Vocabulary from “Gift of the Magi”

awfully Adverb In this sentence it means “very” Like “terribly” – the adjective forms mean “bad” – for example, “It tastes awful” or “It looks terrible” but the adverbs do NOT mean “bad”

Critical Adjective To be critical is to look for problems or weaknesses Another meaning is “very important” The noun form is “criticism.” A person who often criticizes things can be called a “critic.” This can be a job: a film critic, a restaurant critic.

A dandy Noun Old-fashioned but still easily understood Can also be an adjective In this sentence, it means “a great thing”

conception Noun Related to the word “concept” which also means idea Here “conception” means “idea” Conception can also refer to the beginning of a pregnancy

implied To imply = verb Implied = adjective To imply something is to show that it is PROBABLY true without stating so directly. Example: If I yawn and rub my eyes I am implying that I am sleepy

Style Note about List 3 Like other writers of 100 years ago, O. Henry used very formal and difficult words at the beginning of stories. It was a common style at the time. Authors spoke directly to us, their readers, and showed how intelligent they were.

So these words are “fancy” words – long and old-fashioned words. You don’t need to learn them to enjoy the story and I will not put them on quizzes (except as extra credit questions). However – it’s a good idea to write the synonyms on your story paper to help you understand it! So these words are “fancy” words – long and old-fashioned words. You don’t need to learn them to enjoy the story and I will not put them on quizzes (except as extra credit questions). However – it’s a good idea to write the synonyms on your story paper to help you understand it!

List 3 to impute – (v) to imply Parsimony – (n) cheapness, the opposite of generosity. It’s an embarrassing or shameful habit. Miser - (n) a person who won’t spend money, ever Vestibule – (n) The entryway of an apartment building

Coax – (v) To gently push someone or something to do what you want. For example, you can coax a dog to follow you by holding food. Prosperity – (n) The quality of having plenty of money and everything you need. “Rich” or “wealthy” imply having more money, but being “prosperous” implies that you are actually happy Unassuming – (adj) To “assume” means to think things are true before you know it. It might show that you are too confident. “Unassuming” is the opposite.

Sterling – (adj) – Literally – silver. Can be used to mean anything pure and valuable. Longitudinal – (adj) The lines that go up and down on a globe or map of the world are “longitudes”. So this means anything that goes up and down, probably something narrow and skinny. Depreciate – (v) To go DOWN in value or price. The opposite is to “ a ppreciate.”

Ransack – (v) To hunt through something roughly and completely Chaste - (adj) This usually means the opposite of “sexy”. Here, it means “serious, beautiful, plain.” Meretricious – (adj) Dishonest, tricky Ornamentation – (n) Having fancy decorations that don’t make something better. Has the feeling of “something useless.”

Intoxication – (n) Literally, drunk or on drugs. Here, it means excited. Prudence – (n) Calm and careful way of thinking Reason – (n) Reasonable, logical Ravages – (n) Damages Truant (adj) – Here, this means a schoolboy “skipping out” of school

Sentiments (n) - Feelings Laborious (adj) - Like something is hard work Idiocy (n) – The quality of an idiot - the opposite of “intelligent” Trance (n) – a state caused by a hypnotist or being sleepy Enfold (v) – to wrap around. Here, it’s a formal, ironic way of saying “hugged.”

Discreet (adj) – A very useful word! The opposite of obvious. Don’t mix up with “discrete.” Noun is “discretion.” Scrutiny (n) – To scrutinize is to look at something in detail, like a doctor or a jeweller. This is the noun form. Inconsequential (adj) – Unimportant Wit (n) – here, a witty person Nimble (adj) – quick and clever

Worshipped (v) – admired very much Hysterical (adj) – old-fashioned word – somewhat insulting today. Too emotional, crying, etc. Crave (v) – similar to “yearn” … Yearn (v) – Wanted, longed for, wished for, especially something unavailable

Possession (n) – here means “of owning them” Coveted (adj) – to covet is a verb, which means almost the same as “crave, yearn, want”. Singed (adj) – to singe means to burn. Ardent (adj) – burning, bright chronicle (n) – A story. The verb “ to chronicle” means “to record the story of something.”