12th English
Synonyms - Answer Key
Complete list of all synonyms organized by units
Unit 1
shrug
raise one's shoulders slightly and momentarily
tunic
a loose outer garment without sleeves
demeanour
appearance and behaviour
artless
innocent, guileless
hawk
sell things crying out loudly, going from place to place
deserted
uninhabited, unoccupied
emigrate
take up citizenship of another country
chatter
a series of short, quick high-pitched sounds
intrude
enter without permission
rubble
debris, broken bricks
turret wall
a small tower on top of a castle
mowers
people who trim grass and level the lawns
towering battlements
tall towers with openings to shoot the enemies
friendly allies
helpful or supporting nations or armed forces
foothold
advantageous position
bait
something intended to entice someone to do something
wicked
evil or morally wrong
wizened warder
an aged or old guard
maze
a winding, intricate confusing path
citadel
a safe and strong fort
overthrown
conquered, defeated
go on a spree
indulging in something actively in an unrestrained way
samovar
a Russian metal urn for making tea
troika
a cart pulled by a team of three horses
stammer
to speak haltingly, fumble for words
betray
fail, let one down
flog
to beat with a whip or stick
sledge
a vehicle pulled by horses for transportation on snow
Unit 2
spout
the pipe-like opening in a teapot through which tea is poured out
mysterious
incomprehensible
etiquette
socially acceptable behaviour
controversial
arguable, disputable
virtues
admirable qualities
optimistic
positive, hopeful
cauldron
a big pot used for boiling
rationing
restricting the consumption of a scarce commodity during war
dangling
hanging freely, suspended
gallantly
bravely or heroically
casement
a type of window that is fixed on one side and opens like a door
baboon
a type of large monkey found in Africa and Asia
kokilas
a type of bird similar to the cuckoo
hoar
white frost deposits on the tree
tranced
dreamy condition, hypnotised
consecrate
to officially make something holy
oblivion
a state of forgetfulness
flotsam
debris floating in a river or sea
tarpaulin
a heavy waterproof sheet
asphyxiation
death due to lack of oxygen
splinters
a long sharp fragment of material, often wood
plausible
probable, likely
supplication
a humble request, prayer
gunnel
upper edge of the side of a boat
gurgling
a kind of sound when water is drunk fast
Unit 3
consideration
careful thought
cripples
people with some disability preventing them from performing certain normal functions
agony
extreme physical and mental suffering
perforated
torn and damaged with holes
ennobles
makes dignified, morally noble
thrash around
to move about restlessly
sophisticated
well-advanced
mutilating surgery
surgery involving removal of tissue even at the risk of worsening of the patient's condition
Grand Prix
one of several international motor-racing events
solace
comfort or consolation in times of grief or pain
finale
climax or an exciting end
disfigured
spoiled or marred in appearance
malignant
very harmful to life
tumour
diseased growth in some part of the body
amputated
cut off by surgical operation
mewling
a small weak noise that a cat makes
whining
expressing unhappiness
furnace
place where fire is made
pard
a large cat, such as a leopard
justice
a judge, someone very respected
pouch
a small bag for carrying money
hose
tights, thin trousers that men wore in Shakespeare's time
a world too wide
much too big
second childishness
being like a child again
wrecking
ruining, destroying (bankruptcy)
indict
accuse or charge someone for a crime and put on trial
testify
give evidence as a witness in court
governor
the way John addresses his father
go on the stand
testify during a trial in the court of law
smash-up
complete collapse (insolvency)
misappropriate
to take other's money dishonestly for one's own use
nonplussed
confused, puzzled
baptized
named, christened
of his own accord
voluntarily, without compulsion
technicality
a minor detail
shams
people who cheat others
hypocrites
people who put on a false appearance, pretenders
piteously
sympathetically
Unit 4
lb
pound (a unit for measuring weight, equal to 0.454 of a kilogram)
rope
links members of climbing party for safety
cornice
overhanging mass of snow or ice along a ridge
cwm
an enclosed arm-chair-shaped hollow situated at the head of a valley
scrambling
climbing hurriedly on hands and knees
wriggle
to move with a twist or turn
traverse
to cross a mountain slope horizontally or diagonally
cramponed
climbing on ice wearing spike shoes
drink life to the lees
drink to the very last drop; here 'live life to the fullest'
scudding
moving rapidly because of the wind
Hyades
a group of stars often associated with rain
to rust unburnish'd
to let go waste, without being used
three suns
three long years
Telemachus
son of Ulysses
furrow
mark made in the water by the ship
baths
outer ocean or river believed to surround the flat earth
Happy Isles
a fortunate island popularly known as Greek Paradise
Achilles
the greatest of Greek warriors
musty
having a stale smell
wheezily
with a hissing sound while breathing
espionage
the practice of spying to obtain information
sloppy
careless and unsystematic
inflection
modulation, intonation
sill
a slab of wood or stone at the foot of a window opening or doorway
Unit 6
pedestrians
persons who walk on the streets
anarchy
lawlessness/rebellion
stormed
sudden violent attack
Ratisbon
a city in Austria
out-thrust
extended forward
oppressive
harsh, domineering
Lannes
a general in Napoleon's army
bridle
the head gear used to control a horse
compressed
pressed together
flag-bird
the imperial eagle on the French flag
twiddling my thumbs
being idle
Charles II
King of England from 1660 to 1685
foot pad
highway-man (robber) who goes about on foot
game pie
meat covered with pastry and baked
lawdamussy
an exclamation (lord have mercy)
minutiae
minute details (often trivial)
infernal
a concealed or disguised explosive device
ilex tree
evergreen oak tree
foil
to frustrate or thwart the efforts of the assassin
excursions and alarms
noise and bustle