Vocabulary from Fever 1793

1. Vocabulary from Fever 1793

2. Rouse – verb Definition: to stir up or excite; to cause to awake from sleep. “I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in the right. ‘Rouse yourself this instant!’” Pg. 1 Rouse

3. Drone – verb Definition: To talk persistently in a dull and monotonous voice. “Her voice droned on and on as she clattered down the stairs.” Pg. 2 Drone

4. Hearth – noun Definition: the brick, stone or concrete floor area of the fireplace. “She dished up a bowl of oatmeal from a pot that hung by the side of the hearth…” Pg. 9

5. Disreputable – adjective Definition: not respected or trusted by most people, not having a good reputation. “I tied a disreputable straw hat atop the cap, one I could never wear in the street…before I ran outside. Pg. 11 Disreputable

6. Miasma – noun Definition: a heavy cloud of unhealthy or unpleasant air. “It’s the source of a deadly miasma, a foul stench, indeed.” Pg. 19 Miasma

7. Pleurisy – noun Definition: a serious and painful disease of the lungs. “It could have been a sudden pleurisy or a weak heart.” Pg. 26 Pleurisy

8. Impudence – noun Definition: rudeness, boldness “He snatched an apple from my basket and took a bite. The impudence.” Impudence

9. Condolence – noun Definition – a expression of sympathy or sadness, especially when someone is suffering after the death of a loved one. “He expressed his condolences on the death of my friend…” Pg. 35 Condolence

10. Quarantine – verb Definition: to keep a person or animal away from others in order to prevent the spread of disease. “The mayor should quarantine them on Hog Island for a few weeks and the fever would pass.” Pg. 38 Quarantine

11. Idle – verb Definition: to spend time doing nothing or doing nothing useful. Matilda’s mother hates it when Matilda idles around the house. “idleness” – noun – state of being idle. Pg. 42 Also an adjective – meaning – not working. Idle

12. Vulgar – adjective Definition: offensive, rude, or indecent. “Try this on and don’t be vulgar,” Mother said.” Pg. 44 Vulgar

13. Din – noun Definition: a loud sound, a combination of discordant sounds. “…The church bells of Philadelphia tolled without cease. Guns were fired on the street corners…The din was maddening.” Pg. 54 Din

14. Vehemently – adverb Definition: loudly, insistently and angrily. “Grandfather sped up. ‘Sir, I protest most vehemently!’” Pg. 61 Vehemently

15. Cajole – verb Definition: to persuade or coax, often with flattery and promises. “No amount of cajoling would change her mind.” Pg. 74 Cajole

16. Odiferous – adjective Definition: smelly, having a strong odor. “And now I am going to get some sleep before our coachman delivers us unto the joys of the Ludington family barnyard and their odiferous pigs.” Pg. 80 Odiferous

17. Harried – adjective Definition: beset by problems; stressed by many problems. “’Thank you,’ I told the harried woman.” Pg. 185 Harried

18. Scurrilous – adjective Definition: vulgar and evil, containing vulgar language or obscenities, immoral “’He’s a scurrilous dog, that man,’ she muttered.” Pg. 194 Scurrilous

19. Ominous – adjective Definition: suggesting or hinting that something bad will happen in the future. “On the fourth day…an ominous silence pressed in on the room as the fever penetrated deeper.” Pg. 204 Ominous

20. Frail – adjective Definition: very weak, easily damaged or destroyed. “The boys turned frail, their skin ashen and cheeks sinking, as their bodies burned up under the infection.” Pg. 204 Frail

21. Fetid – adjective Definition: having a strong, offensive smell. “The fetid stench that had hung over the city for weeks was gone, replaced with brittle, pure air.” Pg. 210 Fetid