8th Grade Word List in Literature

pop-hole

n. a small opening through which an animal may pass

lurch

v. move abruptly

scullery

n. a small room next to the kitchen

fluttering

a. flying unsteadily or hovering;

boar

n. a male pig
n. the male of any of several mammals

barn

n. an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals

ensconce

v. fix firmly

benevolent

a. generous in providing aid to others

tush

n. a long pointed tooth

perch

n. support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place, especially for a bird

cud

n. a wad of something chewable as tobacco
n. food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again

foal

n. a young horse
v. give birth to a foal

brood

n. a family of young animals, especially of a bird

duckling

n. young duck
n. flesh of a young domestic duck

feebly

ad. in way that lacks strength or force;

mare

n. female equine animal; female of a horse

flirt

v. talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

mane

n. long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck

purr

v. make a soft swishing sound

raven

n. a large heavily built crow with mainly black plumage

till

v. work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation

sturdy

a. strongly and solidly built

confinement

n. the condition of being in childbirth

grumble

v. make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath

knacker

n. someone who buys up old horses for slaughter

foxhound

n. medium-sized glossy-coated hounds developed for hunting foxes

tyranny

n. a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
n. dominance through threat of punishment and violence

falter

v. walk unsteadily

astray

ad. far from the intended target
ad. away from the right path or direction

trotter

n. foot of a pig or sheep especially one used as food

dissentient

a. in opposition to majority or official opinion;
n. person who opposes majority or official opinion;

clime

n. a region considered with reference to its climate

hearken

v. listen; used mostly in the imperative

unison

n. corresponding exactly
n. (music) two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves

pellet

n. a solid missile discharged from a firearm
n. a small sphere