat-eating
94 vigor n. active physical or mental strength
94 virility n. manliness; the state of being male
95 equilibrium n. balance; especially of the body
95 sequential adj. occurring in order or sequence
95 infinitesimal adj. tiny
95 rampant adj. unrestrained; spreading unchecked
95 asunder adv. into different parts or pieces
95 ptarmigan n. a northern or alpine game bird
96 wantonness n. lack of discipline
96 humor n. mood
96 palmated adj. shaped like a hand with the fingers spread
96 paroxysms n. outbursts or convulsions
97 persistent adj. continuing despite problems; sticking to something
97 ambuscade n. place of surprise attack
97 harrying v. to force or move long by harassing
98 shambled v. walked clumsily, keeping feet low to the ground
98 slake v. to satisfy
98 loped v. ran in easy strides

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98 shambling v. walked clumsily, keeping feet low to the ground
98 palpitant adj. quivering; trembling
99 certitude n. certainty
99 multitudinous adj. crowded, great numbers
99 certitude n. certainty
99 calamity n. disaster
100 excrescence n. natural outgrowth
100 usurp v. takes control over
101 inconceivably adv. unimaginably
101 sluice boxes n. long channels through which water is run, leaving the gold
102 cessation v. ceasing or stopping
102 luringly adv. in a manner that attracts by offer of a reward
102 compellingly adv. holding or demanding attention
103 pell-mell adv. jumbled or confused
103 discomfited v. made unsettled or confused
104 writhed v. twisted

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