Glossary
The explanations in this glossary give only the meanings of words as they are used in the book. Many of the words have other meanings as well, and if a full description of a word is required the interested reader should consult a dictionary.
(abbrev. – abbreviation, adj. – adjective, adv. – adverb, conj. – conjunction, Idiom. – Idiomatic, interj. – interjection, n. – noun, pl.n. – plural noun, prep. – preposition, v. – verb)
abate v. to diminish; to make or become less in intensity or degree
abbreviation n. a shortened word or phrase
abominable adj. horrible; loathsome; detestable
abrupt adj. sudden; immediate; unexpected
abundance n. plenty; large amount; copious supply
access n. the right or ability to enter, use or approach something
accomplish v. to achieve; to succeed; to complete
accusation n. an allegation that someone is guilty of a crime, misdemeanour or offence; an imputation or charge
acknowledge v. to recognize the truth of something; to admit a reality
acronym n. a pronounceable word made up from some or all of the initial letters of a longer title; e.g. laser (qv)
activate v. to set in motion; to start off; to make active
ad nauseam adv. very boringly or tediously. Latin phrase meaning ‘to the point of sickness’
adamant adj. determined; having an unshakeable opinion about something; impervious to pleas
adapt v. to change or adjust to new conditions
adaptation n. a modification that makes something better suited to its environment or situation
address v. to deal with; to sort out; to get on with; to confront
adjacent adj. next to; near; adjoining
adjust v. to change; to adapt, especially to cope with some new circumstance or situation
adjustment n. a change or modification
admiration n. high regard; esteem; respect
ado n. fuss; delay; bother
adopt v. Chapter 2: to take responsibility for; to take into the family; Chapters 19, 23: to assume a different voice or expression
adrenaline n. a hormone associated with excitement, stress or activity
adroitly adv. dexterously; skilfully
aeon n. an unimaginably long period of time
aerial adj. to do with the air or aircraft; in or of the air
aerobatic adj. able to perform complicated or spectacular aerial manoeuvres
aeronautical adj. to do with aircraft or pilots
agenda n. a list of things to be attended to; a schedule; a plan of action
aggression n. hostility; offensive activity
aggressive adj. hostile; quarrelsome; belligerent
aghast adj. filled or overcome with horror; appalled
agile adj. nimble; athletic
agility n. speed and skill in movement; nimbleness
agitated adj. excited; disturbed
agog adj. very curious; intensely attentive
ail v. an old-fashioned word meaning to feel unwell. An ailment is another word for an illness
aimlessly adv. without purpose or direction; having no goal
ajar adj. slightly open
alacrity n. liveliness; speed; briskness
alert adj. Chapter 11: attentive; vigilant; v. Chapters 13, 21: to warn; to put on guard
alien adj. foreign; strange; unfamiliar; from another world
alleged adj. described as such; presumed to be; not proved to be
alliance n. an agreement or pact; a union to achieve a purpose
allocate v. to give to; to assign; to allot
Alsatian n. a large wolf-like breed of dog, often used as a guard dog. Also called a German Shepherd
amateur n. a non-professional person; one who engages in an interest for enjoyment or sport, rather than for remuneration
amber n. fossilized pine resin
ambient adj. to do with the immediate surroundings or conditions
amidst prep. amid; in among; in the middle of
ammonia n. a very pungent gas. Chemical formula:NH3
ample adj. more than enough; easily sufficient; abundant
anaesthetic n. a substance capable of producing loss of consciousness (general anaesthesia), or loss of sensation in a specific area of the body (local anaesthesia)
analyse v. to study in detail; to examine; to discover specific information, meaning or composition
analysis n. the results obtained from examining something, or determining its composition
anchor v. to fix; to fasten securely
anguish n. severe pain; misery; intense grief
annihilate v. to eradicate; to destroy completely; to extinguish
anon adv. (poetic or archaic) soon; in a short time
anonymity n. the state of being unknown or unidentified
anonymous adj. from or by an unknown person
antenna n. one of two (or more) mobile tentacles or appendages on the head of an insect, mollusc, etc. They are usually sensory organs
anthology n. a collection of literary pieces or articles on a specific subject
anticipate v. to expect or foresee
antiquity n. the distant past; the quality of being ancient
apologetically adv. in a contrite manner
appal v. to horrify; to shock; to dismay
apparent adj. easily seen; obvious; evident
apparently adv. seemingly
apparition n. something that appears, such as a ghost or spectre
appellation n. name; title
apprehensive adj. anxious; fearful
appropriate adj. Chapters 2, 5, 8, 23: suitable; fitting; v. Chapter 4: to take; to acquire
aptitude n. ability; skill
archaic adj. out of date; ancient; antiquated
archaeology n. the study of the past by the examination of materials, buildings and artefacts from ancient cultures
arduous adj. strenuous; difficult; requiring great effort
Argentinosaurus see Animal Anthology
aroused adj. awoken; stimulated
arrogant adj. conceited; boastful; proud
artefact n. a man-made article
arthritis n. inflammation of the joints
artistic licence n. a deviation from conventional rules to achieve a desired effect
asap abbrev. ‘as soon as possible’
ascent n. climb
ascertain v. to discover; to determine; to establish
assailant n. an attacker
assess v. to judge; to evaluate
assets pl.n. possessions; property
assiduously adv. conscientiously; perseveringly
associate n. a colleague; a partner in an enterprise; a companion; a friend
association n. a friendship or companionship
astounding adj. amazing; impressive; bewildering
atmosphere n. the layer of gases surrounding the Earth or other celestial body
audible adj. loud enough to be heard
authoritative adj. having a commanding or assertive manner; wielding authority
avert v. to prevent something happening; to ward off
avidly adv. greedily; eagerly; with great desire
avow v. to admit openly; to affirm; to declare or assert
awe n. wonder; respect; admiration
awesome adj. very impressive; amazing; outstanding
awestruck adj. filled with awe
babble n. chatter; incoherent or meaningless speech
backlit adj. lit from behind
back-up n. a support; a contingency plan or arrangement
bade v. (archaic) a past tense of the verb to bid, meaning to instruct or command
bafflement n. bewilderment; perplexity; puzzlement
balaclava (helmet) n. a close-fitting hood covering the ears and neck, used to provide warmth or anonymity
baleful adj. menacing; hostile; vindictive
ballast n. heavy
material providing stability or weight
balmy adj. pleasant; mild; soothing
bank v. (of an aircraft) to tilt to one side while making a turn in the air
bastard n. a person born of unmarried parents. In this story it is used in its informal sense as a swearword, meaning an unpleasant or obnoxious person
bay n. an assigned parking space; a marked-out area
batter v. to beat heavily and repeatedly
beacon n. a signal; a light or fire to attract attention
bead n. Chapter 10: beads of sweat means small drops of sweat
beckon v. to summon with a gesture
befall v. to happen to; to take place
behemoth n. a monstrous beast
behest n. an order; a serious request
belligerent adj. aggressive; truculent
bellow n. a roar; a loud deep sound, usually emitted in pain or rage
bemused adj. confused; bewildered; baffled; confounded
benefit v. to be the recipient of something good; n. an improvement or advantage; something that does good
bequeath v. (archaic) pass on; hand down
bereft adv. parted from; deprived (of)
berserk adj. in a violent rage or frenzy
bestow v. to confer a privilege or honour
betrayal n. treachery; deceit; disloyalty
bewildered adj. confused; puzzled
bidding n. order; command; summons
bide v. (archaic) to stay in a place
bifurcation n. division or fork into two branches
Bigfoot see Animal Anthology
billiards n. various games played on a material-covered table with pockets into which hard balls are struck with a long cue
bind v. to tie; to secure
biomass n. vegetable material containing, or used as, a source of energy or fuel
bipedal adj. having two feet; walking on two feet
bird n. (slang) an informal term for a girl or young woman
bitch n. a female dog or other canine animal. The word is also used (as in Chapter 19) as a slang term of abuse for a female person meaning she is spiteful or malicious
black panther n. a melanistic (black) variant of a big cat such as a leopard or jaguar
blackmail n. the use of threats (usually of disclosure) to obtain money or, as in Chapters 4, 23, to influence the actions of another
blind eye phrase to ‘turn a blind eye’ to something means to pretend not to notice it
bloody adj. (slang; swearword) a strong imprecation used to lend particular emphasis to a phrase or statement
blotchy adj. having irregular patches of discoloration
blunder v. to stumble in a clumsy fashion
BMW abbrev. Bayerische Motoren Werke: Bavarian Motor Works – a famous German car company
bog n. spongy wet ground; marsh; quagmire
boisterous adj. lively; unruly; unrestrained
bonhomie n. (from French) jovial friendliness; cheerfulness; goodnaturedness
boon n. a favour
booze n. (slang) any kind of alcoholic drink
botanist n. one who studies plants
boundless adj. limitless; endless; vast
bounty n. reward; generous gift
bowels of the earth phrase very deep underground; down in the depths
braided adj. interwoven; plaited
brainwave n. a sudden good idea; an inspiration
brash adj. showy; tasteless
bravado n. a show of courage (sometimes unfounded); a display of great self-confidence
brawl n. a noisy fight
break n. a brief holiday. To take a break means to have a short period of leave or vacation. In the title of Chapter 7 this meaning is punned with another meaning, that of breaking out of prison.
breakaway adj. describing a group or faction that has separated from a main body or organization
breaker n. a large white-crested wave breaking on to the rocks or shore
breakthrough n. a significant discovery; a groundbreaking development
breathtaking adj. exciting; awesome; very impressive
brew v. to prepare a drink by boiling or infusing
bribe n. a gift of money or goods in exchange for a favour
brisk adj. quick; lively; energetic
brood n. the young in a family; offspring
brow n. the forehead
browse v. to feed (usually on vegetation) in a calm and leisurely manner
budge v. to move; to shift
buffet n. a meal at which guests help themselves from a variety of dishes
buffoon n. a fool; a stupid or ridiculous person
bugging device n. concealed electronic spying equipment for recording or acquiring information
bulk n. size or volume (especially when large or massive)
bung v. (slang) to throw; to chuck; to sling; to push in
burden n. a load or cargo, especially one that is heavy or onerous. A ‘beast of burden’ is an animal carrying such a load
burdensome adj. difficult to put up with; hard to bear; onerous
bush meat n. the flesh of wild animals killed for food (often illegally)
cache n. a hidden store
caecilian n. a tropical limbless amphibian resembling an earthworm
calculus n. a branch of mathematics
camouflage n. colouring, appearance or shape designed to hide or conceal
cancer n. a malignant growth; a tumour
canine n. a member of the dog family; a canid
cannibalism n. eating the flesh of one’s own kind
canopy n. the highest general level of foliage in a forest, formed by the crowns of trees and penetrated by only the tallest species
capacity n. ability; power
capricious adj. unpredictable; fickle; impulsive
captor n. one who captures and holds another captive
carapace n. shell or shield, made of bone or chitin
carbon offsetting n. the averaging out of carbon (dioxide) production and consumption
carcass n. a dead body
caress v. to touch or stroke affectionately
carnivore n. meat eater
Carnotaurus see Animal Anthology
cartel n. an association of separate groups having a common aim or purpose
cause a stir phrase attract attention; get things moving
cautiously adv. with great care; warily
cave racer n. scientific name: Elaphe taeniura. A cave-dwelling snake that lives mainly on bats and swiftlets in the wild. Length up to 2.5 metres. Similar snakes would have lived in the Valley of the Mighty Ones
cavern n. a cave, usually large and often underground
cayman n. an American species of crocodile, similar to an alligator
CCTV abbrev. closed-circuit television
ceratopsian see Animal Anthology
ceremony n. ritual; formal service
cf. abbrev. compare; see (Latin: confer). Used to guide the reader to another source of information, in this glossary to another word
challenging adj. demanding; difficult; hard in a stimulating way
chameleon n. a type of lizard having the ability to change colour so as to blend in with its surroundings
channel n. groove; furrow; ditch; a specific path or course
charade n. a pretence; a travesty
charisma n. a personal quality giving its owner the power to inspire or influence others
charred adj. burnt; scorched; blackened by fire
charter business n. a company providing transport for lease or hire
chased adj. decorated or ornamented by engraving or etching
chasm n. a very deep split or cleft in the ground
cheroot n. a type of cigar with both ends cut off
chimera n. a creature made up from parts of different animals
chock n. a block or wedge used to prevent movement
chore n. a boring, routin
e job; an unpleasant task
chorus n. the sound of a group of voices
circumvent v. to go around; to bypass
cistern n. tank in which water is stored for a WC
claw-hammer n. a hammer with a cleft on one side of the head, used as a lever to extract nails
clearing n. an area within a wood that is free of trees or large shrubs
cleft n. a split; a fissure; a crevice; a crack
clench v. to grip tightly; to squeeze together
clog v. to block; to impede or obstruct
close a deal v. to complete a transaction successfully
close quarters (at) pl.n. very near; in close proximity
cluster v. to gather round in a close group
clutch n. a hatch or cluster of eggs
clutches pl.n. hands; paws; claws; talons; things that take a grip
coatimundi n. an omnivorous mammal from Central and South America, related to the raccoon family
cockpit n. the pilot’s compartment in an aircraft
cockup n. (slang) a mess-up; a mistake
cocoon n. a protective covering or wrap, usually made from a silky substance
coin v. to make up a new word; to invent or fabricate a neologism
coincidence n. the simultaneous chance occurrence of events that are apparently connected
cold blood (in) adj. or adv. phrase without remorse; ruthlessly; deliberately
collide v. to bump into violently; to crash
collision n. the impact between two crashing objects
colloquial adj. informal; conversational; idiomatic
collusion n. secret agreement, often to do something wrong; conspiracy; connivance
colonize v. to take over or settle; to inhabit; to establish a colony
colony n. Chapters 12, 19, 20: a group of animals inhabiting a particular place
colossal adj. huge; gigantic; immense
combustible adj. capable of being burnt
commercial adj. to do with buying and selling; connected with business
committee n. a group of people chosen to make decisions about a particular subject