Chapter 1 Vocab Words Flashcards

1
Q

THE YEAR 1866 was marked by a bizarre development, an unexplained and downright inexplicable phenomenon that surely no one has forgotten.

A

Inexplicable

adjective. Such as can not be made plain

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2
Q

THE YEAR 1866 was marked by a bizarre development, an unexplained and downright inexplicable phenomenon that surely no one has forgotten.

A

Phenomenon

noun. Any unusual occurrence

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3
Q

THE YEAR 1866 was marked by a bizarre development, an unexplained and downright inexplicable phenomenon that surely no one has forgotten.

A

Bizarre

adjective. Fantastic; Violently contrasting; Noticeably odd; Strikingly unconventional

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4
Q

Without getting into those rumors that upset civilians in the seaports and deranged the public mind even far inland, it must be said that professional seamen were especially alarmed.

A

Inland

adjective. Remote from the sea

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5
Q

Traders, shipowners, captains of vessels, skippers, and master mariners from Europe and America, naval officers from every country, and at their heels the various national governments on these two continents, were all extremely disturbed by the business.

A

Naval

adjective. Pertaining to ships

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6
Q

In essence, over a period of time several ships had encountered “an enormous thing” at sea, a long spindle-shaped object, sometimes giving off a phosphorescent glow, infinitely bigger and faster than any whale.

A

Enormous

adjective. Gigantic

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7
Q

In essence, over a period of time several ships had encountered “an enormous thing” at sea, a long spindle-shaped object, sometimes giving off a phosphorescent glow, infinitely bigger and faster than any whale.

A

Infinite

adjective. Immeasurably or inconceivably great or extensive; Inexhaustible

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8
Q

In essence, over a period of time several ships had encountered “an enormous thing” at sea, a long spindle-shaped object, sometimes giving off a phosphorescent glow, infinitely bigger and faster than any whale.

A

Encounter

verb. To come upon face-to-face

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9
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Apparition

noun. Ghost; Phantom

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10
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Relevant

adjective. Having significant and demonstrable bearing on the matter at hand

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11
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Unique

adjective. Without an equal; Single in kind

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12
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Unprecedented

adjective. Having no previous example; Novel; Unparalleled

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13
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Movement

noun. A distinct structural unit or division having its own key, rhythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition

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14
Q

The relevant data on this apparition, as recorded in various logbooks, agreed pretty closely as to the structure of the object or creature in question, its unprecedented speed of movement, its startling locomotive power, and the unique vitality with which it seemed to be gifted.

A

Vitality

noun. The capacity to live, grow, or develop

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15
Q

Now then, it did exist, this was an undeniable fact; and since the human mind dotes on objects of wonder, you can understand the worldwide excitement caused by this unearthly apparition.

A

Dote

verb. Show much fondness, center one’s attention

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16
Q

Now then, it did exist, this was an undeniable fact; and since the human mind dotes on objects of wonder, you can understand the worldwide excitement caused by this unearthly apparition.

A

Unearthly

adjective. Unnaturally strange and frightening

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17
Q

So, unless this reef was subject to the intermittent eruptions of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had fair and honest dealings with some aquatic mammal, until then unknown, that could spurt from its blowholes waterspouts mixed with air and steam.

A

Aquatic

adjective. Relating to water

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18
Q

So, unless this reef was subject to the intermittent eruptions of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had fair and honest dealings with some aquatic mammal, until then unknown, that could spurt from its blowholes waterspouts mixed with air and steam.

A

Intermittent

adjective. Periodic, occasional

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19
Q

From their simultaneous observations, they were able to estimate the mammal’s minimum length at more than 350 English feet; this was because both the Shannon and the Helvetia were of smaller dimensions, although each measured 100 meters stem to stern.

A

Simultaneous

adjective. Occurring, done, or existing at the same time

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20
Q

Now then, the biggest whales, those rorqual whales that frequent the waterways of the Aleutian Islands, have never exceeded a length of 56 meters – if they reach even that.

A

Exceed

verb. To go beyond, as in measure, quality, value, action, power, skill

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21
Q

In lighthearted countries, people joked about this phenomenon, but such serious, practical countries as England, America, and Germany were deeply concerned.

A

Practical

adjective. Involving experience or actual use rather than theory

22
Q

In lighthearted countries, people joked about this phenomenon, but such serious, practical countries as England, America, and Germany were deeply concerned.

A

Lighthearted

adjective. Carefree; Cheerful

23
Q

In every big city the monster was the latest rage; they sang about it in the coffee houses, they ridiculed it in the newspapers, they dramatized it in the theaters.

A

Dramatize

verb. To express (something) in an exaggerated way

24
Q

During the first months of the year 1867, the question seemed to be buried, and it didn’t seem due for resurrection, when new facts were brought to the public’s attention.

A

Resurrection

noun. A return from death to life

25
On March 5, 1867, the Moravian from the Montreal Ocean Co., lying during the night in _latitude_ 27 degrees 30' and longitude 72 degrees 15', ran its starboard quarter afoul of a rock marked on no charts of these waterways.
Latitude ## Footnote noun. Freedom from normal restraints, limitations, or regulations
26
Without the high quality of its _hull_, the Moravian would surely have split open from this collision and gone down together with those 237 passengers it was bringing back from Canada.
Hull ## Footnote noun. Body of a ship
27
They saw nothing except a strong _eddy_ breaking three cable lengths out, as if those sheets of water had been violently churned.
Eddy ## Footnote noun. A small whirlpool
28
This _occurrence_, extremely serious in itself, might perhaps have been forgotten like so many others, if three weeks later it hadn't been reenacted under identical conditions.
Occurrence ## Footnote noun. Something that takes place
29
Only, thanks to the nationality of the ship victimized by this new ramming, and thanks to the reputation of the company to which this ship belonged, the event caused an _immense_ uproar.
Immense ## Footnote adjective. Very great in degree, extent, size, or quantity
30
Only, thanks to the nationality of the ship victimized by this new ramming, and thanks to the reputation of the company to which this ship belonged, the event caused an immense _uproar_.
Uproar ## Footnote noun. A state of commotion, excitement, or violent disturbance
31
In 1840 this shrewd industrialist founded a postal service between Liverpool and Halifax, featuring three wooden ships with 400-horsepower paddle wheels and a burden of 1,162 _metric_ tons.
Metric ## Footnote adjective. Relating to measurement
32
In 1840 this _shrewd_ industrialist founded a postal service between Liverpool and Halifax, featuring three wooden ships with 400-horsepower paddle wheels and a burden of 1,162 metric tons.
Shrewd ## Footnote adjective. Marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen
33
If I give these highly condensed details, it is so everyone can fully understand the importance of this _maritime_ transportation company, known the world over for its shrewd management.
Maritime ## Footnote adjective. Of the sea, sailing or shipping
34
If I give these highly _condensed_ details, it is so everyone can fully understand the importance of this maritime transportation company, known the world over for its shrewd management.
Condense ## Footnote verb. Increase in density, strength, make laconic
35
Accordingly, despite strong competition from France, passengers still choose the Cunard line in _preference_ to all others, as can be seen in a recent survey of official documents.
Preference ## Footnote noun. An object of favor or choice
36
Given this, no one will be astonished at the uproar _provoked_ by this accident involving one of its finest steamers.
Provoke ## Footnote verb. To call forth; Evoke
37
On April 13, 1867, with a smooth sea and a _moderate_ breeze, the Scotia lay in longitude 15 degrees 12' and latitude 45 degrees 37'.
Moderate ## Footnote verb. Being within reasonable limits; not excessive or extreme
38
At 4:17 in the afternoon, during a high tea for passengers gathered in the main lounge, a collision occurred, _scarcely_ noticeable on the whole, affecting the Scotia's hull in that quarter a little astern of its port paddle wheel.
Scarce ## Footnote adjective. Deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand; Not plentiful or abundant
39
At 4:17 in the afternoon, during a high tea for passengers gathered in the main lounge, a collision occurred, scarcely noticeable on the whole, _affecting_ the Scotia's hull in that quarter a little astern of its port paddle wheel.
Affect ## Footnote verb. To act upon
40
At 4:17 in the afternoon, during a high tea for passengers gathered in the main lounge, a collision occurred, scarcely _noticeable_ on the whole, affecting the Scotia's hull in that quarter a little astern of its port paddle wheel.
Noticeable ## Footnote adjective. Perceptible
41
The Scotia hadn't run afoul of something, it had been fouled, and by a cutting or perforating instrument rather than a _blunt_ one.
Blunt ## Footnote adjective. To make less sharp or definite
42
He discovered that the fifth _compartment_ had been invaded by the sea, and the speed of this invasion proved that the leak was considerable.
Compartment ## Footnote noun. Any of the sections into which a larger area or enclosed space is divided
43
He discovered that the fifth compartment had been invaded by the sea, and the speed of this invasion proved that the leak was _considerable_.
Considerable ## Footnote adjective. Rather large or great in size, distance, extent, etc.
44
He discovered that the fifth compartment had been invaded by the sea, and the speed of this _invasion_ proved that the leak was considerable.
Invasion ## Footnote noun. Encroachment, as by an act of intrusion or trespass
45
Fortunately this compartment didn't contain the boilers, because their _furnaces_ would have been abruptly extinguished.
Furnace ## Footnote noun. An enclosed structure in which heat is produced
46
Fortunately this compartment didn't contain the boilers, because their furnaces would have been _abruptly_ extinguished.
Abrupt ## Footnote adjective. Beginning, ending, or changing suddenly or with a break
47
By then it lay 300 miles from Cape Clear, and after three days of delay that filled Liverpool with _acute_ anxiety, it entered the company docks.
Acute ## Footnote adjective. sharp, severe; having keen insight
48
By then it lay 300 miles from Cape Clear, and after three days of delay that filled Liverpool with acute _anxiety_, it entered the company docks.
Anxiety ## Footnote noun. Intense uneasiness
49
Consequently, it must have been produced by a perforating tool of uncommon toughness -- plus, after being launched with _prodigious_ power and then piercing four centimeters of sheet iron, this tool had needed to withdraw itself by a backward motion truly inexplicable.
Prodigious ## Footnote adjective. Enormous, wonderful
50
Consequently, it must have been produced by a perforating tool of _uncommon_ toughness -- plus, after being launched with prodigious power and then piercing four centimeters of sheet iron, this tool had needed to withdraw itself by a backward motion truly inexplicable.
Uncommon ## Footnote adjective. Rare
51
Indeed, from this moment on, any maritime _casualty_ without an established cause was charged to the monster's account.
Casualty ## Footnote noun. Person who is killed or injured in war or in an accident