Casual Vacancy
A situation in which a seat in a deliberate assembly, in this case a Town Council, becomes available whilst the assembly is in session.
Town Council
The British equivalent of a city commission
Council Estate
British equivalent of public housing, or projects
Abacus
One of the first counting instruments, an ancient calculator that consists of beads strung along a grid.
Tantamount
Almost the same thing
Decorum
Socially acceptable behavior; forced manners
Tallied
Added up
Proximity
Closeness
Sturdy
Chunky, well-built
Fermenting
The process of using yeast to make either bread or beer
Alchemical
Another form of early chemistry; alchemists were part scientist, part wizard in traditional or Medieval literature
Hooker
Prostitute
Royal China
A typically middle class possession; royal china was made by china companies that carried the official seal of Her Majesty the Queen, such as Royal Doulton or Royal Worcester.
Wizened
Wrinkled, aged in appearance
Painted
Overly made-up, in the context of the novel
Gas Fire
Popular in Britain, gas log fires were heaters that appeared to be traditional log fires but were in fact faux logs and powered by gas burner
Squalling
Raining and windy
Celestial
Of a heavenly realm
Lounge
British term for a living room or family room
Shot Putter
A person who participates in the shot putt, one of the oldest events in the track and field discipline that originated from the Ancient Greeks
Painstakingly
With great care and attention to detail
Whining Cow
In Britain, "cow" is used as a derogatory term, for example, silly cow, stupid cow, in this case, whining cow, a disrespectful reference to her protestations
Blabbed
Said something that was supposed to be a secret
Vouchsafed
Bequeathed, given by the heavens
Devoid of workaday morals
Workshy, lazy
Synthesis
A coming together of two individual things to form one
Tamped
Pushed down, squeezed
Slack
In the context of the novel this refers to the physique of the men of Pagford, and refers to their complete lack of muscle or tone
Pallid
Pale, devoid of color, unhealthy looking
Porky
Fat
Women's Institute
A women's recreational society in Britain often known as the W.I.
Jumble Sale
Rummage sale
Jubilee Celebrations
This refers to the nationwide celebrations that took place in the U.K. for the Queen's reign, for example, the Silver Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee that were national holidays
Lucid
Making sense
Masonic Handshake
The Freemasons are a semi-secret, famously clandestine organization known to outsiders for their secret handshake
Brownnose
Suck up to, ingratiate oneself in an over-keen manner
