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Daily Archives: May 17, 2014
Cadaver
Cadaver- Noun
A corpse, a dead human body.
The Bell Jar
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cadaverMedical students train by using cadavers.
Used in a Sentence
After Buddy showed her the Rosenberg’s cadaver, Esther could not get the picture out of her head.
It was like the first time I saw a cadaver. For weeks afterward, the cadaver’s head — or what there was left of it — floated up behind my eggs and bacon at breakfast and behind the face of Buddy Willard, who was responsible for my seeing it in the first place, and pretty soon I felt as though I were carrying that cadaver’s head around with me on a string, like some black, noseless balloon stinking of vinegar.
My Glossary List
- Scorch
- Implore
- Nigh
- Cultish
- Lurid
- Anishinaabe
- Almanac
- Wharf
- Arbor
- Passe’
- Martyr
- Gingerly
- Hitherto
- Querulous
- Tumultuously
This glossary assignment greatly affected my reading process. I was able to explore my thoughts and ideas about a particular quote when I looked up the meaning of a word I didn’t know. I usually discern the meaning through context clues when I am reading but not knowing the words in exact meanings interfered with my understanding of the stories sometimes. I believe I got much more out of the readings because I was able to evaluate and interpret the purpose of the words used.
Scorch
Scorch – Verb
Definition: to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture; to dry or shrivel with or as if with intense heat.
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorch
Found in: The Shawl by Louise Erdrich
Quote: “He jumped up and, although he was wearing only light clothing, he ran behind the wagon over the packed drifts. The horses picked up speed. His chest was scorched with pain, and yet he pushed himself on.” (2nd page 3rd line).
This is when the little boy was running the behind the wagon as her mom and sister were leaving him behind. By knowing this word, I now clearly understand how as the horses ran faster, he pushed himself to run faster even though his chest started to burn from all the running.
Implore
im·plore – Verb
Description:
: to make a very serious or emotional request to (someone)
: to say (something) as a serious or emotional request
: to ask or beg for (something) in a very serious or emotional way
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implore
Found in : The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Quote: “Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. “ (2nd page, 4th paragraph).
Josephine was beginning and asking for permission to enter the room. This was when Mrs. Mallard locked herself in the room after hearing her husband’s death. Josephine seemed worried about Mrs. Mallard’s well being.
Nigh
Nigh – Adverb
Definition : close in time or place, almost or nearly
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nigh
Found in: Scenes From the Smith Family Christmas by Zaide Smith
Quote: “You have the strong urge to run screaming from the building holding your banner about the end and how it is nigh.” (3rd page, 5th paragraph)
The narrator is thinking about how she wants to run and scream holding a banner that says about the end of the world and how it is coming soon.
Cultish
Cultish – Adjective
Description: intended to appeal to a small group of fashionable people
Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cultish
Found in: Scenes From the Smith Family Christmas by Zaide Smith
Quote: “Poor Denzil; off the plane from Jamaica into bitter England, and stuck in the most cultish, insular day in the nuclear-family calendar.” (page 2, second paragraph from bottom).
In this quote the narrator is referring to her uncle Denzil who has been back from Jamaica to live with them in England. Knowing this word now made me understand that Denzil is coming from a crowded family and is now included in the narrator’s small family.
Lurid
Lurid – Adjective
Definition : very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect.
Source : http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/lurid
Found in: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Quote: “It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others.” (2nd page, last paragraph).
With this quote we can get a sense of how the narrator described the color of the wallpaper in her room that is driving her insane. She describes it as being dull and the orange in some places creates an unnatural and unpleasant effect.
Dissociate
Dissociate- (verb)
Definition: to end your relationship with or connection to someone or something : to separate (yourself) from someone or something
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissociate
Found in: “Quicksand” By, Nella Larsen. (P. 378)
Passage: “When she was in the street, she ran. Her only impulse was to get as far away from her uncles house, and this woman, his wife who so plainly wished to dissociate herself from the outrage of her very existence.”
After reading this definition I now understand that Helga wanted to get as far away as possible from her uncle and his wife. Her uncles wife didn’t want any type of connection or relation with Helga.
Berth
Berth- (noun)
Definition: a place to sleep on a ship, train, etc.
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth
Found in: “Quicksand” By, Nella Larsen. (P. 377)
Passage: “Her eyes sought the small watch at her wrist. Ten hours to Chicago. Would she be lucky enough to prevail upon the conductor to let her occupy a berth, or would she have to remain here all night, without sleep, without food, without drink and with that disgusting door panel to which her purposely averted eyes were constantly, involuntarily staring?”
By reading this definition I now understand that Helga was contemplating in her head if she’d be lucky enough to win over the conductor to see if he’d just let her relax in the train or she’d be kicked out helplessly.
