GLOSSARY

A

ADJUST: (1) to set right; (2) to make something's 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 day = full 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.

COCKED 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 = look 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: (1) 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 £1 is.

H

HALF-CROWN: silver coin worth two shillings and sixpence .

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. (1) 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 of = 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 interest = 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

JACKET: 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 World = 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: (1) 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 = the 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: (1) 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 shot = 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 which makes 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 twinkling, 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: (1) bad person; (2) sad, poor person; wretched = very unhappy.