1. A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
Stave One
Vocabulary

2. benevolence

3. (noun) - a goodness towards others
Sandra’s weekly volunteer hours at the soup-
kitchen and her donations to the Humane Society
earned her a reputation for benevolence.

4. covetous

5. (adjective) - jealously eager to possess
something
Gollum is covetous of the Ring that Frodo carries.
“The poor man wants many things; the covetous
man, all.”
-- Herman Melville

6. destitute

7. (adjective) – poor - without food
clothing and shelter; without
After the earthquake, many Haitians were left
not only poor, but destitute.

8. facetious

9. (adjective) - playful, joking,
lighthearted
Even though Pedro’s remark was meant to be
facetious, Isabella’s feelings were hurt.

10. fettered

11. (adjective) - chained, shackled
The dog longed for freedom after a lifetime of
being fettered in the yard.

12. forbearance

13. (noun) - self-control; patient endurance
Alice had to practice forbearance when
babysitting the six unruly children.

14. gruel

15. (noun) - a thin cereal-like oatmeal
The children stared in disbelief at the gruel
that awaited them at the dinner-table.

16. hob

17. (noun) - a shelf beside a fire to keep
the kettle hot
Put the pot of soup on the hob, Bella.
We are not quite ready for dinner.

18. homage

19. (noun) - a public show of respect
In his speech she paid homage to Martin
Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, and Ghandi.

20. incredulous

21. (adjective) - not willing to believe,
skeptical
Ernest looked incredulous as his daughter
approached with a shaved head, a nose ring and
new, permanent tattoo across her forehead.

22. irresolution

23. (noun) - an action lacking firmness of
purpose; hesitation
The king’s hesitation was obvious; his
announcement of his son’s banishment was
marked with irresolution.

24. misanthropic

25. (adjective) - disliking people or
mankind in general
The misanthropic old man growled at each
person that passed by, then went home to
dine by himself.

26. portly

27. (adjective) - overweight, stout
The prince was quite portly and found that he
had trouble running stadiums in Pfit.

28. ruddy

29. (adjective) - a healthy reddish color,
particularly from outdoor life
After a summer working on his grandfather’s
beet farm, Aidan had strong muscles and a
ruddy complexion.

30. susceptible

31. (adjective) - impressionable;
yielding readily to
Babies and elderly people are the most
susceptible to common illnesses.

32. tremulous

33. (adjective) - quavering; trembling
Her voice was tremulous when she told the
sorrowful tale.

34. unhallowed

35. (adjective) - not consecrated or holy
The townspeople accused the women of
witchcraft. They were said to have been
practicing their unhallowed rituals in the
stone cottage by the woods.

36. veneration

37. (noun) - feeling of awe or reverence
A memorial was erected in veneration of the
unknown soldiers from the Vietnam War.

38. waggish

39. (adjective) - humorous
Limerick writers often use waggish humor.