Things Fall Apart Vocabulary in Context

not having or showing foresight; thoughtless

the intervening time

in an initial stage; beginning to happen or develop

shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion

(of a speech sound) produced in the throat; harsh-sounding.

Lacking in quantity or quality

skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully

amusement, especially as expressed in laughter

a quick and slightly rude manner or way of speaking

successful in material terms; flourishing financially, bringing wealth and success

order or decree (something) officially

dough made from boiled and ground plantain or cassava, used as a staple food in parts of western and central Africa

difficult to find, catch, or achieve

catch sight of

a very dry, dusty easterly or northeasterly wind on the West African coast, occurring from December to February

a large and mainly tropical grasshopper with strong powers of flight. It is usually solitary, but from time to time there is a population explosion, and it migrates in vast swarms that cause extensive damage to crops

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

A short period of intense activity of a special kind

stretched or pulled tight; not slack

Obsolete form of “enough”

entirely lacking or free from

lively; full of energy

a person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one

a low-growing plant that typically has a rosette of leaves and a slender green flower spike, widely growing as a weed in lawns

in poor health

an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other

approval or praise

with a leg on each side

grind (one's teeth) together, typically as a sign of anger

a willingness to take bold risks.; rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence

shaking or quivering slightly

(sodium/potassium nitrate), a commonly occurring impurity in salt that is a common food preservative and additive

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people

having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion

well known for bad or unfavorable quality or deed

impossible to pass through or enter

something that is composed of two or more different separate elements

snuff bottles were used during the Qing Dynasty to contain powdered tobacco

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature

exclude someone from a society or group

a thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end

intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest

a cover for the blade of a knife or sword

a thing that causes disgust or hatred

the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness

someone who escaped a place and/or is hiding

exclude (someone) from a society or group

sentenced to a particular punishment, especially death

great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

worshiping idols or treating someone or something as an idol

a person appointed to a role on or by a commission or a representative of the supreme authority in an area

a thing that causes disgust or hatred

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people

specialized storage stem of certain seed plants

a system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time

treated (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violated

rigidly upright or straight

violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred

unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

big

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy

lack of knowledge or information