WAR HORSE VOCABULARY

CHAPTER 1

GANGLING

awkwardly tall and thin

HUBBUB

a loud, confused noise, as of many voices

CLAMBER

to climb quickly, using both feet and hands

CONVICTION

a fixed or firm belief

INSTINCTIVE

natural; unlearned

CHAPTER 2

IMITATED

to copy someone else’s behavior

PRECAUTION

an action taken to protect against possible harm or trouble or to limit the damage if something goes wrong

PROWESS

exceptional ability or skill

RUDIMENTS

basic principles or skills

ABUNDANCE

large amount: a more than plentiful quantity of something

CHAPTER 3

GRADUALLY

changing slowly, little by little

FOREBODING

a feeling that something bad is going to happen

VEHEMENTLY

strongly emotional about something

NEGOTIATOR

to deal or bargain with others

INEVITABLE

something that is certain to happen

CHAPTER 4

APPREHENSION

a feeling of anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen

JODHPURS

Horse riding pants that are wide at the hip and narrow around the calves, often with reinforced patches where the rider's legs grip the horse

REGIMENT

a unit of ground forces, consisting of two or more battalions or battle groups

LAME

crippled or physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty

CHAPTER 5

RESENT

to feel upset about something or toward somebody

JOCKEY

someone who rides horses as a profession

TREPIDATION

fear or uneasiness about the future or a future event

CAVALRY

Troops trained to fight on horseback.

CHAPTER 6

BUOYANT

Able to float

DISEMBARK

get off passenger vehicle: to get off a passenger vehicle, especially a ship, aircraft, or train

QUAYSIDE

The area next to a wharf

DISMOUNTING

To get off an animal

CHAPTER 7

HESITANT

not quick or confident

INSEPARABLE

always together: sharing a close friendship

FETLOCKS

A tuft of hair on the back of the leg or on the head

TRENCHES

Holes dug in the ground used to cover soldiers during the war

INCESSANTLY

Continuing without interruption

BAYONET

a weapon used in the war

CHAPTER 8

BOMBARDMENT

to attack or batter with artillery fire

INEXORABLY

Not capable of stopping; relentless

REGIMENT

a military unit usually consisting of two or three battalions under the command of a colonel

CHAPTER 9

AUTHORITY

with official power

LAVISHED

given something in great amounts

SACRILEGE

the violation or profanation of anything sacred

COMPENSATE

pay somebody for work or loss

ARTILLERY BARRAGE

a method of delivering massed artillery fire from a few or many batteries.

CHAPTER 10

WOUNDED

An injury

ADULATION

excessive flattery or admiration

RATION

a fixed and limited amount of food given to a person or group from the what is available

PRATTLE

to talk in a silly, idle, or childish way

MERRILY

In a high-spirited, festive way

CHAPTER 11

JEALOUSY

Wanting to have something someone else has

CONVOY

A group, often of military vehicles, traveling together.

BESIEGED

surround place with army

EXUBERANT

full of enthusiasm: full of happy high spirits and vitality

CHAPTER 12

MEAGER

unsatisfactorily small or bad quality

MOTLEY

made up of people or things that are very different from one another and do not seem to belong together

INCONGRUOUS

out of place in a specific setting

GUNNER

A person in the military that controls the gun

FORELEGS

either of the two front legs of a horse

CHAPTER 13

RAGGEDNESS

clothed in tattered or torn garments

OBLIGE

require somebody to do something

ADMIRATION

warm approval or appreciation of somebody or something

HORSEMEN

men who ride horses

EMPATHY

Identifying with how someone else feels

CHAPTER 14

REGAL

resembling a king or royalty

SERENITY

The state of being calm or tranquil

SUREFOOTED

Not likely to stumble or fall

SPONTANEOUS

acting upon sudden impulses

CHAPTER 15

CRATERS

large, circular holes

STAGNANT

water that is standing still, not moving or flowing

BARBED WIRE

wire used as a fence to keep people or animals out

BOMBARDMENT

To attack with artillery fire

NO-MAN’S-LAND

land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between two groups

CHAPTER 16

CRESCENDO

A gradual increase, especially in the volume or intensity of sound

WAFTING

something carried through air, often a smell or sound

HANDKERCHIEF

A cloth that you keep in your pocket to blow your nose

WARILY

On guard; watchful or cautious

CRICKET

a game, popular especially in England, for two teams of 11 members each that is played on a field having

RUGBY

A competitive sport close to football that is popular in England.

CHAPTER 17

IMMACULATE

absolutely clean, neat

AUBURN

reddish brown

TENTATIVELY

likely to have changes before becoming final and complete

CHAPTER 18

EUPHORIC

extremely happy or excited

DREAD

to feel extremely frightened or worried about something that may happen in the future

TETANUS

an infectious disease, usually obtained through a wound that breaks the skin

INCREDULOUS

unwilling to believe something

CHAPTER 19

CASUALTIES

injured or dead soldiers

DISPATCHED

to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc.

EXHAUSTED

to drain of strength or energy, wear out

INCONSOLABLE

cannot be comforted

DIMINISH

to make something smaller or less important

AUCTION

sale by bidding

CHAPTER 20

CONSPIRACY

an evil or unlawful plan made in secret by two or more persons

BUTCHER

meat seller

ENGLISH POUNDS

the basic unit of money in Great Britain and Northern Ireland

CHAPTER 21

COMMISERATE

to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for

RAPTUROUS

full of, feeling joy or delight

MUTUAL

shared by people

JEALOUSY

feeling bitter and unhappy because of another's advantages, possessions, or luck

VAGARIES

unpredictable change