Dickens Flashcards
What does the word ‘register’ mean in the context of the sentence, ‘The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner’?
In this context, ‘register’ refers to an official record or list, especially one that documents the details of an event such as a burial.
What does ‘hallowed’ mean in the sentence, ‘my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it’?
‘Hallowed’ means something that is holy, sacred, or revered. The speaker is saying that they will not disturb the sacred tradition or saying.
What does the word ‘sole’ mean in the phrase, ‘Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee’?
‘Sole’ means only or exclusive. In this case, it means that Scrooge was the only person assigned to these responsibilities.
What is the meaning of ‘dreadfully’ in the sentence, ‘even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event’?
‘Dreadfully’ means to a great or intense degree. Here, it means that Scrooge was not deeply or severely affected by the death.
What does ‘grindstone’ mean in the phrase, ‘a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone’?
‘Grindstone’ refers to a large, rotating stone used for sharpening tools. In this context, it symbolizes hard, relentless work, emphasizing Scrooge’s miserly and work-obsessed nature.
What does ‘flint’ mean in the sentence, ‘Hard and sharp as flint’?
‘Flint’ is a hard stone, often used to create sparks. In this context, it is used metaphorically to describe how Scrooge is tough, cold, and lacking in warmth or generosity.
What does ‘replenish’ mean in the sentence, ‘But he couldn’t replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room’?
‘Replenish’ means to refill or restore something to its original state. Here, it refers to adding more coal to the fire.
What is the meaning of ‘simile’ in the sentence, ‘But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile’?
A ‘simile’ is a figure of speech that compares two different things using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ In this case, it refers to the comparison of Marley’s death to a door-nail.
What is a ‘mourner’ as used in the phrase, ‘the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner’?
A ‘mourner’ is someone who expresses grief or sorrow at a funeral, typically a close friend or family member of the deceased.
What does ‘intrepid’ mean in the sentence, ‘The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms’?
‘Intrepid’ means fearless or undaunted. In this case, the fog’s dense, unrelenting nature is being described as invincible to external forces.
