Vocabulary from An American Childhood By Annie Dillard

Improvise Create and perform without preparation “We kept running, block after block: we kept improvising, backyard after backyard, running a frantic course” (Dillard 56). Create and perform without preparation Example: When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.

Translucent Allowing light, but not images, through “I started making an iceball—a perfect iceball, from perfectly white snow, perfectly spherical, and squeezed perfectly translucent so no snow remained all the way through” (Dillard 54). Allowing light, but not images, through Example: Frosted window glass is translucent but not transparent.

Simultaneous Existing or occurring at the same time Examples: “We kept improvising, backyard after backyard, running a frantic course and choosing it simultaneously, failing always to find small places or hard places to slow him down” (Dillard 56). Existing or occurring at the same time Examples: 1. The two gunshots were simultaneous. 2. There was a simultaneous release of the movie and its soundtrack on CD.

Labyrinth “He chased us through the backyard labyrinths of ten blocks” (Dillard 56) A maze (in a garden) formed by paths separated by high hedges. Example: He got lost in a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers.

Embark To start or begin something important. Examples: “I had just embarked on the iceball project when we heard tire chains come clanking from afar” (Dillard 54). To start or begin something important. Examples: Millions of Europeans embarked for America in the late 19th century. He embarked on a new career.

Redundant No longer needed or useful “If we listened at all, for the chewing out was redundant, a mere formality, and beside the point” (Dillard 56). No longer needed or useful Example: He edited the paper and removed any redundant information or statements.

Righteous Right or moral “He could only begin, ‘You stupid kids,’ and continue in his ordinary Pittsburg accent with his normal righteous anger and the usual common sense” (Dillard 57). Right or moral Example: A righteous man can be trusted to act honorably regardless of the circumstances.

Perfunctory “‘You stupid kids,’ he began perfunctorily” (Dillard 56). Done routinely with little interest or care Example: The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.

Crenellated “The cars’ tires laid behind them on the snowy street a complex trail of beige chunks like crenellated castle walls” (Dillard 54). Having rows of squares like notches along a castle wall Example: The archers used the crenellated walls to shoot at the enemy.