Life of Pi Vocabulary Flashcards
bamboozle
p. VI
to fool or to cheat (someone)
crux
p. VII
an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome
obscurely
p. X
not prominent or famous
cosmogony
p. 3
a theory of the origin of the universe
Kabbalist
p. 3
a follower of the ancient Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah
indolence
p. 3
avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness
in situ
p. 3
in the original place, not moved
repose
p. 5
a place of rest, tranquility
illustrious
p. 5
well known, respected, admired for past achievements
Varanasi
p. 6
a city in Southeastern Uttar Pradesh, in Northeastern India, on the Ganges River
Tamil
p. 8
a member of a people inhabiting parts of Southern India and Sri Lanka
guru
p. 9
(in Hinduism and Buddhism) a spiritual leader, especially one who communicates initiation
ashram
p. 9
a religious or spiritual retreat (in Indian religions)
lasciviousness
p. 15
to show or to be filled with sexual desire
raiment
p. 16
clothing
apoplectic
p. 76
to be indignant, overcome with anger, furious
– 3 apoplectic faces turned to him
assimilated
p. 93
process of becoming or allowing someone to become a part of a group instead of being separate
sadists
p. 32
people who gain satisfaction and pleasure (especially sexual pleasure) from causing pain/hurting and humiliating other people
agouti
p. 33
a rodent from Central and South American rainforests, looks a bit like a large guinea pig
ungulates
p. 36
any animal that has hooves (cow, horse, elephant, etc.)
avatar
p. 59
(in Hinduism and Buddhism) a god appearing in a physical form
incongruous
p. 66
strange, inappropriate, out of place, not suitable in a particular situation
hafiz
p. 68
a Muslim who knows Koran (an Islamic sacred book) by heart
existential
p. 72
connected/related to existence, especially human existence
precarious
p. 87
(situation) not safe or certain; unstable, dangerous
nemesis
p. 89
a person or thing that has competed with someone for a long time, or an enemy or a person
amorous
p. 93
to be showing sexual desire and love towards someone
anthropomorphism
p. 93
the practice of treating gods, animals, or objects as if they had human qualities
tarpaulin
p. 110
a large, heavy, waterproof sheet used to cover things to protect from the rain
dyspeptic
p. 111
irritability and pain caused by an upset stomach
ensconced
p. 113
to be safe and comfortable in a place or position
flotsam
p. 119
rubbish (ex. parts of a boat) floating on the sea
matriarch
p. 123
a woman who is the head of a family or a social group
prototype
p. 128
the first design of something, other forms are developed/copied from it
carrion
p. 128
the decaying bodies of dead animals
expirations
p. 131
the last breath
remonstrations
p. 133
the act of showing objection, resistance, protest
revulsion
p. 133
a strong feeling of horror, disgust
simians
p. 135
an ape or a monkey
frugivorous
p. 135
an animal that eats mostly fruits
abomination
p. 139
something that causes hatred and/or disgust
sustenance
p. 148
the food and drink that animals and plants need in order to live
insouciant
p. 149
to be nonchalant, relaxed, not worrying; not concerned, indifferent
asphyxiation
p. 149
being prevented from breathing until you become unconscious or die
conundrum
p. 149
a confusing, difficult, puzzling question or problem
propulsion
p. 153
the force that pushes something forward
supplication
p. 155
the act of asking for something with a prayer
dorados
p. 170
aka mahimahi, a Southamerican freshwater fish with a golden body and red fins, popular as a game fish
cryptic
p. 185
something hidden or not easily understood, mysterious
disconsolate
p. 188
to be unhappy, upset, disappointed
sentient
p. 203
to be able to perceive and feel things through senses
ambit
p. 216
the limits or extent of a range or an area
affronted
p. 226
feeling or showing anger at some offence or insult
malaise
p. 228
a general feeling of uneasiness, illness, or discomfort, which the cause is uncertain and difficult to identify
vestiges
p. 237
a trace, a small part of something that still exists after the rest is gone
archipelago
p. 255
a group of islands and the sea surrounding them
fortification
p. 261
a reinforcement meant to make something stronger
olfactory
p. 286
relates to sense of smell
diurnal
p. 294
animals that are active during the day
corroded
p. 298
to slowly destroy or make something weaker
euphoria
p. 299
a state of extreme/intense happiness and excitement
copiously
p. 302
in large amounts; abundance
verbatim
p. 322
exactly word for word
surreptitiously
p. 322
in a quick and secret way, to be unnoticed; secretly
