Cloud Atlas, Letters from Zedelghem, words & quotes

macadam- broken stone of even size used in successively compacted layers for surfacing roads and paths

penury- extreme poverty; destitution

coffinesque- resembling a coffin

pong- a strong, unpleasant smell

cadged- ask for or obtain (something to which one is not strictly entitled)

gnossiennesque-

carapaces- something regarded as a protective or defensive covering 

"Girls fascinate in different ways."

cor anglais- a musical instrument also called an English horn

"Implausible truth can serve one better than plausible fiction, and now was such a time."

decoking- remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing or taking off

frieze- a broad horizontal band of sculpted or painted decoration, especially on a wall near the ceiling

amanuensis- a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts

retroussé nose- nose turned up at the tip in an attractive way

louche- disreputable or sordid in a radish or appealing way

frisson- a sudden strong feeling of excitement or fear; a thrill

carillon- a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll

mordant- having or showing a sharp or critical quality (especially of humor); biting

six-birch-

bête noire- a person or thing that one particularly dislikes

arpeggios- the notes of a chord played in succession, either ascending or descending

execrable- extremely bad or unpleasant

brace- a pair of game birds

sundered- split apart

" Now and then goldfish splish and gleam like new pennies dropped in water."

demoiselle- a small graceful Old World crane with a black head and breast and white ear tufts; or a type of damselfly

"If people praise you, you're not walking your own path."

memsahibs- a married white or upper-class woman (often used as a respectful form of address by non white people)

deigned- condescending to give (something)

garble- reproduce in a confused and distorted way

apposite- apt in the circumstances or in relation to something 

scuppered- sink deliberately; prevent from working or succeeding; thwart

erstwhile- former

 

abject- (of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree; completely without pride or dignity

in a trice- quickly

irascible- having or showing a tendency to be easily angered

cossets- care for and protect in an overindulgence way

evinced- reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); be evidence of; indicate

dodecaphonists- relating to, composing in or consisting of twelve-tone music

escutcheons- shield or emblems bearing coats of arms; a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle or light switch

crenellations- the battlements of a castle or other building

runneling- trickling

comfortable little warren- a densely populated or labyrinthine building or district

enmity- the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something

lucre- money, especially when regarded as sordid or distasteful or gained in a dishonorable way

flutterbying- a butterfly

flautism- 

staves- vertical wood posts or planks

sangfroid- composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances 

mewled- whimper, cry softly

escritoire- a small writing desk with drawers and compartments 

juvenilia- works produced by an author or artist while still young

riposted- to make a quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism 

stickleback- small fish with sharp spines

eschew- deliberately avoid using

cuckolder- the husband of an adulterous wife

sherbety- 

pastiches- artist works in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period

fatuous- silly and pointless

trunculent- eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant

glabrous- smooth, free from hair

burghers- a wealthy citizen

beetly-

pince-nez - a pair of eyeglasses with a nose clip instead of earpieces

sweet bird of solvency- ability to pay one's debt

sinecured- a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit 

shagreen- a kind of unmanned leather with a rough granulated surface

beatific- blissfully happy

Bach motet- a short piece of sacred choral music

élan- energy, style, and enthusiasm 

scarered- 

dandified- showing excessive concern about one's clothes or appearance

jackdaw- small gray-headed crow

flummoxed- bewildered 

(ducked into a) mew- a place for hiding

chroma- purity or intensity of color

Fun Words and Quotes from Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

I started reading Cloud Atlas tonight. As I looked up the new and unfamiliar words like Sheog, I found a blog that featured words from the first ten pages. Then it stopped. Thus I write and record to look up and clarify the words of Cloud Atlas.

pusillanimity- lack of courage or determination; timidity

guerno- ???

penurious- extremely poor; poverty-stricken 

bilged- to break a hole in the bilge of; the lowest point of a ship's inner hull

ordure- something regarded as vile or abhorrent

vassals- a person in a subordinate position to another

Chatham Island- the largest island of the Chatham Islands group, in the south Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island

fecundated- fertilize; make fruitful

"Peace, though beloved of our Lord, is a cardinal virtue only if your neighbors share your conscience."

extirpation- local extinction 

"The merciful plowing shoots a trusty horse grown too old for service."

ameliorate- make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

aborgate- repeal or do away with; evade

renege- go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract

"As many truths as men."

simulacrums- an image or representation of someone or something

bestirs- makes a physical or mental effort

salt-horse - salted beef

despotism- the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way

victualing- providing with food

Aesculapian- relating to medicine or physicians

befell- to happen or occur

circumambulating- walk all the way around

mollyhawk- a medium-sized albatross 

diaphanous fog- light, delicate, translucent 

nebulous quilts- in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy

summery pillows- characteristic of or suitable for summer

bosky- wooded, covered by trees or bushes

hawser- a thick rope or cable for mooring a ship

ketch- a two-masted sailboat

fo'c'sle- the forward part of a ship below the deck, traditionally used as the crew's living quarters

thitherwards- toward that place

tempest- a violent storm; tumult, uproar

usurous- practicing usury (the illegal action of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest

jackwood- a rainforest tree of Eastern Australia whose bark is dark brown or reddish-brown and often scaly

bowsprit- a spar extending forward from a ship's bow, to which the forestays are fastened

pique- interest or curiosity

lamentable- deplorable bad or unsatisfactory 

commodious- roomy and comfortable 

Friday is a Jonah amongst sailors; Jonah meaning bad luck

fripperies- showy or unnecessary ornaments

appurtenances- an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living

spectra of powders- spectrums or bands of colors, as seen in a rainbow 

unguents- soft greasy or viscous substances used as ointments or for lubrication

furtive- attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to troubles; secretive

gratis- without charge; free

trice- in a moment; very quickly

desiderata- something that is needed or wanted

pillory- a wooden framework with holes for the head and hands, in which an offender was imprisoned

affright- frightened 

gaoler- someone who guards prisoners

certitude- absolute certainty or conviction that something is the case

cacophony- a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

alarum- alarm

arrack- an alcoholic liquor typically distilled from the sap of the coconut palm or from rice

dolorous- feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress

"Pain is strong, aye- but friends' eyes, more strong."

pidgin- denoting a simplified form of a language

vicissitudes- a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant 

scrofula- a disease with swollen glands, probably a form of tuberculosis 

subjugation- the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control

condign- (of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved 

storiated- decorated with historical, legendary, or emblematic designs

putative- generally considered or reputed to be

bestir- make a physical or mental effort; exert or rouse oneself

arras- a rich tapestry, typically hung on the walls of a room or used to conceal an alcove

"To fool a judge, feign fascination, but to bamboozle the whole court, feign boredom."

percipience- good understanding of things; perceptiveness

lunatick- lunatic, one who is foolish, dangerous, crazy

odiously- in an offensive and hateful manner

admixture- a mixture

laphrydictic ???

valetudinarian- a person who is unduly anxious about their health

"My doctor is an uncut diamond of thr first water."

Lethean- causing oblivion or forgetfulness of the past

"Homer lulls me"

phosphorescence- light emitted by a substance without combustion or perceptible heat

sinnet- braided cordage in flat, round, or square form

supernuminaires- exceeding the usual, stated, or prescribed number

satyr- a male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling a horse

erudite- having or showing great knowledge 

mal de mar- another phrase meaning seasickness

bon gré mal gré-.good grace, bad grace; like it or not; willingly or not

harum-scarum - reckless; impetuoud

Delphic- ambiguous

astraddle- with the legs stretched widely on each side of

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