plaintive
sounding sad and mournful
respite
a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant
recoil
suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust
obscure
not important or well-known; vague
parched
dried out with heat; extremely thirsty
pauper
a very poor person
wizened
wrinkled with age; shriveled
scourge
a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering; a whip used as an instrument of punishment
blight
a thing that spoils or damages something
assail
make a concerted or violent attack on
demented
driven to behave irrationally due to anger, distress, or excitement
keening
wailing in grief for a dead person; making an eerie wailing sound
granary
a storehouse for threshed grain
sombre (somber)
dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy; oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave
reel
lose one's balance and stagger or lurch violently
muslin
lightweight cotton cloth in a plain weave
pneumonia
lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with pus and may become solid
eaves
the part of a roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a building
falter
speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice
derision
contemptuous ridicule or mockery
listless
(of a person or their manner) lacking energy or enthusiasm
skimp
expend or use less time, money, or material on something than is necessary in an attempt to economize
sullen
bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy
smock
a smocked linen overgarment worn by an agricultural worker
gelding
a castrated animal, especially a male horse
limn
suffuse or highlight (something) with a bright color or light
