facilities pl.n. the equipment and buildings required to conduct some activity
fag n. (slang) cigarette
fascination n. awe; curiosity; intense interest
fashion plate n. a person dressed beautifully and fashionably; the personification of elegance and fashion
fatal adj. causing death
fathom v. to work out; to get to the bottom of; to penetrate or solve a mystery
fauna n. all the animals living at a particular time, or in a particular place
feat n. an outstanding action or accomplishment; a great achievement; an exploit
feather v. to change the pitch (angle) of the blades of an aircraft propeller so as to reduce or abolish their propulsive force
feather-brained adj. silly; forgetful; frivolous
felon n. one who has committed a serious crime (felony); a villain
fence n. (slang) one who deals in stolen goods
feral adj. wild or savage, especially after being previously tame or domesticated
ferocious adj. extremely fierce; savage
fertile adj. highly productive; rich
fervent adj. intense; heartfelt; ardent
fibrous adj. material containing strands or fibres, often tough in texture
fidget v. to make repeated restless, agitated or uneasy movements
filament n. a strand of fibre, thread or wire; a fibril
first-hand adv. directly; from an original source
fish to fry metaphor to have other fish to fry means to have other things to do, usually more important or interesting
fissure n. narrow crack or cleft
fitful adj. occurring in irregular spells. A fitful sleep (Chapter 6) is broken and restless
flank n. the lower part of the side of an animal or person
flinch v. to draw back in a sudden movement; to wince
flippancy n. frivolity; inappropriate levity
flora n. all the plant life living in a particular place or at a particular time
fluent adj. written or spoken with ease and facility
flurry n. a sudden burst of activity; a commotion
flying ace n. an expert pilot, often famous
foe n. enemy
foetid adj. foul-smelling; smelling of decay; nauseating
foil v. to frustrate or defeat an attempt by another; to baffle
foliage n. the leaves of plants
folklore n. the unwritten traditions, stories or legends of a particular group or culture
forage v. to search for food
forbidding adj. frightening; ominous
foreboding n. a feeling of impending trouble; a sense of forthcoming malice or evil
forefront n. the very front; the vanguard
forensic adj. related to law. In Chapter 23 the forensic technician is gathering evidence that might be used in legal proceedings
foresight n. insight into future needs; anticipation of problems or requirements
formidable adj. awesome; impressive; threatening; something inspiring fear or dread because of its size, strength or ability
formulate v. to arrange in order; to organize; to devise
forthcoming adj. about to happen or appear
fossils pl.n. the remains or impressions of animals or plants that lived in a previous age
fracture n. a break or crack, often, as in Chapters 2, 22, of a bone
fray v. to fall apart; to wear; to tatter
freak adj. very unusual; unpredictable; unexpected
free agent n. a person or animal who is free to behave or operate at will; one who is unconstrained
from scratch adv. phrase (slang) from the very beginning
frustrate v. to stop; to prevent; to hinder; to thwart; to annoy
fulfil v. to achieve; to complete a task; to attain an ambition; to carry out a mission successfully
full-scale adj. all-out; complete in every detail
fumble v. to grope blindly; to search awkwardly or clumsily
fundamentally adv. basically; primarily
funding n. money; finance
furrow n. a groove; a wrinkle; a trench. In Chapter 13 her brow furrowed means her forehead wrinkled in puzzlement
fuselage n. the main body of an aircraft
gait n. manner or style of walking or moving
game adj. (slang) prepared to have a go; willing to try; plucky
gaol n. a somewhat old-fashioned spelling of jail
gargantuan adj. giant; enormous
gastrolith n. a stone in the stomach
gear n. equipment; supplies
generate v. to cause; to create; to produce; to bring into being
generator n. a machine for producing electricity from mechanical energy. In Chapter 8 it would be an engine driven by petrol or diesel
genial adj. easygoing; cheerful; pleasant
genuine adj. real; authentic; not fake
genus n. one of the taxonomic groups into which a family is divided. A genus contains different species
geology n. the study of the history, structure and composition of the Earth
geological fault n. a fracture in the Earth’s crust causing displacement of its layers
geologist n. a scientist who studies geology
gesticulate v. to send a message or signal by using body movements (usually of the hands or head)
gesture n. something done or said to make a point or to emphasize something
ghoulish adj. morbid; disgusting; malevolent
giant ground sloth see Animal Anthology
Giganotosaurus see Animal Anthology
gimmick n. something designed to attract attention or publicity (especially when having little or no real substance)
ginger tom n. most (not all) ginger cats are male (tom), so ginger tom is a common expression
gingerly adv. in a timid or cautious manner
girder n. a beam, usually steel or iron, used in construction
gizzard n. part of a bird’s stomach having a thickened, muscular, wall
glade n. a clearing or open space in a wood
glance v. to strike at an oblique angle so as to bounce off
glean v. to obtain in small pieces; to gather gradually; to garner
glimmer n. a faint glow or twinkle of light
gloom n. darkness; dimness
glow-worm n. a firefly; a beetle or larva of the family Lampyridae having a luminescent organ
glyptodont see Animal Anthology
gore n. coagulated blood; exudate from a wound
gorge n. Chapters 17, 18: a ravine; v. Chapter 12: to eat ravenously; to stuff oneself with food
gouge v. to dig out; to scoop; to make a hole
GPS n. global positioning system. A worldwide location and navigation system based upon satellite signals
graft n. (slang) work
grapnel n. a device with multiple hooks which is attached to a rope and thrown to secure a firm mooring
grapple n. Chapter 9: a hook by which something can be secured; v. Chapter 18: to struggle in close combat; to come to grips with someone or something
grappling hook n. a grapnel
grating n. a metal grille
gravitation n. the attracting force between bodies, caused by their mass
grille n. a grating of metal bars that admits cooling air
grimace n. a twisted or contorted facial expression
grisly adj. horrible; gruesome
ground-breaking adj. novel; making a new advance
grub v. to dig the surface in order to search
gruelling adj. extremely tiring; punishing; exhausting
guano n. the dried excrement of sea birds, bats or seals
guise n. appearance; pretence; semblance
gully n. a small valley; a channel; a fissure between rocks
gumivore n. a creature that eats sap or gum
hack v. to gain unauthorized ent
ry to a computer system
hacksaw n. a saw for cutting metal
half measure n. something inadequate
halfway house n. (metaphor) the midway point of a progression; a transition point
haltingly adv. hesitantly
hamlet n. a small village; a group of houses
hangar n. a large building for the storage and maintenance of aircraft
hapless adj. unfortunate; wretched
harness n. an arrangement of straps that fit around the body and to which things can be attached
harsh adj. rough; coarse; grating
hatch v. Prologue: to devise a plot or scheme; to contrive; n. Chapters 10, 11 and 12: short for hatchway, meaning an opening for access in a vessel or aircraft
hawser n. a strong heavy rope or line
hence adv. Chapter 11: therefore; for this reason; Chapters 3, 18, 21, 23: from this time or place (archaic)
henceforth adv. (archaic) from now on
hindsight n. the understanding of the true state of affairs after the event; insight after the truth has been revealed
histrionic adj. excessively dramatic; melodramatic
hitch v. Chapters 14, 21, 22: to connect; to harness; to fasten; Chapter 19: to pull up; to adjust
hither adv. (archaic) towards this place; to here
hither and thither adv. here and there; this way and that
hitherto adv. until now; up to this point
hoard n. a hidden store; a cache
Holy Grail n. the bowl or chalice used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The phrase is now often used to describe something that is very highly sought after or aspired to
hominid n. a primate of the Hominidae family which includes man and extinct precursors of man
hominoid adj. manlike
Homo sapiens n. the scientific name of modern man
hone v. to sharpen
hoodwink v. to trick; to deceive; to dupe
hoo-ha n. a fuss; a commotion
hormone n. a substance produced by an endocrine gland and transported (usually) in the blood to have an effect on a distant organ(s)
horsetail n. a plant of the genus Equisetum. A notorious garden weed
hostile adj. very unfriendly; antagonistic; inimical
hot-wire v. (slang) to start an engine without a key by bypassing the ignition switch
hulk n. the abandoned body or frame of a vessel, usually a ship
hulking adj. large and ungainly
humanist n. one who believes in the advancement of humanity through its own efforts rather than through religion
humdrum adj. dull; ordinary; routine; boring
hunch n. an intuition; a guess
hybrid n. something of mixed origins
hydraulic adj. operated by fluid pressure
hype n. exaggeration; hyperbole
ideology n. a set of beliefs or ideas
idiom n. linguistic usage that is characteristic of the native speakers of a language, or peculiar to a particular group or culture
idle threat n. a vain threat; one that will not be carried out
i.e. abbrev. id est (Latin). This means ‘that is’ or ‘in other words’. Often shortened to ie, and often used incorrectly instead of e.g. (qv)
ilk n. a type or sort
illicit adj. illegal
illuminate v. to make light
imitation n. mimicry; the act of copying
immaculate adj. without blemish; completely clean; unspotted
immeasurable adj. incapable of being measured; limitless
immemorial adj. very ancient; from a time too long ago to be remembered
immensity n. enormity; vastness
impassable adj. incapable of being traversed
impassively adv. calmly; serenely; uncaringly
impenetrable adj. not possible to get through
imperceptible adj. too slight or subtle to be noticed
imperial units pl.n. standards or definitions legally established in Great Britain for distances, weights, measures, etc.
implications pl.n. effects or results that might not at first be obvious
implicitly adv. unreservedly; absolutely; unquestioningly
imply v. to suggest or infer an outcome or consequence
impose v. to enforce; to require another or others to comply with something
impregnable adj. unable to be broken into
impregnate v. to soak; to permeate; to saturate; to imbue
impress v. to make an impression on; to have a strong effect on
inaccessible adj. not reachable; unapproachable
inanimate adj. without life
inappropriate adj. unsuitable; unfitting; untimely
incalculable adj. incapable of being determined; beyond calculation
incline n. a slope or gradient
incognito adj. unknown; in disguise; under an assumed name or identity
incongruous adj. an unexpected or inappropriate mixture; unusual; bizarre; ill-matched; having disparate elements
inconspicuous adj. not easily seen
incredible adj. unbelievable; beyond belief
incur v. to bring something on oneself
indefatigable adj. tireless; unflagging
indefinite adj. uncertain; unsettled
indicate v. to give a sign; to point out or show
indifferent adj. unaffected; unconcerned; uncaring
indispensable adj. essential; absolutely necessary
indulge v. Chapter 22: to pamper; to coddle; to spoil
indulgence n. Appendix: a remission of temporal punishment for sin
ineffectual adj. without effect; without success; inadequate; useless
inert adj. not moving; still
inevitable adj. certain to happen; unavoidable
inevitably adv. unavoidably; without any doubt
inexorably adv. relentlessly; unstoppably
inextricable adj. not able to be disentangled
infinite adj. endless; limitless
inflammation n. redness, heat and swelling, usually painful, in an injured or infected part of the body
inflict v. to cause to suffer; to impose on
informant n. one who provides information
informer n. one who informs on another or others; one who (slang) ‘sneaks’
initial adj. first; at the beginning; early; preliminary
initiative n. will; drive to act. In Chapter 12 on her own initiative means that Clio acted on her own without being prompted
innovative adj. new; inventive; novel; imaginative
insatiable adj. incapable of being satisfied; continually greedy
inseparable adj. incapable of being parted or divided
insuperable adj. insurmountable; incapable of being overcome
insurance policy n. a protection against a possible contingency
intensify v. to increase; to become more evident
intercept v. to interrupt the passage of something or someone from one place to another
interchange n. the exchange of information; communication
intercom n. (abbrev.) short for intercommunication system. An internal telephone system
interject v. to throw in; to interrupt; to interpose abruptly
interlude n. an interval; a period of time for rest or activity separating longer periods of different activities or events
interminable adj. unending
intermittent adj. now and then; periodic; occurring at regular or irregular intervals; occasional
interpretation n. explanation; understanding; elucidation
interrogation n. asking somebody questions
intimate adj. (of knowledge) deep; extensive; detailed
intimation n. hint; suggestion
intimidate v. to frighten; to scare; to subjugate
intoxication n. poisoning
intricate adj. involved; difficult; complex
invaluable adj. priceless; having a value that is too great to calculate
&n
bsp; inveterate adj. fixed in a habit; having ingrained behaviour; hardened
invulnerable adj. incapable of being hurt or wounded
iron rations pl.n. basic, life-preserving foods for use in an emergency
ironic adj. surprising or incongruous in a slightly amusing or sarcastic way
irresistible adj. incapable of being refused or denied; overpoweringly desirable
jail-bird n. one who has spent time in prison, especially repeatedly
jargon n. specialized vocabulary or language associated with a particular profession or group
jaunt n. a short outing or excursion, usually pleasurable
JCB n.(trademark) a large construction machine with a shovel at the front and an excavator arm at the back. Named after its English manufacturer Joseph Cyril Bamford
joyrider n. one who drives a car for pleasure and excitement. The car is usually stolen, and the driving reckless
juddering adj. shuddering; vibrating; shaking
Jurassic Park n. a famous novel about dinosaurs written in 1990 by Michael Crichton. It was adapted into a film in 1993 by Steven Spielberg
jut v. to stick out; to protrude; to project; to overhang juvenile adj. youthful
kaleidoscope n. a toy which produces an endless variety of symmetrical optical effects by means of internal reflecting mirrors
ken n. range of knowledge
kilonewton n. symbol kN. A derived SI unit of force equal to 1000 newtons. One newton imparts an acceleration of 1 metre per second per second to a mass of 1 kilogram
kin n. relatives; kindred; a group related by blood ties
kinsman n. a member of the same family, tribe or race
kite n. a bird of prey with a long, forked tail
knock off v. (slang) to kill
know-how n. (slang) knowledge of how to do or make something
kudos n. status; prestige; glory; acclaim
laceration n. a wound with torn or jagged edges
lackey n. a servile follower; a hanger-on
lance n. a long, straight, pointed weapon
languid adj. inactive; lacking energy
laser n. a device for creating an intense, narrow, monochromatic, beam of light. The word is an acronym, representing Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
latitude (line of) n. an imaginary line, parallel with the equator, used in geography, navigation, etc. A line of latitude is expressed in terms of the number of degrees it lies north or south of the equator (which is latitude 0 degrees). The degrees give the angle subtended at the centre of the globe between the equator and the line of latitude described, in a plane at right angles to the equator