The Ghost Sonata

The Ghost Sonata Glossary

aversion (noun)

a strong dislike or disinclination.

inflamed (adjective)

red or swollen as a result of inflammation.

sonata (noun)

a composition for an instrumental soloist, often with a piano accompaniment, typically in several movements with one or more in sonata form.

impertinent (adjective)

not showing proper respect; rude.

bankruptcy (noun)

The state of being declared in law unable to pay outstanding debts.

cripple (noun)

A dated term for a person who is unable to walk or move properly through disability or because of injury to their back or legs.

The Valkyrie (proper noun)

An opera by Richard Wagner in his cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen.

matinee (noun)

a performance in a theater that takes place in the daytime.

mufti (noun)

plain clothes worn by a person who wears a uniform for their job, such as a soldier or police officer.

mahogany (noun)

hard reddish-brown timber from a tropical tree, used for high-quality furniture

consul (noun)

an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote the government's citizens and interests there.

congeal (verb)

solidify or coagulate, especially by cooling.

Thor (proper noun)

In Germanic mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind and also hallowing and fertility.

gaol (noun)

An antiquated spelling of "jail," a place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime.

Samaritan (noun)

a charitable or helpful person.

Hamburg (proper noun)

The second largest city in Germany.

promissory (adjective)

conveying or implying a promise.

escutcheon (noun)

a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms.

Buddha (proper noun)

A word that means "enlightened one" in Sanskrit, and the title for Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, an Eastern spiritual belief system.

hyacinth (noun)

a bulbous plant of the lily family, with straplike leaves and a compact spike of bell-shaped fragrant flowers. Native to western Asia, hyacinths are cultivated outdoors and as houseplants.