Diane Krantz
HU 2710
Poetry guide
Vocabulary for explicating "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers by Adrienne Rich
Below is an exhaustive bit of vocabulary work to show what extensive dictionary use goes into explicating a poem. Even familiar words, if used in an unusual context, are glossed.
prance (prans) v. pranced, pranc-ing, pranc-es.
‹intr.
1.a. To spring forward on the hind legs. Used of a horse. b. To spring or bound forward in a manner reminiscent of a spirited horse.
2. To ride a horse moving in such a fashion.
3. To walk or move about in a spirited manner; strut.
‹tr.
1. To cause (a horse) to prance.
‹prance n.
The act or an instance of prancing. ‹pranc2er n. ‹pranc2ing-ly adv.
screen (skrTn) n.
1. A movable device, especially a framed construction such as a room divider or a decorative panel, designed to divide, conceal, or protect.
2. One that serves to protect, conceal, or divide.
3. A coarse sieve used for sifting out fine particles, as of sand, gravel, or coal.
4. A system for preliminary appraisal and selection of personnel as to their suitability for particular jobs.
5. A window or door insertion of framed wire or plastic mesh used to keep out insects and permit airflow.
6.a. The white or silver surface on which a picture is projected for viewing. b. The movie industry.
7.a. Electronics. The phosphorescent surface on which an image is displayed, as on a television, computer monitor, or radar receiver. b. Computer Science. The information or image displayed at a given time on a monitor, display, or video terminal.
8. Electronics. The electrode placed between the anode and the control grid in a tetrode valve. Also called screen grid.
9. Printing. A glass plate marked off with crossing lines, placed before the lens of a camera when photographing for halftone reproduction.
10-. A body of troops or ships sent in advance of or surrounding a larger body to protect or warn of attack.
11.a. Sports. A block, set with the body, that impedes the vision or movement of an opponent. b. Football. A screen pass.
‹screen tr.v. screened, screen-ing, screens.
1. To provide with a screen.
2.a. To conceal from view with or as if with a screen. b. To protect, guard, or shield.
3.a. To separate or sift out (fine particles of sand, for example) by means of a sieve or screen. b. To examine (a job applicant, for example) systematically in order to determine suitability.
4. To show or project (a movie, for example) on a screen.
5. To test or examine for the presence of disease or infection.
6. Sports. a. To block the vision or movement of (an opponent) with the body. b. To obscure an opponent's view of (a shot) by positioning oneself between the opponent and the shooter. ‹screen2a-ble adj. ‹screen2er n.
ring1 (r¾ng) n.
1. A circular object, form, or arrangement with a vacant circular center.
2. A small circular band, generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels, worn on the finger.
3. A circular band used for carrying, holding, or containing something.
4. A circular movement or course, as in dancing.
5. An enclosed, usually circular area in which exhibitions, sports, or contests take place.
6. Sports. a. A rectangular arena set off by stakes and ropes in which boxing or wrestling events are held. b. The sport of boxing.
7. Games. a. An enclosed area in which bets are placed at a racetrack. b. Bookmakers considered as a group.
8. An exclusive group of people acting privately or illegally to advance their own interests.
9. A political contest; a race.
1-. Botany. An annual ring.
11. Mathematics. The area between two concentric circles; annulus.
12. Mathematics. A set of elements subject to the operations of addition and multiplication, in which the set is commutative under addition and associative under multiplication and in which the two operations are related by distributive laws.
13. Any of the turns constituting a spiral or helix.
14. Chemistry. A group of atoms linked by bonds that may be represented graphically in circular or triangular form. In this sense, also called closed chain.
‹ring1 v. ringed, ring-ing, rings.
‹tr.
1. To surround with or as if with a ring; encircle.
2. To form into a ring or rings.
3. To ornament or supply with a ring or rings.
4. To remove a circular strip of bark around the circumference of (a tree trunk or branch); girdle.
5. To put a ring in the nose of (an animal).
6. To hem in (animals) by riding in a circle around them.
7. Games. To toss a ring over (a peg), as in horseshoes.
‹intr.
1. To form a ring or rings.
2. To move, run, or fly in a spiral or circular course.
ter-ri-fy (tRr2õ-fh1) tr.v. ter-ri-fied, ter-ri-fy-ing, ter-ri-fies.
1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid; alarm.
2. To menace or threaten; intimidate
flut-ter (flît2õr) v. flut-tered, flut-ter-ing, flut-ters.
‹intr.
1. To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner.
2.a. To fly by a quick, light flapping of the wings. b. To flap the wings without flying.
3. To move or fall in a manner suggestive of tremulous flight.
4. To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically.
5. To move quickly in a nervous, restless, or excited fashion; flit.
‹tr.
1. To cause to flutter.
‹flut-ter n.
1. The act of fluttering.
2. A condition of nervous excitement or agitation.
3. A commotion; a stir.
4. Pathology. Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.
5. Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.
6. Chiefly British. A small bet; a gamble. ‹flut2ter-er n. ‹flut2ter-y adj.
i-vo-ry (h2võ-rT, hv2rT) n., pl. i-vo-ries.
1.a. A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant. b. A similar substance forming the tusks or teeth of certain other mammals, such as the walrus.
2. A tusk, especially an elephant's tusk.
3. An article made of ivory.
4. A substance resembling ivory.
5. Color. A pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.
6. Often ivories.a. Music. Piano keys. b. Games. Dice. c. Slang. The teeth.
‹i-vo-ry adj.
1. Composed or constructed of ivory.
2. Color. Of a pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white.
sleek (slTk) adj. sleek-er, sleek-est.
1. Smooth and lustrous as if polished; glossy.
2. Well-groomed and neatly tailored.
3. Healthy or well-fed; thriving.
4. Polished or smooth in manner, especially in an unctuous way; slick.
‹sleek tr.v. sleeked, sleek-ing, sleeks.
1. To make sleek; slick.
2. To gloss over; conceal. ‹sleek2ly adv. ‹sleek2ness n.
chiv-al-ry (sh¾v2õl-rT) n., pl. chiv-al-ries.
1. The medieval system, principles, and customs of knighthood.
2.a. The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women. b. A manifestation of any of these qualities.
3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen
to-paz (tÅ2paz1) n.
1.a. A colorless, blue, yellow, brown, or pink aluminum silicate mineral, often found in association with granitic rocks and valued as a gemstone, especially in the brown and pink varieties. b. Any of various yellow gemstones, especially a yellow variety of sapphire or corundum.
2. A light yellow variety of quartz.
3. Either of two South American hummingbirds (Topaza pyra or T. pella) having colorful plumage.