The Horse-Dealer's Daughter

The Horse-Dealer's Daughter Glossary

flippancy

(Noun) unbecoming levity or pertness especially in respect to grave or sacred matters

desolate

(Adjective) joyless and sorrowful through, or as if through, separation from a loved one

desultory

(Adjective) marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose

mahogany

(Noun) the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees

ineffectuality

(Noun) the property of not producing the proper or intended effect

fixity

(Noun) the quality or state of being fixed or stable; unchanging in character

cavalcade

(Noun) a procession of riders, carriages, vehicles, or ships

callous

(Adjective) being hardened and thickened; showing no emotion

draught-horse

(Noun) a horse adapted for or used in drawing heavy loads

specifically : such a horse over 1600 pounds in weight and over 16 hands high

stupor

(Noun) a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility

floutingly

(Adverb) in a mocking or contemptuous manner

sumptuous

(Adjective) extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent

slumbrous

(Adjective) heavy with sleep

subjection

(Noun) the state of being placed under authority or control

haunches

(Noun) the hind pair of legs of a quadruped

conclave

(Noun) a private meeting or secret assembly

sang-froid

(Noun) self-possession or imperturbability especially under strain

coarse

(Adjective) composed of relatively large parts or particles; loose or rough in texture

impassive

(Adjective) giving no sign of feeling or emotion

inscrutable

(Adjective) not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood

skivvy

(Noun) a female domestic servant

interpolate

(Verb) to insert (words) into a text or into a conversation

laconically

(Adjective) using or involving the use of a minimum of words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious

jaunty

(Adjective) sprightly in manner or appearance

museau

(Noun) face

chenille

(Noun) a wool, cotton, silk, or rayon yarn with protruding pile

grimace

(Noun) a facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain