Doubloon

a former gold coin of Spain and Spanish America, originally equal to two escudos but fluctuating in value.

noun

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/doubloon?s=t

“The men at the ice house. From she can tell from the times during her first year when still newly wed, she is invited and accompanies her husband sits mute beside their conversation waits and sips her beer until it grows warm, twists a paper napkin into a knot and another into a fan, one into a rose, nods her head, smiles, yawns, politely grins, laughs at the appropriate moments, leans against her husbands sleeves, tugs at his elbows and finally becomes good at predicting where the talk will leads, from this Cleofilas concludes each is nightly trying to find the truth lying at the bottom of the bottle like a gold doubloon on the floor sea” pg1403

Now that I understand the meaning behind Doubloon, I understand everyone is very eager for their drinks and good times like they would be eager to find treasure in the ocean. That they find their purpose in life, in their drinks.

 

 

Cockscombs

a garden plant, Celosia cristata, of the amaranth family, with flowers, commonly crimson or purple, in a broad spike somewhat resembling the comb of a cock.

noun

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cockscombs?s=t

The neighbor lady Dolores divided her time between the memory of these men and her garden, famous for it’s sunflowers, so tall they had to be supported by broom handles and old boards; red red cockscombs, fringed and bleeding a thick menstrual color; and especially roses whose sad scent reminded Cleofilas of the dead.” pg 1402

I understand that in this passage I understand that the neighbor, Dolores really tends to her garden with lots of care.

 

 

Analogical

Analogical:( Adjective)

Definition:logic, maths  a form of reasoning in which a similarity between two or more things is inferred from a known similarity between them in other respects

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Oh, we Smiths are ardent seekers after the spirit of Christmas, and we do not listen to Iris Murdoch’s sensible analogical advice: ”Good represents the reality of which God is the dream.” We’re chasing the dream, baby.

This just means that they didn’t want to follow their advice, which was in the form of reasoning.

Enlightenment

enlightenment: Noun

Definition:the state of being enlightened.

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Outsiders do best if they seeketh neither enlightenment nor the remote control.

This just means that they weren’t looking for neither of these two things.

Inevitable

Inevitable:(Adjective)

Definition:unable to be avoided.

Dictionary.com

But I also felt the weird relief which comes from knowing that the inevitable destruction of precious things, though done in your house, was not done by your hand.

What is being said here is that they are happy that they didn’t ruin the picture because precious things are always going to be destroyed in your house.

Coherent

 Coherent: (Adjective)

Definition: logically connected

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They dreamed dreams that no one knew-not even themselves, in any coherent fashion-and saw visions no one could stand.

I think that this means that they would just see the same visitors all of the time.

 

Pitiful

 Pitiful: (Adjective)

Definition:evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality

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Who were these Saints? These crazy, loony, pitiful women? Some of them, without a doubt, were our mothers and grandmothers.

This just meant that the women are like not seen as much.

Mutilated

 Mutilated: (Verb)

Definition: to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts

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They stumbled blindly through their lives: creatures so abused and mutilated in body, so dimmed and confused by pain, that they considered themselves unworthy even of hope.

This just means that  these creatures were so abused and injured, and the body was confused with pain.

Temperament

Temperament: (Noun)

Definition: the combination of mental, physical, and emotional traits of a person.

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I described her own nature and temperament.

This just meant that she was describing her mental, physical, and emotional traits.

 

 

 

Congenial

Congenial: (Adjective)

Definition: agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character.

Dictionary.com

Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good.

This just means that she wanted to read something that was pleasing and exciting.