The Last Leaf

The Last Leaf Glossary

quaint

attractively unusual or old-fashioned

prowl

(of a person or animal) move around restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey

gable

the part of a wall that encloses the end of a pitched roof

Greenwich Village

a district of New York City on the lower west side of Manhattan, traditionally associated with writers, artists, and musicians

pewter

a gray alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead)

chafing dish

a metal pan with an outer pan of hot water, used for keeping food warm

table d’hotê

a menu where multi-course meals with only a few choices are offered for a fixed total price

chicory

an edible Mediterranean plant whose bitter leaves may be blanched and used in salads; also known as endive

pneumonia

lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with pus and may become solid

smite

strike with a firm blow; defeat or conquer

chivalric

displaying courteous behavior, as would be expected of an ideal knight

zephyrs

a soft gentle breeze

pharmacopoeia

a book, especially an official publication, containing a list of medicinal drugs with their effects and directions for their use; a stock of medicinal drugs

Jew's harp

a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with a finger. It can produce only one note, but harmonics are sounded by the player altering the shape of the mouth cavity

curative

a medicine or remedy

solicitous

characterized by or showing interest or concern

scorn

the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt

serrated

having or denoting a jagged edge; sawlike

mastiff

a dog of a large, strong breed with drooping ears and pendulous lips

fancy

a thing that one supposes or imagines, typically an unfounded or tentative belief or idea; notion or whim