Alice in Wonderland Vocabulary Helps

Chapters 1 – 2

antipathy

an object of aversion

curtsy

an act of civility, respect, or reverence made mainly by women and consisting of a slight lowering of the body with bending of the knees

marmalade

a clear sweetened jelly in which pieces of fruit and fruit rind are suspended

pale

deficient in color or intensity of color

savage

lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings

vulgar

lacking in civilization, perception, or taste

waistcoat

an ornamental garment worn under a doublet

Chapters 3 – 4

adjourn

to suspend indefinitely or until a later stated time

audibly

heard of capable of being heard

barrow

wheelbarrow

caucus

a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy

comfit

a candy consisting of a piece of fruit, a root (as licorice), a nut, or a seed coated and preserved with sugar

consultation

the act of consulting or conferring

directly

without delay

insolence

the quality or state of being insolent or showing disregard

melancholy

depression

pretext

a purpose or motive alleged or an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs

sulky

given to spells of sulking or moodiness

usurpation

to take the place of by or as if by force

Chapters 5 – 6

cauldron

a large kettle or boiler

chrysalis

the enclosing case or covering of a pupa (the cocoon around a caterpillar as it changes into a butterfly)

civil

adequate in courtesy and politeness

hatter

one that makes, sells, or cleans and repairs hats

languid

drooping or flagging from as if from exhaustion

livery

a servant’s uniform

sage

one distinguished for wisdom

shilling

a former monetary unit of the United Kingdom equal to 12 pence or 1/20 pound

supple

capable of being bent or folded without creases, cracks, or breaks

Chapters 7 – 8

courtier

one is attendance at a royal court

crimson

color of a deep purplish red

feeble

markedly lacking in strength

impertinent

given to or characterized by insolent rudeness

meek

enduring injury with patience and without resentment

plead

to argue a case or cause in a court of law

shrill

having or emitting a sharp high-pitched tone or sound

treacle

a blend of molasses, invert sugar, and corn syrup used as syrup

triumphant

rejoicing for or celebrating victory

Chapters 9 – 10

askance

with disapproval or distrust

caper

to leap or prance about in a playful manner

custody

immediate charge and control exercised by a person or an authority

drawling

to speak slowly with vowels greatly prolonged

moral

a passage pointing out usually in conclusion the lesson to be drawn from a story

quadrille

a square dance for four couples made up of five or six figures chiefly in 6/8 and 2/4 time

sluggard

a habitually lazy person

tremulous

characterized by or affected with trembling tremors

venture

to expose to hazard

Chapter 11 – 12

becoming

attractive

dunce

a slow-witted person

herald

an official crier or messenger

lowing

mooing

muddle

a state of especially mental confusion

parchment

the skin of a sheep or goat prepared for writing on

pun

the usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound

sixpence

a former British monetary unit equal to six pennies

suppress

keep from public knowledge

vague

not clearly defined, grasped, or understood

verdict

the finding or decision of a jury on the matter submitted to it in trial

 

Sources – vocabulary list is edited from this site that doesn’t work anymore which used Webster definitions (some have been edited)

http://caseyburrus.org/alice/index.htm

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Accessed: Dec-Jan. 2008-2009. http://www.m-w.com.