Walking Dictionary
3 Want-to-Know Vocabulary:
imperturbable - His crumpled, hairless face was imperturbable” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
scaffold - “From knee to the chest, without the help of a scaffold” (Solzhenitsyn 89).
futile - “But it was futile to protest - the trusties were a gang all their own, and were also in solid with the guards” (Solzhenitsyn 130).
imperturbable - His crumpled, hairless face was imperturbable” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
scaffold - “From knee to the chest, without the help of a scaffold” (Solzhenitsyn 89).
futile - “But it was futile to protest - the trusties were a gang all their own, and were also in solid with the guards” (Solzhenitsyn 130).
1. malicious: having the nature of threatening evil
“...announcing to no one in particular but with a sort of malicious glee: ‘Well, sailors, grit your teeth. It’s twenty below, for sure’” (Solzhenitsyn 7).
SA: My sister broke a plate and was guilty of malicious behaviour.
Hamlet FW #1: My table group discussed how we wouldn't want Claudius to be our father for his malicious behaviour.
2. severe: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgement
"The frost was severe, but not as severe as the squad leader" (Solzhenitsyn 59).
SA: The man had a severe injury from the car accident.
FW Revision: Despite the severe circumstances of the gulag, Shukhov gradually found things to appreciate each day.
3. ration: a fixed portion that is allotted
“A cleverly fixed work report meant good rations for five days” (Solzhenitsyn 82).
SA: The prisoner had a specific ration of food each day.
FW Revision: Surviving with a small ration of supper and growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
4. bawl: cry loudly
"Tiurin was bawling out someone else down below” (Solzhenitsyn 96).
SA: The baby started bawling because it was hungry.
Creative FW: I felt like bawling, but of course that wouldn't change anything.
5. bedraggled: limp, untidy, and soiled
“...a bedraggled scrap of cloth had been sewn on them, just above the left knee, with a faded black number...” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
SA: The young boy picked up a bedraggled tennis ball from the park.
FW Revision: Ivan Denisovich lives a harsh, bedraggled life, one that many of us were not aware of until One Day was published.
Creative FW; On top was a bedraggled pile of textbooks and homework I've neglected since the first day of winter break.
6. ingenuous: lacking in sophistication or worldliness
“He smiled ingenuously, revealing the gaps in his teeth, the result of a touch of scurvy at Ust-Izhma in 1943” (Solzhenitsyn 13).
SA: The mother scolded at his son for his ingenuous behaviour at the restaurant.
Hamlet FW #2: In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare brings our attention to the ingenuous relationship of Hamlet and Ophelia -- the two star lovers who greatly emphasizes the theme of love.
7. commiseration: feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortune of others
“'You shouldn’t have shown your pride so much,' he said, shaking his head in commiseration” (Solzhenitsyn 49).
SA: They commiserated her for the unfortunate loss of her grandmother.
FW Revision: Though we commiserate their story, what we see behind the barbed wires is not all about devastation or cruelty.
Hamlet FW #4: Honestly, although it might sound a little mean, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem to be in the background most of the time, so I can’t get myself to commiserate their death.
8. neglect: leave undone or leave out
“Without neglecting a single fish scale or particle of flesh on the brittle skeleton, Shukov went on chomping his teeth and sucking the bones, spitting the remains on the table” (Solzhenitsyn 17).
SA: The students neglected him from their group discussion.
Creative FW: On top was a mountain of textbooks and homework I’ve neglected since the first day of winter break.
9. deliberate: carefully thought out in advance
“Waiting for work to start, or turned in for the night, they went on talking to each other in their quiet, deliberate manner” (Solzhenitsyn 48).
SA: She deliberately hugged her best friend from behind.
Creative FW: Though I'd like to say I had a deliberate plan on getting things done -- just not yet.
10. keen: intense or sharp
“The cold was growing keener” (Solzhenitsyn 85).
SA: He had a keen interest in sports.
Creative FW; It's nice to think that the people I care about have been active and doing things that they are keen about.
11. begrudge: be envious of
“...who wouldn't begrudge the loss of that sweet day?” (Solzhenitsyn 129).
SA: She didn't begrudge him for his toys.
Creative FW: I begrudged anyone who had finished their homework, spending their last week of break stress free.
12. barren: completely wanting or lacking
“The steppe was barren and windswept, with a dry wind in the summer and a freezing one in winter“ (Solzhenitsyn 71).
SA: The farmer's land was barren because of the cold weather.
FW Revision: Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s influential book, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, captures the behind-the-scenes of the barren environment of the Soviet prison.
13. disdainful: showing arrogant superiority to those one view as unworthy
“In fact, Solzhenitsyn had a rather disdainful attitude towards liberals” (Yevtushenko X).
SA: He have him a disdainful look as he commanded his younger brother to clean his room.
FW Revision: Growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
14. imperiously: in a manner showing arrogant superiority
“At that very moment his blanket and jacket were imperiously jerked off him” (Solzhenitsyn 7).
SA: The king imperiously orders his guards to keep the gates shut.
Hamlet FW #1: As Hamlet struggles his way through, Claudius is now imperiously demanding to make Hamlet move to England.
15. haggard: showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
“He had grown haggard during the past month, but he kept his bearing” (Solzhenitsyn 62).
SA: My mother looked haggard after a long day of work.
FW Revision: Growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
Creative FW: I guarantee, I looked haggard and completely out of control.
16. piecemeal: one thing at a time
"They provided the nation with piecemeal information about what was going on behind the barbed wire while newspapers and magazine maintained and artificially imposed silence about it." --> no in-text citation given
SA: The student tried to finish his homework with a piecemeal procedure.
Hamlet FW #5: I would describe Hamlet's revenge as piecemeal development, as he begins his revenge through a play.
17. contradictory: unable to be both true at the same time
"His hero was not a rebel against the camp regime, someone who considered that regime to be abnormal and contradictory to common sense." --> no in-text citation given
SA: His actions contradict the statement he made during the debate.
FW Revision: Contradictory to what I mentioned in the beginning, Shukhov is hopeful.
Hamlet FW #2: We can infer from this letter that in fact, Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is real. Although Shakespeare -- yet again -- contradicts this idea with the following quote...
18. expostulate: reason with for the purpose of dissuasion
“‘I’ve already counted fourteen,’ the cook expostulated. ‘So you did, but didn’t pass them out' " (Solzhenitsyn 74).
SA: I tried not to expostulate the new rules my parents have made.
FW Revision: There was no point in expostulating against them.
19. conspicuous: obvious to the eye or mind
“Anyway, you should never be conspicuous. The main thing was never to be seen by a camp guard on your own, only in a group” (Solzhenitsyn 18).
SA: He walked around the neighbourhood with a conspicuous tattoo on his neck.
Hamlet FW #6: Most of Shakespeare's plays don't have conspicuous themes or ideas on the surface of the text.
20. addle: mix up or confuse
“'Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat; and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling'"(Shakespeare Act 3, Scene 1).
SA: The lecture addled his thoughts since the professor talked too fast.
Hamlet FW #6: There is so much evidence that could answer a specific question, but Shakespeare will addle our minds on the next page with contradiction.
Creative FW: I was addled, I didn't know where the time had gone.
“...announcing to no one in particular but with a sort of malicious glee: ‘Well, sailors, grit your teeth. It’s twenty below, for sure’” (Solzhenitsyn 7).
SA: My sister broke a plate and was guilty of malicious behaviour.
Hamlet FW #1: My table group discussed how we wouldn't want Claudius to be our father for his malicious behaviour.
2. severe: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgement
"The frost was severe, but not as severe as the squad leader" (Solzhenitsyn 59).
SA: The man had a severe injury from the car accident.
FW Revision: Despite the severe circumstances of the gulag, Shukhov gradually found things to appreciate each day.
3. ration: a fixed portion that is allotted
“A cleverly fixed work report meant good rations for five days” (Solzhenitsyn 82).
SA: The prisoner had a specific ration of food each day.
FW Revision: Surviving with a small ration of supper and growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
4. bawl: cry loudly
"Tiurin was bawling out someone else down below” (Solzhenitsyn 96).
SA: The baby started bawling because it was hungry.
Creative FW: I felt like bawling, but of course that wouldn't change anything.
5. bedraggled: limp, untidy, and soiled
“...a bedraggled scrap of cloth had been sewn on them, just above the left knee, with a faded black number...” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
SA: The young boy picked up a bedraggled tennis ball from the park.
FW Revision: Ivan Denisovich lives a harsh, bedraggled life, one that many of us were not aware of until One Day was published.
Creative FW; On top was a bedraggled pile of textbooks and homework I've neglected since the first day of winter break.
6. ingenuous: lacking in sophistication or worldliness
“He smiled ingenuously, revealing the gaps in his teeth, the result of a touch of scurvy at Ust-Izhma in 1943” (Solzhenitsyn 13).
SA: The mother scolded at his son for his ingenuous behaviour at the restaurant.
Hamlet FW #2: In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare brings our attention to the ingenuous relationship of Hamlet and Ophelia -- the two star lovers who greatly emphasizes the theme of love.
7. commiseration: feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortune of others
“'You shouldn’t have shown your pride so much,' he said, shaking his head in commiseration” (Solzhenitsyn 49).
SA: They commiserated her for the unfortunate loss of her grandmother.
FW Revision: Though we commiserate their story, what we see behind the barbed wires is not all about devastation or cruelty.
Hamlet FW #4: Honestly, although it might sound a little mean, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem to be in the background most of the time, so I can’t get myself to commiserate their death.
8. neglect: leave undone or leave out
“Without neglecting a single fish scale or particle of flesh on the brittle skeleton, Shukov went on chomping his teeth and sucking the bones, spitting the remains on the table” (Solzhenitsyn 17).
SA: The students neglected him from their group discussion.
Creative FW: On top was a mountain of textbooks and homework I’ve neglected since the first day of winter break.
9. deliberate: carefully thought out in advance
“Waiting for work to start, or turned in for the night, they went on talking to each other in their quiet, deliberate manner” (Solzhenitsyn 48).
SA: She deliberately hugged her best friend from behind.
Creative FW: Though I'd like to say I had a deliberate plan on getting things done -- just not yet.
10. keen: intense or sharp
“The cold was growing keener” (Solzhenitsyn 85).
SA: He had a keen interest in sports.
Creative FW; It's nice to think that the people I care about have been active and doing things that they are keen about.
11. begrudge: be envious of
“...who wouldn't begrudge the loss of that sweet day?” (Solzhenitsyn 129).
SA: She didn't begrudge him for his toys.
Creative FW: I begrudged anyone who had finished their homework, spending their last week of break stress free.
12. barren: completely wanting or lacking
“The steppe was barren and windswept, with a dry wind in the summer and a freezing one in winter“ (Solzhenitsyn 71).
SA: The farmer's land was barren because of the cold weather.
FW Revision: Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s influential book, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, captures the behind-the-scenes of the barren environment of the Soviet prison.
13. disdainful: showing arrogant superiority to those one view as unworthy
“In fact, Solzhenitsyn had a rather disdainful attitude towards liberals” (Yevtushenko X).
SA: He have him a disdainful look as he commanded his younger brother to clean his room.
FW Revision: Growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
14. imperiously: in a manner showing arrogant superiority
“At that very moment his blanket and jacket were imperiously jerked off him” (Solzhenitsyn 7).
SA: The king imperiously orders his guards to keep the gates shut.
Hamlet FW #1: As Hamlet struggles his way through, Claudius is now imperiously demanding to make Hamlet move to England.
15. haggard: showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
“He had grown haggard during the past month, but he kept his bearing” (Solzhenitsyn 62).
SA: My mother looked haggard after a long day of work.
FW Revision: Growing haggard, Shukhov and his fellow prisoners dealt with freezing weather and the disdainful guards.
Creative FW: I guarantee, I looked haggard and completely out of control.
16. piecemeal: one thing at a time
"They provided the nation with piecemeal information about what was going on behind the barbed wire while newspapers and magazine maintained and artificially imposed silence about it." --> no in-text citation given
SA: The student tried to finish his homework with a piecemeal procedure.
Hamlet FW #5: I would describe Hamlet's revenge as piecemeal development, as he begins his revenge through a play.
17. contradictory: unable to be both true at the same time
"His hero was not a rebel against the camp regime, someone who considered that regime to be abnormal and contradictory to common sense." --> no in-text citation given
SA: His actions contradict the statement he made during the debate.
FW Revision: Contradictory to what I mentioned in the beginning, Shukhov is hopeful.
Hamlet FW #2: We can infer from this letter that in fact, Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is real. Although Shakespeare -- yet again -- contradicts this idea with the following quote...
18. expostulate: reason with for the purpose of dissuasion
“‘I’ve already counted fourteen,’ the cook expostulated. ‘So you did, but didn’t pass them out' " (Solzhenitsyn 74).
SA: I tried not to expostulate the new rules my parents have made.
FW Revision: There was no point in expostulating against them.
19. conspicuous: obvious to the eye or mind
“Anyway, you should never be conspicuous. The main thing was never to be seen by a camp guard on your own, only in a group” (Solzhenitsyn 18).
SA: He walked around the neighbourhood with a conspicuous tattoo on his neck.
Hamlet FW #6: Most of Shakespeare's plays don't have conspicuous themes or ideas on the surface of the text.
20. addle: mix up or confuse
“'Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat; and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling'"(Shakespeare Act 3, Scene 1).
SA: The lecture addled his thoughts since the professor talked too fast.
Hamlet FW #6: There is so much evidence that could answer a specific question, but Shakespeare will addle our minds on the next page with contradiction.
Creative FW: I was addled, I didn't know where the time had gone.