The Winepress - Vocabulary

Note: the meaning given for each word is contextual meaning, that is to say it is the specific meaning of the word within the context of the story. Some of these words have other meanings not shown here.

WordPart of SpeechContextual MeaningExample Sentence
arithmeticnounmathematics (adding, multiplying etc)Don't ask me to add the numbers; I'm terrible at arithmetic.
aromanounscentThe aroma at the spa was of roses and vanilla.
bateau-mouchenounsightseeing boat for tourists on the River Seine in ParisIn the summer the bateaux-mouchescarry thousands of tourists up and down the Seine.
bulbousadjectivelarge and roundSanta Claus has a bulbous nose and belly.
casknounwooden containerWe filled the cask with wine and put it in the cellar.
claretnounFrench red wineYou should always serve a nice claret with a juicy steak.
concealedverb - pasthidFranco concealed his love notes under his pillow.
contemptnounfeeling that a person or thing is worthlessJane's contempt for her ex-husband is unfair on her kids.
cultivatedadjectiveeducated about artMy husband is very cultivated because his grandmother was into classical music and painting.
dabbedverb - pasttouched lightlyMary dabbed her extra lipstick off with her napkin.
decentadjectivepretty goodAt least wear a decent shirt because you are going to be photographed from the waist up.
denouncementsnounaccusationsThe thief rejected the denouncements even though he was caught stealing on camera.
elegantadjectiveattractive, graceful, simpleI need a long elegant dress to wear to my graduation ceremony.
entertainedverbhosted a partyWhenever my parents entertained their college friends we always had a BBQ and badminton tournament.
excessivelyadverbwith extra effort than necessaryChrisie called me so excessively that I didn't want to be friends with her.
fathomlessadjectivedeep, incomprehensibleAstronomers are constantly trying to search the fathomless depths of space.
flungverb - pastthrew wildlyThe bride flung her bouquet of flowers behind her.
fumesnounstrong smell that makes it hard to breatheThe petrol fumes at the garage always give me a headache.
gamenounhunted birds and other animals (for food or sport)The only game I enjoy eating is duck.
gazedverb - pastlooked at intently with wide eyesThe couple sat on the beach and gazed at the sunset.
genuineadjectiverealThis movie is not a genuine documentary.
glancesnounlooks that last only a short momentBefore we started dating we used to exchange glances from our desks.
grief-strickenadjectiveupset because of a lossI was grief-stricken when my dog got run over by a car.
harvestnounseason when crops are ready to pickDuring the harvest the whole family goes out to work in the corn fields.
heaven forbidinterjectionexpressing a strong wish that something does not happenHeaven forbid that we ever get hit by one of these terrible hurricanes!
humiliatingadjectivecausing embarrassmentIt was humiliating when they made me stand up and make a speech.
idyllicadjectivepeaceful, perfectIt was an idyllic afternoon with all of the kids away at school.
immigrationnounpermanent movement of someone from one country to anotherThe rules of immigration say that I need a permit to work in this country.
impassivelyadverbwithout expression, not showing emotionThe young teen stood impassively while the policeman put handcuffs on him.
insinuationsnounsuggestions about someone (without proof) that are not niceI broke up with Bob because of the insinuations he made about me and my ex-boyfriend.
intentionnounaim or planAlice's intention was to rent a guitar, not to buy one.
loathedverb - pasthatedI loathed my grade nine French teacher because he gave us so much homework.
lungedverb - pastmoved forward suddenly and quicklyThe child lunged at the birthday cake before we could remove the candles.
peasantnounpoor person who usually lives off the landMy ancestors were peasants who used to beg for food when their crops wouldn't grow.
pedigreenounrecord of ancestry, line of relativesWe only breed dogs of excellent pedigree.
poisedverb - pastprepared to actThe fashion model was poised at the foot of the walkway.
raconteurnouna skillful storytellerThere is always one raconteur in the family who makes everyone laugh at the dinner table.
ravishingadjectivevery beautiful, entrancingBrides always look ravishing on their wedding days.
reasonedverb - pastanalyzed and formed judgement logically; tried to persuade by giving good reasonsI reasoned with my father to extend my curfew.
reputationnounopinions or beliefs that others have about a person or thingMark has a reputation for dating more than one woman at a time.
resorted toverb - pastdid because nothing else workedThere were no size ten skates so Marie resorted to wearing men's.
rootnounearly stage, causeJanice's mother-in-law is the root of her marital problems.
shudderedverb - pasttrembled or shook because of cold or fearAndrea shuddered when she heard the loud scream.
telegramnoun(formerly) mail sent electronically and delivered in printed form on paperDuring the war she learned of her son's injuries by telegram.
termagantnouna bad-tempered, noisy womanThe termagant was hassling her husband about forgetting to make her coffee.
vealnounthe meat of a young cowSamantha doesn't eat veal because she's a vegetarian.
vigorousadjectivestrong, energeticThe vigorous builders had the house finished in one week.
vintagenountop wine, usually wine from a specific yearThey're serving a 1975 vintage to mark their anniversary.
vineyardnounplace where grapes are grownWe worked in the vineyard until all of the grapes had been picked.
visiblyadverbeasily seenShe stood visibly in front of the window, so I knew she was home.
welled upverb - pastfilled up (often with liquid)Her eyes welled up with tears when he asked her to marry him.
winepressnounmachine or equipment used to squeeze the juice out of grapesWe'll need a winepress if we want to make juice out of these grapes.