Independent Reading Vocabulary

1) Embankment: a bank, mound, dike, or the like, raised to hold back

water, carry a roadway

2) Sashayed: to glide, move, or proceed easily or nonchalantly

3) Gestapo: the German state secret police during the Nazi regime,

organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations

4) Creosote: an oily liquid having a burning taste and a penetrating

odor, obtained by the distillation of coal and wood tar, used mainly as

a preservative for wood and as an antiseptic

5) Blasphemy: impious utterance or action concerning god or sacred

things

6) Unscrupulous: not scrupulous; unrestrained by scruples;

conscienceless; unprincipled.

7) Assailants: a person who attacks

8) Savagery: an uncivilized or barbaric state or condition; barbarity

9) Indignation: strong displeasure at something considered unjust,

offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger

10) Anonymity: the state or quality of being anonymous.

11) Tarpaulin: a protective covering of canvas or other material

waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax

12) Encapsulated: to place in or as if in a capsule

13) Mortarboard: a board, usually square, used by masons to hold

mortar

14) Permeated: to pass into or through every part of

15) Sauntered: a leisurely walk or ramble; stroll

16) Teetotalism: the principle or practice of total abstinence from

intoxicating drink

17) Felicitous: well-suited for the occasion, as an action, manner, or

expression; apt; appropriate

18) Xeric: of, pertaining to, or adapted to a dry environment

19) Bibulous: absorbent; spongy

20) Superfluous: Excessive