1. A Christmas Carol Voc. 3

2. apprehensive : fearful; expectation of evil; dread of possible harm
spontaneous :acting by its own impulse or without the incitement of anything external
combustion :the state of burning
consolation :comfort; alleviation of misery

3. predicament : particular situation or state
transformation : the act or operation of changing the form or external appearance
petrification :the process of petrifying; 1. to convert to stone; 2. to fix; to be unable to move; as to petrify with astonishment or fright
capacious :wide, large, that will hold much

4. artifice :a handicraft; a trade; art of making; workmanship
scabbard :the sheath of a sword
compulsion :the act of driving by force, physical or moral
diffuse :widely spread; dispursed

5. jovial : merry; jolly
parapets :a wall or rampart used for covering soldiers from enemy fire
apoplectic : afflicted with apoplexy; (apoplexy - Sudden loss of consciousness, sensation and voluntary motion, usually caused by pressure on the brain.)