The Cask of Amontillado

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VOCABULARY

abscond (v) - to depart secretly; withdraw and hide oneself

accost (v) - to approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand

amontillado (n) - a wine from Spain; a pale kind of sherry

aperture (n) - opening; gap; slit

avenge (v) - to get revenge; to punish an injuring party or wrongdoer

avenger (n) - the person seeking revenge

borne (v) - past tense of “bear”, which means to tolerate or carry

cask (n) - a large wooden barrel, typically used for wine

catacombs (n) - underground cemetery in tunnels with chambers or recesses for graves

circumscribe (v) - encircle; define the boundaries of

conical (adj) - shaped like a cone [: kegle]

connoisseur (n) - a person with expert knowledge or training, especially in the fine arts

fetter (v) - to restrict the freedom of with chains; (n) a chain for the ankles

gait (n) - the speed or manner of moving on foot

gesticulate (v) - to make gestures, especially while speaking, for emphasis

grotesque (adj) - abnormal and hideous; distorted and unnatural in shape or size

hearken (v) - to listen attentively

immolation (n) - killing or offering as a sacrifice; to set oneself on fire

implore (v) - to beg for urgently; beseech

imposture (n) - tricking people deliberately by pretending to be somebody else

impunity (n) - freedom from punishment, harm or loss

motley (adj) - cosisting of many different colours or types

orb (n) - a sphere or spherical object

preclude (v) - to prevent; to hinder, block or impede

quack (n) - quack doctor; a person who claims to have medical knowledge

recoil (v) - to shrink back, as in fear or extreme dislike; to react with strong dislike

redress (v) - to make right; to remedy or rectify; to make amends for

repose (n) - the act of resting or the state of being at rest

resolve (v) - to find an acceptable solution; to settle

retribution (n) - punishment imposed on a wrongdoer for repayment or revenge

rheum (n) - a watery or thin mucous discharge from the eyes or nose

trowel (n) - tool with a flat, pointed blade used to level or spread cement or mortar

utterance (n) - something that you say

venture upon (v) - to engage in, to attempt

vow (n) - a formal and serious promise

wont (n) - a habit, something a person often does

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