Vocabulary from Fever 1793

Rouse

Rouse – verb

Definition: to stir up or excite; to cause to awake from sleep.

“I woke to the sound of a mosquito whining in my left ear and my mother screeching in the right.‘Rouse yourself this instant!’”

Pg. 1

Drone

Drone – verb

Definition: To talk persistently in a dull and monotonous voice.

“Her voice droned on and on as she clattered down the stairs.”

Pg. 2

Hearth – noun Definition: the brick, stone or concrete floor

area of the fireplace. “She dished up a bowl of oatmeal from a

pot that hung by the side of the hearth…” Pg. 9

Disreputable

Disreputable – adjective

Definition: not respected or trusted by most people, not having a good reputation.

“I tied a disreputable straw hat atop the cap, one I could never wear in the street…before I ran outside.

Pg. 11

Miasma

Miasma – noun

Definition: a heavy cloud of unhealthy or unpleasant air.

“It’s the source of a deadly miasma, a foul stench, indeed.”

Pg. 19

Pleurisy

Pleurisy – noun

Definition: a serious and painful disease of the lungs.

“It could have been a sudden pleurisy or a weak heart.”

Pg. 26

Impudence

Impudence – noun

Definition: rudeness, boldness

“He snatched an apple from my basket and took a bite. The impudence.”

Condolence

Condolence – noun

Definition – a expression of sympathy or sadness, especially when someone is suffering after the death of a loved one.

“He expressed his condolences on the death of my friend…”

Pg. 35

Quarantine

Quarantine – verb

Definition: to keep a person or animal away from others in order to prevent the spread of disease.

“The mayor should quarantine them on Hog Island for a few weeks and the fever would pass.”

Pg. 38

Idle

Idle – verb

Definition: to spend time doing nothing or doing nothing useful.

Matilda’s mother hates it when Matilda idles around the house.

“idleness” – noun – state of being idle. Pg. 42

Also an adjective – meaning – not working.

Vulgar

Vulgar – adjective

Definition: offensive, rude, or indecent.

“Try this on and don’t be vulgar,” Mother said.”

Pg. 44

Din

Din – noun

Definition: a loud sound, a combination of discordant sounds.

“…The church bells of Philadelphia tolled without cease. Guns were fired on the street corners…The din was maddening.”

Pg. 54

Vehemently

Vehemently – adverb

Definition: loudly, insistently and angrily.

“Grandfather sped up. ‘Sir, I protest most vehemently!’”

Pg. 61

Cajole

Cajole – verb

Definition: to persuade or coax, often with flattery and promises.

“No amount of cajoling would change her mind.”

Pg. 74

Odiferous

Odiferous – adjective

Definition: smelly, having a strong odor.

“And now I am going to get some sleep before our coachman delivers us unto the joys of the Ludington family barnyard and their odiferous pigs.”

Pg. 80

Harried

Harried – adjective

Definition: beset by problems; stressed by many problems.

“’Thank you,’ I told the harried woman.”Pg. 185

Scurrilous

Scurrilous – adjective

Definition: vulgar and evil, containing vulgar language or obscenities, immoral

“’He’s a scurrilous dog, that man,’ she muttered.”

Pg. 194

Ominous

Ominous – adjective

Definition: suggesting or hinting that something bad will happen in the future.

“On the fourth day…an ominous silence pressed in on the room as the fever penetrated deeper.”

Pg. 204

Frail

Frail – adjective

Definition: very weak, easily damaged or destroyed.

“The boys turned frail, their skin ashen and cheeks sinking, as their bodies burned up under the infection.”

Pg. 204

Fetid

Fetid – adjective

Definition: having a strong, offensive smell.

“The fetid stench that had hung over the city for weeks was gone, replaced with brittle, pure air.”

Pg. 210