Teacher Guide
Vocabulary with Definitions
Part One: The Hearth and the Salamander
1. abstract – not concrete; theoretical
2. abyss – a deep gorge or chasm; a vast empty space
3. ballistics – the study of projectiles or firearms
4. bestial – lacking human feelings of pity or remorse
5. bewilderedly – in a confused manner
6. cacophony – an unpleasant combination of sounds
7. centrifuge – a device that separates substances
8. cinders – burned wood or fuel
9. condemnation – a pronouncement of guilt
10. devotion – a deep commitment of love
11. drear – a feeling of darkness and gloom
12. fathoms – depths of water
13. feigning – faking; pretending
14. flue – an outlet for smoke or heat
15. gorging – eating greedily and to excess
16. illumination – making something visible or lit
17. incinerator – a furnace for burning trash
18. jargon – a language used by a specialized group
19. luminescent – able to emit light by means other than heat
20. marionette – a wooden puppet
21. mausoleum – a large tomb
22. melancholy – feeling or causing sadness
23. noncombustible – unable to catch fire easily
24. objectivity – ability to view things without emotion or prejudice
25. olfactory – relating to the sense of smell
26. proclivities – natural tendencies to behave in a certain way
27. pulverized – crushed into a powder or dust
28. seized – took hold of something quickly and firmly
29. sheath – a case for a blade
30. stratum – several layers of something, usually land
31. tactile – relating to the sense of touch
32. torrent – a powerful rush of water
33. venomous - poisonous
34. ventilator – a device to circulate fresh air
35. waft – to float gently through the air