The Valley of the Ancients

by David Alric

  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

  electromagnetic radiation n. a range of energy emissions in a spectrum ranging from the longest radio waves to the shortest gamma radiation. Visible light is part of the spectrum

  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