Life of Pi Vocabulary

Question 1

bamboozle

p. VI

Answer 1

to fool or to cheat (someone)

Question 2

crux

p. VII

Answer 2

an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome

Question 3

obscurely

p. X

Answer 3

not prominent or famous

Question 4

cosmogony

p. 3

Answer 4

a theory of the origin of the universe

Question 5

Kabbalist

p. 3

Answer 5

a follower of the ancient Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah

Question 6

indolence

p. 3

Answer 6

avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness

Question 7

in situ

p. 3

Answer 7

in the original place, not moved

Question 8

repose

p. 5

Answer 8

a place of rest, tranquility

Question 9

illustrious

p. 5

Answer 9

well known, respected, admired for past achievements

Question 10

Varanasi

p. 6

Answer 10

a city in Southeastern Uttar Pradesh, in Northeastern India, on the Ganges River

Question 11

Tamil

p. 8

Answer 11

a member of a people inhabiting parts of Southern India and Sri Lanka

Question 12

guru

p. 9

Answer 12

(in Hinduism and Buddhism) a spiritual leader, especially one who communicates initiation

Question 13

ashram

p. 9

Answer 13

a religious or spiritual retreat (in Indian religions)

Question 14

lasciviousness

p. 15

Answer 14

to show or to be filled with sexual desire

Question 15

raiment

p. 16

Answer 15

clothing

Question 16

apoplectic

p. 76

Answer 16

to be indignant, overcome with anger, furious

– 3 apoplectic faces turned to him

Question 17

assimilated

p. 93

Answer 17

process of becoming or allowing someone to become a part of a group instead of being separate

Question 18

sadists

p. 32

Answer 18

people who gain satisfaction and pleasure (especially sexual pleasure) from causing pain/hurting and humiliating other people

Question 19

agouti

p. 33

Answer 19

a rodent from Central and South American rainforests, looks a bit like a large guinea pig

Question 20

ungulates

p. 36

Answer 20

any animal that has hooves (cow, horse, elephant, etc.)

Question 21

avatar

p. 59

Answer 21

(in Hinduism and Buddhism) a god appearing in a physical form

Question 22

incongruous

p. 66

Answer 22

strange, inappropriate, out of place, not suitable in a particular situation

Question 23

hafiz

p. 68

Answer 23

a Muslim who knows Koran (an Islamic sacred book) by heart

Question 24

existential

p. 72

Answer 24

connected/related to existence, especially human existence

Question 25

precarious | p. 87

Answer 25

(situation) not safe or certain; unstable, dangerous

Question 26

nemesis | p. 89

Answer 26

a person or thing that has competed with someone for a long time, or an enemy or a person

Question 27

amorous | p. 93

Answer 27

to be showing sexual desire and love towards someone

Question 28

anthropomorphism | p. 93

Answer 28

the practice of treating gods, animals, or objects as if they had human qualities

Question 29

tarpaulin | p. 110

Answer 29

a large, heavy, waterproof sheet used to cover things to protect from the rain

Question 30

dyspeptic | p. 111

Answer 30

irritability and pain caused by an upset stomach

Question 31

ensconced | p. 113

Answer 31

to be safe and comfortable in a place or position

Question 32

flotsam | p. 119

Answer 32

rubbish (ex. parts of a boat) floating on the sea

Question 33

matriarch | p. 123

Answer 33

a woman who is the head of a family or a social group

Question 34

prototype | p. 128

Answer 34

the first design of something, other forms are developed/copied from it

Question 35

carrion | p. 128

Answer 35

the decaying bodies of dead animals

Question 36

expirations | p. 131

Answer 36

the last breath

Question 37

remonstrations | p. 133

Answer 37

the act of showing objection, resistance, protest

Question 38

revulsion | p. 133

Answer 38

a strong feeling of horror, disgust

Question 39

simians | p. 135

Answer 39

an ape or a monkey

Question 40

frugivorous | p. 135

Answer 40

an animal that eats mostly fruits

Question 41

abomination | p. 139

Answer 41

something that causes hatred and/or disgust

Question 42

sustenance | p. 148

Answer 42

the food and drink that animals and plants need in order to live

Question 43

insouciant | p. 149

Answer 43

to be nonchalant, relaxed, not worrying; not concerned, indifferent

Question 44

asphyxiation | p. 149

Answer 44

being prevented from breathing until you become unconscious or die

Question 45

conundrum | p. 149

Answer 45

a confusing, difficult, puzzling question or problem

Question 46

propulsion | p. 153

Answer 46

the force that pushes something forward

Question 47

supplication | p. 155

Answer 47

the act of asking for something with a prayer

Question 48

dorados | p. 170

Answer 48

aka mahimahi, a Southamerican freshwater fish with a golden body and red fins, popular as a game fish

Question 49

cryptic | p. 185

Answer 49

something hidden or not easily understood, mysterious

Question 50

disconsolate | p. 188

Answer 50

to be unhappy, upset, disappointed

Question 51

sentient | p. 203

Answer 51

to be able to perceive and feel things through senses

Question 52

ambit | p. 216

Answer 52

the limits or extent of a range or an area

Question 53

affronted | p. 226

Answer 53

feeling or showing anger at some offence or insult

Question 54

malaise | p. 228

Answer 54

a general feeling of uneasiness, illness, or discomfort, which the cause is uncertain and difficult to identify

Question 55

vestiges | p. 237

Answer 55

a trace, a small part of something that still exists after the rest is gone

Question 56

archipelago | p. 255

Answer 56

a group of islands and the sea surrounding them

Question 57

fortification | p. 261

Answer 57

a reinforcement meant to make something stronger

Question 58

olfactory | p. 286

Answer 58

relates to sense of smell

Question 59

diurnal | p. 294

Answer 59

animals that are active during the day

Question 60

corroded | p. 298

Answer 60

to slowly destroy or make something weaker

Question 61

euphoria | p. 299

Answer 61

a state of extreme/intense happiness and excitement

Question 62

copiously | p. 302

Answer 62

in large amounts; abundance

Question 63

verbatim | p. 322

Answer 63

exactly word for word

Question 64

surreptitiously | p. 322

Answer 64

in a quick and secret way, to be unnoticed; secretly