Vocabulary

Three Skeleton Key Vocabulary #1

derisive “…their comrades greeted them with shrill cries, with what sounded like a derisive note.” Adjective (p.o.s.) Form of deride Characterized by mocking. in a mean-spirited teasing manner (def.)

treacherous “Now, ships were a rare sight in our waters, for our light was a warning of treacherous reefs barely hidden under the surface and running out to sea.” Adjective (p.o.s.) Form of treachor Cheater, trickster Unstable or insecure or deceptive (def)

hordes “If you so much as harm one, his sharp cry will bring hordes of his fellows to swarm over you.” Noun (p.o.s.) Plural form of horde moving swarms or packs (def)

suffice “At times, when the cargo does not suffice, the rats attack the crew,…” Verb (p.o.s.) To be enough, sufficient, or adequate (def)

edible “ Below us, in the tower, we could hear the screams of the rats as they devoured everything edible that they found.” adjective, noun (p.o.s.) fit to be eaten, something that is fit to be eaten (def)

receding “…and an army of rats covering the rocks left bare by the receding tide.” Adjective (p.o.s.) Form of recede Departing or leaving (def)

extinguished “Our light extinguished, we returned to the gallery with our glasses and inspected her.” Verb, past tense (p.o.s.) Form of extinguish Having put out or quenched (def)

Three Skeleton Key Vocabulary #2

wide berth “Consequently we were always given a wide berth, especially by sailing vessels, which cannot maneuver as readily as steamers.” Noun (p.o.s.) Sufficient space (or clearing) between two objects (def.)

maneuver “Consequently we were always given a wide berth, especially by sailing vessels, which cannot maneuver as readily as steamers.” Verb (p.o.s.) To steer, guide, or pilot (a vehicle, vessel, etc.), esp. with skill (def.)

maws “…our only distraction was watching the rats whose holds were insecure fall a hundred and twenty feet into the maws of the sharks—” Noun, plural (p.o.s.) The jaws or mouth of a voracious (really,really hungry) animal (def.)

diminution “—but they were so many that we could not see any diminution in their numbers.” Noun (p.o.s.) Form of diminish The process of making less (def.)

Emanating “the light was emanating through the ship” Verb (p.o.s) Form of emanate Flowing forth as in light or gas (def.)

Incessently “ They moved incessantly, never still.” Adverb (p.o.s) form of incessant continuing without end, not stopping (def.)

derelict “If I say that no one’s aboard, I mean she’s a derelict.” Noun (p.o.s.) a vessel abandoned at sea (def.)