The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Study Guide

Glossary of Terms

air-raids

attacks from the air (usually the dropping of bombs)

alarming

frightening

batty

crazy; mad

blue-bottle

a kind of fly

camphor

an aromatic insect repellent

centaur

a mythical creature with the upper half of a man and the lower half of a horse

consorts

companions or partners

courtiers

attendants

currant

a kind of berry used to make jam

decoy

a lure or bait used to trap someone or something

din

a harsh, disturbing noise

dodging

avoiding

dominions

territories

dryads

mythical spirits inhabiting forests and trees

dwarf

an abnormally small man or woman

faun

a mythical creature with the body of a man and goat-like ears, tail, horns, and hooves

fidgets

moves nervously

foreboding

a bad omen; a feeling of impending misfortune

forfeit

to surrender

fraternising

associating with another or others, when such association has been strictly prohibited

gibber

to talk foolishly

hatchets

small axes

hilt

the handle of a sword

hoax

a trick

incubuses

evil spirits

inquisitive

curious

jeering

mocking; showing ridicule

jollification

festivities

kingfisher

a kind of bird with a long beak and brilliant colors

larder

a place for storing food

mantelpiece

the shelf located above the fireplace

mortar

substance used in building to bind stones and bricks; cement

myth

an ancient story that expresses the history or worldview of a people

nymphs

mythical girls inhabiting places in nature such as trees and streams

ogre

a mythical giant that eats human beings

pavilion

a large tent

pedlars

sellers who usually travel (often with a carnival)

prodigious

great; momentous; extraordinary

prophecy

a prediction (usually made by a divine source)

rabble

a mob

revelry

joyful celebration

row

a large argument or quarrel

saccharine

sweet

satyrs

mythical forest creatures with the ears, tail, and legs of a goat

sceptre

a ceremonial staff signifying imperial power

shears

scissors

sheath

the protective covering of the blade of a sword

siege

the attack of a fortress or fortified town

sledge

a sleigh or sled pulled by animals over snow as a mode of transportation

stag

a male deer

stratagem

a military plan or scheme

thaw

a period of warmer weather that melts snow and ice (usually a signal of spring)

threshold

doorway

thrush

a kind of songbird

treason

a purposeful betrayal, usually constituting aid to one's enemies

trifle

a small, insignificant amount

trowels

tools with flat blades used to spread and shape cement

turret

a small tower

vermin

destructive or disease-ridden animals or insects, such as cockroaches and rats