The Stone of Destiny
Page 25
Sengann—SHEN-gan
Sidhe—Shee
Tuatha De Danann—TOO-uh-huh de DAN-nawn
*ch indicates hard ch sound as in German ach.
Glossary
These definitions are adapted from Websters-Online-Dictionary.org, Merriam-Webster.com/Dictionary, and Dictionary.Reference.com. Please check the dictionaries themselves for correct pronunciation.
admixture
something added by mixing
akimbo
set in a bent position
alembic
an apparatus used in distillation
apparition
an unusual or unexpected sight
arroyo
a water-carved gully or channel
astrolabe
a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant
athanor
a furnace that feeds itself so as to maintain a uniform temperature; used by alchemists
aura
a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source
besmirch
sully, soil
bole
trunk
bougainvillea
any of a genus (Bougainvillaea) of the four-o’clock family of ornamental tropical American woody vines and shrubs with brilliant purple or red floral bracts
bulbous
resembling a bulb especially in roundness
cacophony
harsh or discordant sound
calcine
(calcination)
to heat (as inorganic materials) to a high temperature but without fusing in order to drive off volatile matter or to effect changes (as oxidation or pulverization)
censers
a vessel for burning incense
chancel
the part of a church containing the altar and seats for the clergy and choir
coagulation
to cause to become viscous or thickened into a coherent mass
colonnade
a series of columns set at regular intervals and usually supporting the base of a roof structure
confect
to put together from varied material
congeal
to change from a fluid to a solid state by or as if by cold
congenial
pleasant, sociable, genial
cucurbit
a vessel or flask for distillation used with or forming part of an alembic
cupola
a small structure built on top of a roof
dilapidated
decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse
discomfiture
disconcertion; confusion; embarrassment
dissolution
the act or process of dissolving
dun
an Irish word meaning “fort”
effervescent
giving off bubbles
emanation
something that is emitted or radiated
erubescent
red or reddish
etheric
the rarefied element formerly believed to fill the upper regions of space
facade
the front of a building
furze
gorse; a spiny yellow-flowered European shrub
gesticulating
making gestures especially when speaking
gingham
a clothing fabric usually of yarn-dyed cotton in plain weave
globular
having the shape of a globe or globule
gyrations
a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
heel
to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves)
hempen
composed of hemp
hermetic
of or relating to the Gnostic writings or teachings arising in the first three centuries AD and attributed to Hermes Trismegistus
immolation
to destroy, often by fire
incandescent
strikingly bright, radiant, or clear
inexorably
inflexibly
iridescent
having colors like the rainbow; exhibiting a play of changeable colors
lichen
any of numerous complex plantlike organisms made up of an alga and a fungus growing in symbiotic association on a solid surface (as a rock)
luminous
softly bright or radiant
lummox
a clumsy person
maelstrom
a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius
magnanimity
loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and pettiness, and to display a noble generosity
manto
a Spanish word for cloak, coat, robe
megalith
a very large usually rough stone used in prehistoric cultures as a monument or building block
mellifluous
having a smooth rich flow
miscellany
a mixture of various things
mortar
a sturdy vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle
negligence
the trait of neglecting responsibilities and lacking concern
oscillate
to swing backward and forward like a pendulum
panacea
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
pennon
a long usually triangular or swallow-tailed streamer typically attached to the head of a lance as an ensign
perennial
continuing without interruption
pestle
a usually club-shaped implement for pounding or grinding substances in a mortar
philological
the study of literature and of disciplines relevant to literature or to language as used in literature
phosphorescence
luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiations (as light or electrons) and continues for a noticeable time after these radiations have stopped
pinnacle
an upright architectural member generally ending in a small spire and used especially in Gothic construction to give weight especially to a buttress
plaintive
expressive of suffering or woe
portent
something that foreshadows a coming event
profusion
great quantity; lavish display or supply
redolent
exuding fragrance
refulgence
a radiant or resplendent quality or state
renunciation
rejecting or disowning or disclaiming as invalid
roseate
resembling a rose especially in color
rubicund
ruddy
scimitar
a saber having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side and used chiefly by Arabs and Turks
scree
an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff
seethe
to be in a state of rapid agitated movement
sibilant
having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash
sojourner
a temporary resident
talisman
an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
tangible
capable of being perceived especially by the sense of touch
tincture
a substance that colors, dyes, or stains
torque
a usually metal collar or neck chain worn by the ancient Gauls, Germans, and Britons
translucent
permitting the passage of light
transmutative
the conversion of one element or nuclide into another either naturally or artificially
tremulous
such as is or might be caused by nervousness or shakiness
undulation
a rising and falling in waves
vacillate
to move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
verdure
the greenness of growing vegetation
vermilion
a vivid reddish orange
westering
to turn or move westward