Chapter 5 Vocab Words Flashcards
But one circumstance arose that displayed Ned Land’s marvelous skills and showed just how much confidence we could place in him.
Confidencenoun. Firm trust
Off the Falkland Islands on June 30, the frigate came in contact with a fleet of American whalers, and we learned that they hadn’t seen the narwhale.
Fleetnoun. Number of ships, quick-moving
But Commander Farragut was unwilling to attempt this tortuous passageway and maneuvered instead to double Cape Horn.
Tortuousadjective. Winding
Many of our sailors swore that the monster couldn’t negotiate this passageway simply because “he’s too big for it!”
Negotiateverb. To confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter
Near three o’clock in the afternoon on July 6, fifteen miles south of shore, the Abraham Lincoln doubled that solitary islet at the tip of the South American continent, that stray rock Dutch seamen had named Cape Horn after their hometown of Hoorn.
Strayverb. To wander accidentally from a fixed or chosen route
Near three o’clock in the afternoon on July 6, fifteen miles south of shore, the Abraham Lincoln doubled that solitary islet at the tip of the South American continent, that stray rock Dutch seamen had named Cape Horn after their hometown of Hoorn.
Isletnoun. A little island
Our course was set for the northwest, and the next day our frigate’s propeller finally churned the waters of the Pacific.
Propellernoun. A revolving shaft with blades to drive a ship or aircraft
Eyes and spyglasses (a bit dazzled, it is true, by the vista of $2,000.00) didn’t remain at rest for an instant.
Vistanoun. A view or prospect
Eyes and spyglasses (a bit dazzled, it is true, by the vista of $2,000.00) didn’t remain at rest for an instant.
Dazzleverb. To overpower or dim the vision of by intense light; To impress deeply; Astonish with delight
Sometimes bending over the forecastle railings, sometimes leaning against the sternrail, I eagerly scoured that cotton-colored wake that whitened the ocean as far as the eye could see!
Scourverb. To rub hard especially with a rough material for cleansing
Sometimes bending over the forecastle railings, sometimes leaning against the sternrail, I eagerly scoured that cotton-colored wake that whitened the ocean as far as the eye could see!
Forecastlenoun. That part of the upper deck of a ship forward of the after fore-shrouds
I stared; I stared until I nearly went blind from a worn-out retina, while Conseil, as stoic as ever, kept repeating to me in a calm tone.
Stoicadjective. One who shows little to no emotion
The Abraham Lincoln would change course and race after the animal sighted, only to find an ordinary baleen whale or a common sperm whale that soon disappeared amid a chorus of curses!.
Chorusnoun. A body of singers who perform choral compositions
By then it was the bad season in these southernmost regions, because July in this zone corresponds to our January in Europe; but the sea remained smooth and easily visible over a vast perimeter.
Perimeternoun. The boundary of a closed plane figure
Ned Land still kept up the most tenacious skepticism; beyond his spells on watch, he pretended that he never even looked at the surface of the waves, at least while no whales were in sight.
Skepticnoun. One who instinctively or habitually doubts, questions, or disagrees with assertions or generally accepted conclusions
Ned Land still kept up the most tenacious skepticism; beyond his spells on watch, he pretended that he never even looked at the surface of the waves, at least while no whales were in sight.
Tenaciousadjective. Determined, keeping a firm grip on
People say they’ve sighted this slippery beast again in the Pacific high seas – I’m truly willing to believe it, but two months have already gone by since then, and judging by your narwhale’s personality, it hates growing moldy from hanging out too long in the same waterways!
Personalitynoun. The attributes, taken collectively, that make up the character and nature of an individual
