communal adj. shared or used by everybody; belonging to the community
commune v. to communicate closely
communication n. Chapters 1, 9, 10: the exchange of information; the imparting of knowledge, thoughts or feelings to another or others; n. Chapter 20: a connecting route or passage
commute v. to reduce the length or severity of a prison sentence
comparison n. judging or comparing one thing against another
compere n. the person running a show; the master of ceremonies
complex n. a building or institution made up of a number of interconnected parts or components
complicated adj. composed of different parts that are difficult to understand; intricate; problematic
comply v. to agree with or submit to rules, conditions or requirements; to be obedient
compost n. decomposed organic material (e.g. rotting vegetation)
composure n. calmness; serenity
compound fracture n. a fracture of a bone that communicates with the air through a break in the skin
conclusive adj. not in doubt; decisive; final
condor n. a species of large vulture found (principally) in the South American Andes
conference n. a meeting for the exchange of information on a particular topic
confer v. to bestow upon; to endow; to grant
confess v. to admit to something; to acknowledge responsibility or guilt
confident adj. being sure about something; being certain
confidential adj. secret; private
configuration n. the arrangement of different parts
confined adj. limited; enclosed; restricted
confrontation n. the coming face to face of opposing individuals or groups
congealed adj. changed from fluid to solid; coagulated; clotted; curdled
conical adj. cone-shaped
conifer n. a species of tree or shrub that, typically, is evergreen and bears cones
conjunction n. coming together; union; coincidence
connive v. to plot with another, often in secret; to conspire
conscience n. the feeling of what is right or wrong; a sense of morality
consequence n. something that follows, or results from, a previous action or occurrence
consolation n. a source of comfort; something that gives solace
console v. to comfort; to bring solace
conspirator n. one who plots in secret with another or others
conspiratorial adj. to do with secret plots and plans
consternation n. worry; concern; anxiety
constraint n. an inhibition or restraint; a prohibition
consultant n. an expert who gives specialist advice on a particular subject
consume v. to eat or drink
contaminate v. to pollute; to spoil; to make impure by mixing
contemplate v. to think about intently; to consider
contemptuous adj. scornful; disdainful
contentious adj. controversial; arguable; the subject of dispute
contingency n. something that might or could happen; an eventuality
contractor n. an individual or firm that supplies a service or materials
contrite adj. remorseful; sorrowful
contrive v. to manage to do something, especially by using a trick; to engineer a desired result
conventional adj. following regular standards of behaviour or thought; orthodox; conforming to accepted norms
converse v. to communicate (with); to engage in conversation
conviction n. a firmly held belief; a fixed opinion
cooperation n. assistance; willingness to help or collaborate
coordinates n. sets of numbers that define an exact location
copse n. a small wood or thicket
corpse n. a dead body; a cadaver
correspondence n. the exchange of letters
corroborate v. to support or confirm a fact or opinion
corrosive adj. something that eats away or destroys, such as an acid or alkali
corrupt adj. crooked; dishonest; depraved; open to bribery
cough up v. (slang) to pay, usually reluctantly
countermeasure n. an action that neutralizes or opposes an action by another
courtesy n. politeness; good manners. In Chapter 4 the word is used ironically
crack shot n. someone who shoots with great accuracy
crackdown n. a policy of strict enforcement; the imposition of severe measures
crag n. a peak; a rugged point on a rock
crater n. a bowl-shaped geographical feature, typically associated with volcanic activity or meteorite impact
crave v. to desire greatly; to yearn; to plead or beg for
crayfish n. a freshwater crustacean resembling a small lobster
credence n. belief (in); acceptance
credible adj. believable; trustworthy
crescendo n. an increase in loudness
crest n. the top of a hill; the highest point along a ridge
crestfallen adj. disappointed; disheartened; dejected
Cretaceous period n. the last period of the Mesosoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods, 144–65 million years ago
Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event n. a major geological and palaeontological landmark. The event, which occurred 65.5 million years ago and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other species, may have been due to the impact with the Earth of a massive asteroid. Also known as the K–T extinction or the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–P) event
crevice n. a crack; a fissure; a cleft
cripes interj. (slang) an expression of surprise or dismay
crisis n. a crucial stage in a sequence of events; a turning point; a critical point
critical adj. crucial; decisive
criticize v. to judge something disapprovingly; to censure
crooked adj. (slang) corrupt; dishonest; lacking integrity
crouch v. Chapters 12, 16, 20, 21: to bend low; to stoop; n. Chapter 22: a position
adopted prior to a pounce
crucial adj. decisive; critically important
crumpled adj. collapsed into a twisted or distorted shape
crustacean n. one of a class of animals having a carapace or shell
cryptid n. a cryptozoological term for a creature rumoured to exist but not recognized by mainstream science
cryptozoology n. the study of creatures whose existence has not been scientifically proved
crystal n. a substance with a characteristic regular shape that results from the specific internal arrangement of its atoms or molecules
culture n. artistic, literary, dramatic and similarly refined pursuits
cumbersome adj. unwieldy; (of an object) awkward to carry because of its shape, weight or size
currency n. money
curtly adv. abruptly; rudely
custodian n. one who guards
custody n. arrest; the state of being held by the police
cycad n. a tropical or subtropical plant, which has an unbranched stem and fern-like leaves
dab v. to touch or mop with small light movements
dashboard n. instrument panel; fascia
data pl.n. facts; measurements; observations; recordings
daunting adj. frightening; disheartening; intimidating
dawn v. to start to become apparent (to); to become comprehensible
dean n. a senior official in a university or college
decay n. rotten or decomposed tissue
decrepit adj. worn out; broken down; dilapidated
deferentially adv. with respect
deflect v. to turn something aside from its course; to cause something to swerve
deforestation n. the clearing of trees
deftly adv. dexterously; nimbly; skilfully
déjà vu n. (French) the sensation that a current event has been experienced before
delicacy n. a choice food; a delicious titbit
delivery n. manner of speaking
delve v. to rummage; to feel around or search (in)
demise n. death
denizen n. a person or animal living in a place; an inhabitant; a resident
dense adj. thick; crowded; impenetrable
deportment n. behaviour, particularly in respect of physical bearing or carriage
depravity n. moral corruption; debasement; perversion
depression n. a dent; a depressed or sunken place
deprive v. to take away from; to prevent from possessing or enjoying; to dispossess
derive v. to obtain; to draw (from); to get (from)
dermestid beetle n. member of a family of various beetles in which the larval and adult forms are destructive to a wide variety of organic materials. They are so effective as carnivorous scavengers that they are used in museum laboratories to clean flesh from bones.
descendant n. a person or animal descended from an earlier ancestor or form
deserted adj. desolate; remote; empty; uninhabited
desolate adj. uninhabited; deserted; barren
despondent adj. dejected; downcast; hopeless; disheartened
destination n. the end-point of a journey; the place to which a voyage is directed
destined adj. decided in advance; pre-ordained
destiny n. the fate determined for a person or thing; their future or fortune
detachment n. indifference; aloofness; disengagement
deteriorate v. to get worse; to diminish in quality; to depreciate; to disintegrate
device n. a piece of equipment or tool for a specific task; a contrivance
devise v. to plan; to work out; to contrive
devoid adj. without; free from; lacking; destitute
devote v. to allocate time or energy to some undertaking or enterprise; to dedicate oneself to a cause or pursuit
devour v. to eat greedily or voraciously; to consume
dialect n. a form of speech used in a particular geographical area, or by a particular group or social class
dictate v. to impose one’s will on another or others; to tyrannize
dilemma n. a quandary; a situation requiring a choice between two apparently equal but (usually) undesirable or unpalatable alternatives
dim adj. poorly illuminated; not well seen; indistinct; obscure
dimensions pl.n. measurements of size, e.g. length, height, width, etc.
diminutive adj. small; tiny
dire adj. fearful; disastrous; ominous
disarming adj. neutralizing, reducing, or counteracting hostility or suspicion
discard v. to throw away; to get rid (of)
discern v. to see; to perceive
disclosure n. revelation; the unveiling of hidden or secret information
disconcert v. to upset; to unsettle; to frustrate
disconsolate adj. very sad; dejected; inconsolable
discreet adj. tactful; behaving so as to avoid embarrassment
disembark v. to get out of, or down from, a means of transport
disembodied adj. without a body; lacking a body
disentangle v. to free; to unravel; to release
dislodge v. to remove; to get something out that was stuck or fixed
dismal adj. saddening; gloomy; depressing
dismantle v. to take apart
dispensable adj. not essential; expendable; disposable
dispense (with) v. to manage without ; to dispose (of); to do away (with)
disperse v. to leave a gathering; to break up; to scatter
displace v. to move out of position; to replace; to supplant; to take the place (of)
disposal n. the opportunity to use something or someone; to have the use (of)
dispose (of) v. to kill; to get rid (of); to throw away
distort v. to twist out of shape; to deform; to contort
distract v. to draw attention away from something
distracted adj. confused; attention taken away by something
distraught adj. very upset; agitated; distracted
diversity n. the quality or state of being varied or different
divert v. to change the direction of someone or something; to turn aside
DNA n. deoxyribonucleic acid. The substance in cells of which genes are made and which can be used to identify species and individuals
dodgy adj. (slang) risky; dangerous
dominant adj. principal; predominant; ruling; overriding
don v. to put on (clothes)
donate v. to give (usually as a present or gift; the use is ironic in Chapter 19)
double take n. a repeated, delayed, or exaggerated reaction to a given event or situation
downpour n. heavy rain
downside n. the bad aspect of a situation; the disadvantage
drape v. to hang or cover, especially casually or loosely
draw v. (on a cigarette) to suck air through; to take a puff
dromaeosaurid see Animal Anthology
drone n. a continuous low sound
drug trafficking n. the illegal trading of drugs
earthshattering adj. (slang) momentous; enormously important; ‘earthshaking’
eavesdropping v. listening secretly to the conversations of others
ecological adj. related to environmental matters; to do with ecology
ecosystem n. a system comprising various living and nonliving elements; the interactions between the organic and non-organic elements of a given environment
eddy n. a current in water or air that has a whirling motion
edentate adj. belonging to an order of mammals lacking teeth (e.g. anteaters)
e.g. abbrev. exempli gratia (Latin). This means ‘for example’. Now frequently simplified to eg
eggshells (walking on) metaphor ‘to walk on eggshells’ means to proceed with the utmost care
egotism n. concern with oneself; self-centredness; conceit
elaborate v. Preface: to give more detail in a story or account; to expand upon; adj. Chapters 8, 16: detailed; complex; complicated
elapse v. (of time) to pass by
elation n. extreme happiness; joyfulness
elect v. to choose; to select by vote
element n. part; component
eliminate v. Chapter 23: to remove; to take out; v. Chapter 8: (slang) to murder
emanate (from) v. to come from; to originate from
embed v. to fix in firmly; to stick into
ember n. glowing fragment of wood (etc.) in a dying fire
emblazon v. to make obvious with bright or splendid letters, colours, insignia. etc.
emissary n. messenger; agent; representative
emission n. a substance that is given out or emitted. In Chapter 3 the word emissions refers to polluting substances, particularly gases, produced by the burning of fossil fuels
emit v. to send out; to utter
emphasize v. to stress; to give prominence to
enacted v. played out; performed
energize v. to provide with energy; to stimulate
engaged adj. involved (in or with); occupied; busy
engrossed adj. completely absorbed in; occupied; taken up with
engulf v. to surround completely; to overwhelm; to swallow up
enlighten v. to instruct; to provide information
enlightenment n. sudden understanding; knowledge
enlist v. to engage support or service for a task or venture
en suite adj. (French) built as a single unit; part of a set
enthral v. to enchant; to spellbind
enticing adj. attractive; tempting; alluring
envisage v. to imagine; to visualize; to foresee
epic adj. having heroic or legendary qualities
epilogue n. a short postscript
epoch n. a particul
ar period of time in history
equator n. an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth at 0 degrees latitude. It divides the Earth into the northern and southern hemispheres
equatorial adj. to do with the equator
equivalent adj. equal in size or significance
escarpment n. a long, broad, very steep slope
establish v. Chapters 2, 5, 21: to determine; to confirm; to validate; to ascertain; v. Chapters 4, 10: to set up; to create
etc. abbrev. et cetera (Latin). This means ‘and the rest’; ‘and so forth’; ‘and the others’
ethos n distinctive culture, spirit, or attitude
euphemism n. an inoffensive word or phrase used instead of an offensive, rude or vulgar one. Also, an indirect expression rather than a direct one
euphoric adj. extremely happy; elated
evaporate v. to turn a liquid into a vapour
evade v. to get around; to dodge; to avoid
evasive adj. avoiding trouble, difficulty, danger etc.
even-tempered adj. calm; not prone to anger
exasperation n. anger; irritation
excavate v. to dig out; to unearth, especially at an archaeological site
exclusive adj. catering for a privileged group; fashionable
excrement n. droppings; dung; faeces; ‘poo’
exert v. to apply with great effort; to use forcefully
exhilaration n. pleasurable excitement; elation
existence n. the state of existing; the state of being (inanimate) or life (animate)
exotic adj. possessing strange beauty or quality; having unusual allure
expanse n. something extending over a wide area
expansive adj. wide; extravagant; all-inclusive
exploit v. to use for one’s own advantage
exquisite adj. particularly beautiful; attractive with delicate, refined qualities
exquisitely adv. with extreme skill and delicacy
extant adj. still existing; still living; surviving
extent n. size; scope; area; range
exterminate v. to destroy completely; to wipe out; to annihilate
extort v. to obtain money (or favours) by threats,
intimidation or violence
extraction n. taking out; removal; withdrawal
extravagant adj. spending money excessively or wastefully; unrestrained
exude v. to give out
eye-opener n. (Idiom.) something surprising, unexpected, or revealing. In the title of Chapter 11 it is used as a pun on this sense and its literal sense
fabulous adj. based upon a fable or myth