Time Machine Flashcards
winked at me solemnly
Closed and open one eye in a formal and dignified manner
“ caught Filby’s eye over the shoulder of the Medical Man, and he winked at me solemnly.”
Dignity
1 a formal, stately, or grave bearing
he entered with dignity
2 the state or quality of being worthy of honour
According to her campaign website, housing should be affordable, no one should be without medical coverage, mental health needs to become a priority and retirees and veterans should be able to live with dignity and respect.
incredulous
(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something: an incredulous gasp.
“…how we all followed him, puzzled but incredulous”
interminable
endless (often used hyperbolically): we got bogged down in interminable discussions.
“So that it was the Psychologist himself who sent forth the model Time Machine on its interminable voyage”
mantel
a wooden or stone frame around the opening of a fireplace, together with its decorative facing
“One of the candles on the mantel was blown out, and the little machine suddenly swung round”
subtly
in a manner that is so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe: the script subtly shifts in tone from comedy to tragedy | the mood and pacing subtly convey a creeping paranoia.
• in a delicately complex and understated way: a subtly flavored dessert | subtly colored fabrics.
2 in a clever and indirect way, in order to achieve something: he would prattle on about something else for a while before subtly raising the question again | the report subtly shifts blames onto the complainants.
conceive
become pregnant with (a child): she was conceived when her father was 49.
• [no object] (of a woman) become pregnant: five months ago Wendy conceived.
2 form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind: the dam project was originally conceived in 1977 | (as adjective, with submodifier conceived) : a brilliantly conceived and executed robbery.
“ appears incredible to me that any kind of trick, however subtly conceived and however adroitly done, could have been played upon us under these conditions.”
adroitly
in a clever or skillful way: he managed the evacuation adroitly
“It appears incredible to me that any kind of trick, however subtly conceived and however adroitly done, could have been played upon us under these conditions.”
brain-weary
physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc.; fatigued; tired: weary eyes; a weary brain.
glittering
shining with a shimmering or sparkling light: glittering chandeliers.
• impressively successful or elaborate: a glittering military career.
“The thing the Time Traveller held in his hand was a glittering metallic framework”
scarcely
Only, just, hardly
He’s only two - you can scarcely blame him for behaving badly
“metallic framework, scarcely larger than a small clock, and very delicately made”
Hearthrug
a rug laid in front of a fireplace to protect the carpet or floor.
vague | vāɡ |
adjective
of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning: many patients suffer vague symptoms.
• thinking or communicating in an unfocused or imprecise way: he had been very vague about his activities.
inkling | ˈiNGkliNG |
noun
a slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint: the records give us an inkling of how people saw the world.
trammel | ˈtram(ə)l |
noun
1 (usually trammels) literary a restriction or impediment to someone’s freedom of action: we will forge our own future, free from the trammels of materialism.
