Call of the Wild Vocabulary
transient lasting a very short time
His transient masters since he had come into the Northland had bred in him a fear that no master could be
permanent.
Primitive characteristic of an earlier ancestral type
But in spite of this great love he bore John Thornton, which seemed to bespeak the soft civilizing influence, the
strain of the primitive, which the Northland had aroused in him, remained alive and active.
mandatea document giving an official instruction or command
Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law; and this mandate, down out of the depths of Time, he obeyed.
Malicious having the nature of threatening evil
"Black" Burton, a man evil-tempered and malicious, had been picking a quarrel with a tenderfoot at the bar, when
Thornton stepped good-naturedly between.
Provocation a means of arousing or stirring to action
A "miners' meeting," called on the spot, decided that the dog had sufficient provocation, and Buck was
discharged.
Hinder prevent the progress or accomplishment of
"I've got a sled standing outside now, with twenty fifty pound sacks of flour on it," Matthewson went on with
brutal directness; "so don't let that hinder you."
Incoherent without logical or meaningful connection
Men were shaking hands, it did not matter with whom, and bubbling over in a general incoherent babel.
Tom Sawyer Vocabulary
Homage respectful deference
Pariah a person who is rejected from society or home
Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village, Huckleberry Finn, son of the town
drunkard.
Reckon deem to be
Least I reckon so."
Animosity a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
She thrust it away again, but with less animosity.
Upbraid express criticism towards
Prevailing most frequent or common
He crossed a small "branch" two or three times, because of a prevailing juvenile superstition
that to cross water baffled pursuit.
Zephyr a slight wind
Stolid having or revealing little emotion or sensibility