GLOSSARY
(The abbreviations used are: n. = noun; v. = verb; adj. = adjective; p.t. = past tense; esp. = especially.)
A
ADJUST: (i) to set right; (2) to make something fit.
ADVANCE: advanced in years = old.
AFFECTED: deeply affected = with feelings of great sadness. AFFIRMATIVE: nodded in the affirmative = moved his head in a way which meant 'Yes \
AGITATED: excited; (n.) agitation.
AGONY: great pain or suffering.
AGREEABLE: (1) pleasing; (2) ready to agree.
AIR: manner, appearance: e.g. with the air of a stranger = looking like a stranger; with a determined air = looking determined.
ALARMING: frightening.
ALL: all but = almost, nearly.
ALTER: change.
ALTERNATE: one after the other.
AMAZE: astonish; (n.) amazement.
AMIABLE: friendly.
ANCHOR: (v.) to fix a ship in one place with an anchor ( = instrument let down to the bottom of the sea to prevent a ship from moving). APPEARANCES: to all appearances = so far as can be seen. APPRENTICE: one who has promised to serve a master for a number of years in order to learn his trade; apprenticeships the state of being an apprentice.
AROUSE: waken; arouse suspicions to cause others to suspect something.
ARTFUL: clever and deceiving.
ASCEND: to go up.
ASSENT: (n.) agreement.
AYE: yes.
B
BACON: salted meat from the back and sides of a pig.
BALD: without hair on the head.
BANDAGE: (v.) to tie up in pieces of cloth.
BANISH: to send away from the country as punishment.
BAR: place where drinks are served.
BARRIER: a rough fence across a path to prevent people from passing.
BEER: a drink made from grain.
BEHALF: on his behalf—for the purpose of helping him.
BENCH: the bench = a judge's position.
BENEFACTOR: one who does good to others.
BLANK: missing word.
BLIND: see Window-blind.
BLOOM: the bloom of womanhood—the. beauty of woman at its best. BLUSH: to become red in the face with shyness or shame.
BOLT: bar used to fasten a door.
BONNET: hat tied on the head with strings.
BOUNDS: boundaries, limits.
BOX: a box on the ear= 3. blow.
BRACELET: a band worn round the arm as an ornament.
BREAST: front of the chest (used for the place of one's feelings). BROAD: broad rfay = fuil daylight.
BROOCH: ornamental pin worn on the clothes.
BRUISE: coloured place on the skin caused by a blow.
BRUTE: animal; man who behaves like an animal; brutal = like an animal, very cruel.
BULLET: shot fired from a gun.
BUT: (sometimes) only.
BUTLER: man-servant in charge of the dining-room.
C
CANDLESTICK: support for a candle.
CANE: walking-stick.
CANVAS: strong cloth used for a ship's sails, tents, etc.
CAPTOR: one who has caught (captured) another.
CATCH: catch his eye—make him notice one.
CEILING: the top (inside) of a room.
CHALLENGE: deny the truth of what has been said.
CHARITY-BOY: boy who lived at home but was kept by public money. CHATTER: his teeth chattered = made a noise by hitting against one another.
CHEERLESS: dull, uncomfortable.
CHIMNEY-SWEEP: man who cleans the insides of chimneys.
CHIN: the part of the face below the mouth.
CHOKE: to prevent from breathing.
CITY: the City = the business part of London.
CLASP: join tightly together.
CLASS: first-class = (slang) the best.
CLAW: bony, sharp-nailed finger.
CLING: hold firmly.
CLOAK: loose outer garment.
CLOSE: the day closed in = it became dark.
CLUE: that which leads one to-find the answer to a question. CLUTCH: seize; hold tightly.
COACHMAN: man who drives a carriage.
CO CKE D HAT: hat with its edges turned up.
COFFIN: box in which a dead body is put.
COIL: a set of circles of rope (or wire, etc.).
COLOUR: he coloured = his face became red.
COME: to come offs happen.
COMMONS: House of Commons—See House.
COMMUNICATE: speak or send messages.
COMPARATIVELY: compared with others.
CONCLUSION: end.
CONFIDE: tell secrets to a trusted person.
CONFINE: confined to = found only in.
CONFIRM: to make certain.
CONSIDERABLE: not a little.
CONSULT: (sometimes) take into consideration; consult a watch = \ook at—
CONTEMPT: scorn; adj. contemptuous.
CONTRADICTION: disagreeing with what others say.
CORPSE: dead body.
COUNSEL: to take counsels ask each other's advice.
COUNTER: long table in a shop on which goods are shown. COUNTRYSIDE: the country round a place.
CRACK: a crack on the head = a blow.
CRADLE: baby's bed; childhood.
CRIPPLE: one who cannot walk properly because of damaged legs. CRITICAL: the critical moment—the time when one thing or the other may happen.
CRUST: hard outer part, e.g. of bread.
CUFF: turned-up fold of a coat or shirt at the end of the arm. CUNNING: clever, deceiving.
CUSTOMER: person buying in a shop or public-house.
D
DAMN: curse.
DART: to dart away—move away very quickly.
DASH: to dash his brains out = break his head to pieces.
DAYBREAK: dawn, the first light of day.
DEADLY: deadly fear = very great fear; deadly pale—like one who is very ill.
DECIDED: a decided miser- very much a miser.
DEFAMATION: damaging the fame or good name of a person.
DEN: (i) hole in which an animal lives; (2) hiding-place, usually for thieves.
DENY: to deny somebody somethings not give.
DEPRIVE: take away from
DESERT: (v.) to leave unprotected; the street was deserted = there was nobody in—
DESTINATION: place to which one is going; to which a letter is being sent.
DIRECTLY: immediately.
DISMAL: unhappy.
DISMOUNT: to get down from (a horse, carriage, etc.).
DISTRIBUTE: give out among several people, or in different places.
DISTRUST: not to trust.
DOCK: place in a court of law where a prisoner stands.
DODGER: one who can dodge ( = escape by tricks) cleverly.
DOZE: to sleep lightly.
DROWSY: sleepy.
DRUG: medicine to cause sleep.
DRUNK, DRUNKEN: behaving badly because of strong drink;
drunkenness.
DULY: as agreed upon.
DWELLING: house.
E
EASY: easy chair-a, comfortable arm-chair.
ELBOW: (v.) push (as in getting through a crowd).
ELDERLY: rather old.
ELEMENT: earth was not her element = she was not made to live earth.
EMERGE: to come out.
ENDANGER: to put into danger.
ENVELOP: to hide by covering all round.
ERRAND: journey made to carry a message.
EXAGGERATION: adding to the true facts.
EXCLAMATION: something said in surprise.
EXHAUSTED: too tired to do anything more.
EXPOSURE: being out in (the cold, etc.).
F
FAIR: beautiful.
FATAL: ending in death.
FATIGUE: great tiredness.
FEEBLE: weak.
FELL (p.t. felled ): cause to fall.
FIST: the closed hand.
FIT: a fit of crying= sudden violent crying.
FLEE (p.t. fled): to escape, run away.
FLIGHT: a flight of steps = a set of stairs.
FLY: to advance or fly = go forward or run away. FORCIBLE: by force.
FOREMOST: the one in front.
FORMIDABLE: causing fear.
FORTNIGHT: two weeks.
FRAUD: deception, dishonesty.
FREQUENT: (v.) go often to (a place).
FRIGHTFULLY: in a frightening way.
FROWN: to draw down the eyebrows (as when angry). FULFIL: to give what is wanted.
FURY: great anger; (adj.) furious.
G
GAIN: to gain the corner = arrive at—; to gain upon = come nearer to. GALLOWS: a wooden framework for killing wrong-doers by hanging them by the neck.
GAME: the game was up with us = we were caught.
GANG: band (of robbers, etc.).
GASP: to take a sharp breath, as when astonished or afraid. GATHER: (sometimes) to come to know.
GIN: a colourless strong drink.
GLARE: (n.) very bright light; (v.) to look angrily at.
GLIDE: move silently.
GLOOM: darkness; (adj.) gloomy.
GRATITUDE: gratefulness, thankfulness.
GREEN: (sometimes—slang) simple-minded, inexperienced.
GROPE: to grope one's way = feel for one's way with outstretched hands. GROWL: to make an angry sound like that of an angry dog. GUINEA: a gold coin worth £i is.
H
HALF-CROWN: silver coin worth two shillings and sixpence (J^ of £i). HAM: meat from the leg of a pig, salted.
HAND: to bring up by hand = feed from a bottle; take him off my hands—look after him so that I need not do so.
HARSH: rough, unpleasant.
HAUGHTY: proud and scornful of others.
HAUNT: (n.) a place visited often; (v.) (i) to visit often, (2) to keep coming back to the mind.
HAY-RICK: store of hay (dry grass) built up in the shape of a hut. HEADLONG: as quickly as possible, without looking to right or left. HEART: to set one's heart upon = decide that one must have. HEARTY: with a good heart; a hearty laugh—loud; a hearty meal = eaten with great enjoyment; a hearty welcome = full of true feeling.
HEEL: to show one's heels =run away.
HINGE: the moving metal part between (e.g.) a door and the door-post on which it turns.
HOARSE: rough-sounding, as after shouting too much.
HOUSE OF COMMONS: the lower law-making house of Parliament. HOUSEBREAKER: thief who breaks into houses.
HOUSEMAID: woman servant.
HUMANE: kind and gentle.
HUMILITY: n. from Humble; mock-humility = pretending ter be humble.
HUMOUR: in the humour /o = in a favourable state of mind to. HUSH: be silent.
HYDE PARK: a large open space with grass and trees in London.
I
IDENTIFY: pick out as the right one; identity =who a person is (e.g. you must prove your identity before you can receive money at a bank).
ILL-TREAT: to be cruel to.
IMPATIENT: not wanting to wait.
IMPRESSIVE: solemn; impressively = in an important way. IMPUDENT: not showing proper respect.
INDIFFERENCE: not caring.
INDIRECTLY: as a result, but not a direct result.
INEXCUSABLE: that cannot be excused or forgiven.
INFALLIBLE: which never goes wrong.
INFAMOUS: having a very bad character.
INFORM: to inform about (against) = tell the police.
INHERIT: receive property after the owner's death.
INMATES: those who live in a place.
INSENSIBLE: knowing nothing about what is happening.
INSPECT: to look at closely; (n.) inspection.
INTENTLY: with great attention; intent upon (on) = attending carefully to.
INTEREST: to have an eye to one's in teres t = look out for ways of making money, etc.
INTIMATE: close (friend).
INVALUABLE: of the greatest possible value.
IRONICAL: adj. from Irony ( = using words which are opposite to one's feelings—for an example, see Pretty in the Glossary).
J
J ACKET: short coat.
AILER: prison-keeper.
JERK: (n.) a sudden movement or sudden stop.
JEW: member of a race that once lived in Palestine but now lives in many countries.
JOLLY: happy, merry.
JUG: pot (with handle) for liquids.
JURY: twelve men chosen to decide in a law-court whether an accused person is guilty or not guilty.
L
LABOUR: hard labour = a form of punishment in prison. LABOURER: farm worker.
LAL* boy; lad of all work = boy who does work of any kind. LADEN: carrying.
LAMB: like a lamb = being very well behaved.
LAME: having a bad leg and unable to walk properly.
LANDING: flat place between two sets of stairs.
LANTERN: lamp that can be carried about.
LEAKY: having small holes through which water can get in or out. LEAVE: to take one's leave—to say good-bye and go away. LECTURE: speech given to teach (usually many people).
LEISURE: at leisure = at the time that suits one.
LEND: to lend a hand—help.
LENGTH: at length = at last.
LET: to let = (this house) can be hired.
LIMP: to walk unevenly because of a damaged foot or leg.
LINED: (about a pocket-book—thieves' slang) containing money. LINGER: to stay a long time.
LOCK: a lock of hair=curl of several hairs.
LOCKET: small box made of precious metal, worn round the neck, containing a picture or the hair of a loved one.
LOITER: to stand about idly.
LOSS: at a loss = not knowing what to do.
LOTS: to cast lots—choose one out of a number of people by a game of chance.
LOVELY: beautiful.
LUGGAGE: all the bags of a traveller.
M
MA'AM: a form of * Madam' used by a servant to his mistress. MAGISTRATE: judge in whose court small matters are decided. MAJESTIC: like a great ruler.
MAKER: her Maker—God.
MARK: mark my words = think about what I say.
MATERIAL: (adj.) real.
MATTRESS: large flat bag filled with cotton or other material used for sleeping on.
MAZE: many paths turning this way and that way, so that it is difficult to find one's way.
MELTING-POT: pot used to melt gold and silver articles. MERRIMENT: happiness; laughter.
MIDST: middle.
MIGHT: (n.) power.
MISCHIEF: wrong-doing; to mean mischief = to have evil plans. MISER: one who saves and loves money too much.
MISSIS: (as used by servants) the mistress.
MIST: cloud close to the ground; a mist came before his eyes = he could not see clearly because of tears.
MISTERING: (made-up word) calling someone 'Mr.'.
MOAN: (n.) low sound of grief or pain; (v.) to make such sounds MONSTER: person too wicked to be human.
MOTION: (v.) to make a sign.
MOUNT: to climb up on.
MOURNFUL: sad.
MUTTER: to speak in a low voice without moving the lips.
N
NARRATE: to tell a story.
NARROWLY: she eyed him narrowly = watched him to see what he was going to do.
NATIVE: his native place = the place in which he was born.
NAVAL: of the Navy (a country's warships).
NECK: to bring one's neck in danger = risk being hanged.
NEW: the New IForW = N. and S. America; a newcomer =one who has just arrived.
NIGHTCAP: cap worn in bed.
NIGHTFALL: the end of the day.
NOOSE: a running noose = circle of rope which becomes tight when one end is pulled.
NOSTRILS: the two openings of the nose.
O
OATH: (i) a promise in the name of God; (2) an evil word. OBSCURE: little known.
OBSERVE: (sometimes) to say.
OBSTINATE: unwilling to obey; not giving up an opinion. OBVIOUS: clear, easily seen.
OCCUPY: occupied = busy.
OCCUR: it occurred to him that = \ht thought came to him that. ONION: strong-smelling vegetable used in cooking.
OPPOSE: be against; take the other side; (n.) opposition. ORPHAN: child whose parents are dead.
OUTSKIRTS: the outer edge of a town.
OVERDO: to do something too much (e.g. act too much). OVERHEAR: to hear words not meant for oneself. OVERPOWER: to conquer by greater power.
OVERTAKE: catch up with.
OVERTHROW: upset, cause to fall over.
P
PACE: at a good pace = quickly; paces in advance = several yards ahead. PALM: the flat inside of the hand.
PARISH: district served by a church; local government of such a district.
PARLIAMENTARY: adj. from Parliament (a body of persons chosen to make the country's laws).
PARROT: a bird which can repeat words.
PARTIAL: in part.
PARTY: party to a murder =one who is responsible in some way for—;
two parties to a bargain = two people who have made an agreement. PASSIONATE: showing very strong feelings.
PATIENT: (n.) person who is ill.
PAUPER: poor person, esp. one helped with public money. PAVEMENT: stone footway.
PEDLAR: one who sells from door to door.
PEEL: orange-peel—the skin of an orange.
PEEP: (n. & v.) look for a moment.
PENETRATE: go into; find the answer to.
PEPPER: hot-tasting powder made from a seed and used with food. PERFUME: sweet-smelling liquid.
PERSON: found on his person = hidden in his clothing.
PICKPOCKET: one who secretly steals things from people's pockets. PIERCING: very cold (air).
PISTOL: very short gun fired with one hand.
PITCH: black.
PITEOUS: showing pity.
PITIFUL: needing pity; (sometimes) having pity.
PLAIN: (adj.) simple, without ornament.
PLANT: (v.) (sometimes) to put.
PLUNDER: (v.) to steal by force; (n.) the act of—
PORE: small opening in the body from which sweat comes when the body is hot.
POWDER: with a powdered head = with hair made white by powder (very old-fashioned in Dickens's time).
PRECAUTION: care taken before an event.
PRETTY: pretty well—quite well; pretty treatment = fine treatment (but meaning 'unfair').
PROTECTRESS: woman who protects.
PRUDENCE: wisdom; not acting foolishly.
PUBLIC-HOUSE: place where strong drink is sold.
PULSE: the heart-beat.
PURSUE: (i) run after; (2) go on speaking; to pursue one's way = go on; pursuers—those who run after someone; pursuit = running after.
Q
QUESTION: out of the question = not to be thought of.
R
RARITY: n. from Rare.
RASCAL: bad man or boy.
RATTLE: make a noise as of shaking stones in a tin.
REAR: (v.) to look after a child; (n.) to bring up the rear—come last. RECOVERY: becoming better after an illness.
REDUCE: to make weak; to reduce to poverty = make poor.
REFLECT: (sometimes) to think; reflections = thoughts; thoughts spoken aloud.
REGARD: to look at.
REJOIN: to go back to.
RELATE: to tell (the story).
RELAX: to become less hard.
REMAINDER: what remains.
REMORSE: deep sorrow for wrong done.
REPENT: to feel sorry for having done wrong; (n.) repentance. RESEMBLANCE: looking like (from v. resemble).
RESERVE: (n.) keeping back part of the truth. RESPECTABLE: behaving so well as to gain respect. RESTLESS: wanting to do something but not sure what to do. RESTORE: to put back as it was; bring back to health. RESUME: begin again; continue after a pause.
RETIRE: to move away.
RETURN: —returned Sikes= Sikes answered.
REVIVE: to bring back to one's senses.
ROLL: (n.) small round loaf of bread for one person.
ROUSE: to wake up; to excite.
RUFFIAN: a rough, lawless fellow.
RUSTLE: to make a noise like moving paper.
S
SAUSAGE: meat cut into very small pieces and put into a thin tubelike skin.
SCAFFOLD: raised wooden floor on which evil-doers stood before being hanged.
SCRAP: small piece.
SCREAM: to give a loud, high cry.
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Minister of the Interior, head of the government office dealing with matters inside the country.
SENSE: to collect his senses = begin thinking again.
SENTENCE: the judge's sentence = his punishment of a wrong-doer;
sentence of death = punishment by hanging.
SERVE: serve him right-it will be a just punishment; to serve his turn = help him.
SHABBY: (garment) old and much worn; (person) poorly dressed. SHARP: at five sharp = at five o'clock exactly.
SHAWL: loose cloth worn over the shoulders.
SHED: (n.) hut; (v.) to shed blood = kill.
SHE-DEVIL: female devil.
SHIVER: to tremble.
SHOT: within s/zof = able to be seen and shot.
SHRINK: to draw back.
SHRUG: to draw up (one's shoulders) meaning 'I don't care*. SHUTTER: movable wooden covering for a window.
SIMILARITY: looking like.
SINCERITY: n. from Sincere.
SINGLE-HANDED: alone, without help.
SKINNY: very thin.
SLAP: to hit with the open hand.
SLEEVE: that part of a coat, shirt, etc., which covers the arm. SLIGHT: (of body) not heavy.
SNARE: (n.) trap for animals or birds; (v.) to catch in a trap. SNATCH: to seize suddenly and without asking.
SNEER: smile showing disrespect.
SNEEZE: to make a sudden outburst of breath through nose and mouth. SNUFF: tobacco powder drawn up the nose.
SO: so-so = neither good nor bad.
SOFA: cushioned seat for two or more people.
SOIL: (v.) to make dirty.
SOLITARY: lonely; solitude = loneliness.
SOON: this was no sooner done than = as soon as this was done. SOUL: not a soul = nobody at all.
SPARE: to spare him {from such deeds) = keep, or save, him; spare my life = do not kill me.
SPARKLING: flashing light.
SPECTACLE-CASE; case (box) for a pair of spectacles (eye-glasses). SPECTATOR: one who looks on.
SPIDER: eight-legged creature whichjmakes a web (net) of fine threads. SPILL: to spill someone's blood = kill.
SPLASH: to throw out water or mud.
SPORT: in sport = as a joke.
SPOT: (sometimes) place.
SPRING-GUN: trap which fires a gun if an animal moves a string. STAGGER: to walk unsteadily.
STAMP: (v.) to put the foot down noisily.
STANDSTILL: brought to a standstill stopped.
START: (sometimes) to jump with fear.
STARTLE: to surprise and frighten.
STEAL: to steal a look = look without being seen to do so; to steal away = move away unseen.
STEALTHILY: secretly, like a thief.
STIR: to move.
STOP: to stop dead = stop suddenly and not move.
STRAND: a street in London.
STRANGLE: to kill by holding the throat tightly.
STUDY: (n.) room for reading and writing.
STUMBLE: to make a wrong step and fall forwards.
SUPPRESS: to put down; keep down.
SURGEON: doctor who cuts the body to heal it; surgeon's friend—something which will cause people to need a surgeon.
SWAMP: soft, very wet land.
SWEAR: to swear somebody = make him swear that he will tell the truth.
SWELL: (adj.) (slang) fashionable.
T
TEAR: tore along= went very quickly. TERMS: conditions of an agreement. TERRIFIED: full of terror (great fear).
TIMID: fearful.
TINKER: man who repairs things made of metal.
TIPTOE: on tiptoe = on the points (ends) of the toes, silently.
TOAST: pieces of bread made hard and brown on the surface by being held in front of a fire.
TORCH: piece of wood with oil on the end, burnt to give light. TORTURE: (n.) great pain; (v.) to cause such pain.
TRAIN: a train of ideas = one idea coming after another. TRAP-DOOR: covered opening in a floor or roof.
TREMENDOUS: very great.
TRIAL: (sometimes) trouble or difficulty.
TRIFLE: (n.) unimportant thing.
TROUSERS: man's clothing covering the lower part of the body and each leg.
TWINKLING: in a twinklings very quickly.
U
UNDERTAKER: one who arranges for dead people to be buried. UNEASY: not feeling comfortable; anxious; (adv.) uneasily. UNINHABITED: having nobody living in it.
UPBRINGING: bringing up, training.
V
VERDICT: opinion given by the jury (see Jury).
VICE-PRESIDENT: one who acts for the president. (There is no Vice-President of the House of Commons.)
VILLAGER: one who lives in a village.
VILLAIN: wrong-doer.
VIRTUES: good qualities.
VISIBLE: which can be seen; invisible = which cannot be seen. VOLUNTARY: acting of one's own free will, not forced.
W
WAG: (v.) to move (as a dog moves its tail in pleasure). WASHERWOMAN: woman whose work is to wash clothes.
WASTE: to waste away = gradually become thinner and weaker.
WEB: see Spider.
WHARF: place built at the edge of the water at which ships can load and unload.
WILL: (n.) signed paper in which a person says what is to be done with his property when he dies.
WINDOW-BLIND: cloth pulled down from a roller to cover a window. WINK: to shut one eye without moving the other.
WITHERED: dried up; thin.
WOMANHOOD: the condition or time of being a woman.
WORKHOUSE: a place for homeless poor people.
WORKMANSHIP: of fine workmanship = very finely made.
WORSHIP: your worships words used when speaking to a judge. WORTH WHILE: a good, or necessary, thing to do.
WRETCH: (i) bad person; (2) sad, poor person; wretched = ve ry unhappy.