Melanie Chapter 13 This is the name of Lucy’s panther. It comes from melas – the Greek word for dark or black.
Midasman Chapter 21 Graeme Midasman is the director of the stock exchange, a place where everyone is trying to make more money. The Greek god Dionysius gave Midas, a legendary king of Phrygia, the power to turn anything he touched into gold.
Minnie Chapter 1 The mouse whose tail was cut off by the cat-flap. In Walt Disney’s cartoons Minnie mouse was Mickey Mouse’s companion.
Nebuchadrezzar Chapter 5 The correct spelling of a name usually referred to as Nebuchadnezzar.
Noholmes Chapter 11 Detective Constable Noholmes is not a very good policeman. Certainly not as good as Sherlock (see under Lestrade).
O’Grady Chapter 1 Mrs. O’Grady is Lucy’s new form teacher and should give her a good grade.
Paterpromise Chapter 9 The Paterpromise is Richard, the Promised One’s father. Pater is the latin word for father.
Pegasus Chapter 1 In Greek mythology Pegasus is an immortal winged horse.
Pixel Chapter 1 Dr. Andy Pixel is the radiologist who looks at Lucy’s X-ray images on a display screen. A pixel is one of the tiny dots that make up the picture on a visual display unit or TV monitor.
Pollard Chapter 9 The name of the lumberjack who hurts Lucy. A lumberjack cuts down trees and to pollard a tree means to cut its branches in such a way as to stimulate bushy growth.
Reedwright Chapter 4 Miss Reedwright is, of course, Lucy’s English teacher.
Sapienta Chapter 1 St. Sapientia’s is Lucy’s new school. Sapientia is the Latin word for wisdom.
Sawyer Chapter 2 Alf Sawyer is Chopper’s real name. Chopper runs a timber company and sawyer means one who saws timber for a living.
Shortshanks Chapter 18 Bert Shortshanks is Chopper’s diminutive cabinmate. The shank is another word for the shin, so shortshanks means short legs.
Song Chapter 2 Mr. Song has a musical voice, which is why the twins call him Sing Song.
Stiltskin Chapter 21 Ronald Stiltskin works at the stock exchange where everyone is trying to make a fortune. Rumpelstiltskin was a fairytale dwarf who could spin straw into gold.
Stockwell Chapter 19 Jane and James Stockwell are vets. Stock is the name given to animals on a farm and vets keep them well.
Tawkin-Tosh Chapter 7 Teddy Tawkin-Tosh is a fool who seems to be talking tosh most of the time.
Verdade Chapter 6 José Verdade is one of the few honest men in Chopper’s company. Verdade is the Portuguese word for truth.
Whitehead Chapter 4 Mr Whitehead is Grandpa’s unpleasant neighbour. Lucy makes sure he lives up to his name!
Wildersage Chapter 21 Professor Wildersage is an expert on abnormal animal behaviour. Abnormal animals may exhibit wilder behaviour than usual and a sage is a wise person
Glossary
The explanations in this glossary give only the meanings of words as they are used in the book. Many of the words have other meanings as well and if a full description of a word is required the interested reader should consult a dictionary.
(n. – noun, pl. n. – plural noun, v. – verb, adj. – adjective, adv. – adverb, conj. –conjunction)
abbreviation n. a shortened word or phrase
abduction n. the removal of someone by force; kidnap
abruptly adv. suddenly; unexpectedly
abyss n. a very deep cleft in the ground; a gorge; a chasm
adamant adj. determined; having an unshakeable opinion about something; impervious to pleas
adjacent adj. next to; near; adjoining
adversary n. an opponent or enemy
aeon n. an unimaginably long period of time
affront v. to insult; to offend; to upset the dignity of
afoot adj. in operation; happening at that time
aggressive adj. hostile; quarrelsome; belligerent
agility n. speed and skill in movement; nimbleness
agitated adj. excited; disturbed
agog adj. very curious; intensely attentive
allocate v. to give to; to assign; to allot
all-pervasive adj. spreading everywhere
ambitious adj. Chapter 12: requiring extraordinary effort. Chapter 21: having a strong desire for success or power
ambush n. a trap, usually involving people waiting in hiding to catch or attack others
amnesty n. general pardon
anaesthesia n. the state of unconsciousness produced by medical drugs during a surgical operation
anarchy n. a state of lawlessness; disorder; chaos
anguish n. severe pain; misery; intense grief
anonymous adj. from or by an unknown person
anticipate v. to expect or foresee
apprehensive adj. anxious; fearful
arboreal adj. to do with trees
archaic adj. out of date; old-fashioned; ancient; antiquated
askance adv. (to look) with disapproval, doubt or mistrust
askew adj. tilted to one side; awry
assemble v. to gather together
astute adj. clever; shrewd; perceptive
asunder adv. apart; in pieces. In Chapter 13 rend asunder means tear apart
attain v. to achieve; to reach; to accomplish
automatically adv. without conscious effort
awesome adj. very impressive; amazing; outstanding
axis n. a reference line used to describe the location of a point or object
babble n. chatter; incoherent or meaningless speech
backfire v. to emit a loud noise from the exhaust system (usually of a car) as a result of the sudden explosion of unburnt gases from the engine
bank v. (of an aircraft) to tilt to one side while making a turn in the air
barrel n. the metal tube in a firearm from which the bullet or projectile emerges
beacon n. Chapters 1, 9: a signal; a shining light.
Chapters 6, 12, 14: a large fire built to act as a signal or attract attention
bear market n. a stock exchange term for a financial market in which prices are falling (see bull market)
berserk adj. in a violent rage or frenzy
bewildered adj. confused; puzzled
bid v. to order; to decree; to command
bile n. a bitter, yellow-green digestive juice produced by the liver
bitch n. a female dog or other canine animal. The word is also used (as in Chapter 10) as a slang term of abuse for a female person meaning she is spiteful or malicious
bizarre adj. very unusual; odd; extraordinary
blab v. to give away a secret (in speech)
blabbermouth n. one who talks too much, especially indiscreetly
bleary adj. blurred; dim; unclear
bleeding-heart adj. or n. (slang) an excessively sentimental or soft-hearted person
blighter n. an old-fashioned slang word meaning an annoying or irritating person or thing
bloody adj. (slang; swearword) a strong imprecation used to lend particular emphasis to a phrase or statement
blubber n. a thick layer of insulating fat under the skin of whales and similar aquatic creatures
blunder v. to stumble in a clumsy fashion
BMW n. Bayerische Motoren Werke. Bavarian Motor Works – a famous German car company
bole n. the trunk of a tree
boss n. (informal) the person in charge; the employer; the manager or the supervisor
bozo n. a stupid man
brainwave n. a sudden good idea; an inspiration
breach v. to make an opening in; to break through
brolly n. an umbrella
Bua noite Portuguese Good night
buck v. to move with jerks and jolts
budge v. to move; to shift
buffet v. to knock about; to batter
bulk n. size or volume (especially when large or massive)
bull market n. a stock exchange term for a financial market in which prices are rising (see bear market)
buttock n. one of the two
fleshy masses that form the rump or bottom
cache n. a hidden store
cacophony n. an unpleasant mixture of different sounds or notes
calamitous adj. disastrous
canopy n. Chapters 6, 15, 17, 19: the highest general level of foliage in a forest, formed by the crowns of trees and penetrated by only the tallest trees
Chapters 6, 13: an awning or roof-like covering
capacity n. ability; power
captor n. one who captures and holds another captive
caravan n. a group travelling together
carcass n. a dead body
carnage n. slaughter; massacre
cataclysm n. a violent geological upheaval
catapult v. to shoot out of something
catastrophic adj. disastrous; calamitous
cautiously adv. with great care; warily
cavort v. to jump around; to caper; to prance
chamberpot n. a pot used as a toilet, usually in a bedroom
chasm n. a very deep split or cleft in the ground
cherish v. to love tenderly; to hold dear
cicada n. an insect famous in hot countries for its ‘song’ which is really a loud, continuous clicking noise produced by a pair of drum-like organs in the abdomen
circumvent v. to go around; to bypass
civil servant n. one who works in a government office; a state administrator
clever-clogs n. a know-all; someone who thinks they are very clever and knowing
clobber v. (slang) to beat; to batter; to destroy or eradicate
cluster v. to gather round in a close group
coarse adj. Chapter 9: vulgar; indelicate; ribald; Chapter 18: rough; unrefined
cock-and-bull story n. a made-up story; an untrue tale
cockpit n. the pilot’s compartment in an aircraft
coincidence n. the simultaneous chance occurrence of events that are apparently connected
combination n. a grouping or alliance. In Chapter 15 it means the union or integration of different bodily movements
commissionaire n. a uniformed doorman
committal n. usually, the act of burying or cremating a body. In Chapter 6, Richard can only leave the body in the plane
commune v. to communicate closely
composure n. a calm state; tranquillity; serenity
comprehension n. understanding
confide v. to share a secret with
confidential adj. secret; private
confirmation n. proof; verification
confluence n. a point where rivers meet and merge
congregate v. to come together as a crowd or group; to assemble
conscientious adj. taking great care; painstaking; diligent
consignment n. a package of goods
console v. to comfort
conspirator n. one who plots in secret with another or others
consternation n. worry; concern; anxiety
consummate adj. supremely skilled; outstandingly accomplished
contemplate v. to think about intently; to consider
contribution n. something given to a cause
convalescence n. a period of recovery from illness
convert v. to change the appearance or function of something; to transform
co-ordinate n. Chapter 12: one of a set of numbers or values that define an exact location
v. Chapters 7, 20: to organize; to integrate different elements; to harmonize
copse n. a small wood or thicket
coral n. a rocklike substance formed from the skeletons of certain sea animals, often beautifully shaped
corrupt v. to have a bad influence on; to make rotten; to deprave
courteously adv. politely
cower v. to crouch in fear; to shrink away from
cram in v. to squash in
crank n. an odd person; one with eccentric or idiosyncratic views
credential n. something giving a person status or authority; an entitlement
Cretaceous period n. the last period of the Mesozoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods, 144–65 million years ago
crevice n. a crack; a fissure; a cleft
croak v. (slang) to die
crustacean n. one of a class of animals having a carapace or shell
culprit n. one who is guilty; the perpetrator of a (specific) crime
cumulate v. to heap up; to add together
cumulated adj. built up over time; added up
dappled adj. marked with spots or patches
daunting adj. frightening; disheartening; intimidating
declining adj. getting smaller; reducing; diminishing
degradation n. being reduced to a bad state
deity n. a god or goddess; a god-like being
delirious adj. in a state of mental confusion, which can be caused by a high fever
demolish v. to destroy completely
denizen n. a person or animal living in a place; an inhabitant; a resident
desolate adj. deserted; uninhabited
destiny n. the fate determined for a person or thing; their future or fortune
detachment n. a separate party; a group or unit
detonator n. a device for setting off an explosive charge
devastate v. to destroy utterly; to lay waste
dextrous adj. physically skilful, especially with the hands
dialect n. a form of speech used in a particular geographical area, or by a particular group or social class
diminutive adj. small; tiny
discern v. to see; to perceive
discreet adj. tactful; behaving so as to avoid embarrassment
disfigurement n. something that spoils or defaces
disillusion v. to change someone’s falsely hopeful ideas; to reveal the truth to someone
disintegrate v. to fall apart; to break up; to shatter
dismantle v. to take apart
dismissive adj. uninterested; not bothered with
displace v. to move out of position; to replace; to supplant
disrupt v. to break apart; to split; to shatter
distracted adj. confused; attention taken away by something
divert v. to change the direction of someone or something; to turn aside. In Chapter 1 Clare diverts her mother so as to distract her attention from Lucy
DNA n. deoxyribonucleic acid. The substance in cells of which genes are made and which can be used to identify species and individuals
docile adj. tame; easy to manage; submissive
doggy bag n. a bag containing leftovers from a meal – supposedly for the diner’s dog
domain n. land or area owned or dominated by a person, family or group
dominion n. rule; control; authority
doomed adj. destined to die or suffer a terrible fate
double whammy n. something that has two bad effects; a double misfortune
double-cross v. to betray or cheat
downturn n. an undesirable change; a turn for the worse
drastic adj. severe; extreme; forceful
drift n. meaning
drone n. a continuous low sound
droppings n. animal dung; excrement; faeces
drug trafficking n. the illegal trading of drugs
dwindle v. to grow smaller, or fewer in number; to diminish
eavesdropping v. listening secretly to the conversations of others
ebony adj. black. A certain type of black wood is called ebony
ecosystem n. a system comprising various living and non-living elements; the interactions between the organic and non-organic elements of a given environment
ecstatic adj. in a state of rapturous delight or joy
edible adj. eatable
eerie adj. mysteriously frightening; spooky
elaborate v. to give more detail in a story or account; to expand upon
elongate v. to stretch; to make longer
embark v. to start out; to begin or commence
embarrassment n. a feeling of self-consciousness or confusion; a state of being disconcerted
embed v. to fix in firmly; to stick into
ember n. glowing fragment of wood (etc.) in a dying fire
embrace v. to hug
embroidered adj. decorated with artistic needlework
emission n. a substance that is given out or emitted. In Chapter 21 the word emissions refers to polluting substances, particularly gases, produced by industrial processes
emit v. to send out; to utter
empathy n. the understanding of another’s feelings; the ability to relate to others emotionally
en suite French phrase meaning part of a set or unit. The en suite bathroom in Chapter 8 is joined directly on to Lucy’s bedroom
encounter n. a meeting, especially one that is unexpected
enduring adj. lasting; permanent
engrossed adj. completely absorbed in; occupied; taken up with
engulf v. to completely surround; overwhelm
enlightenment n. sudden understanding; knowledge
ensure v. to make sure; guarantee
enthral v. to enchant; to spellbind
entice v. to attract with a reward; to allure
epaulette n. a strip of material on the shoulder of a uniform
epilepsy n. a disorder in which there is loss of consciousness, sometimes accompanied by jerking movements (convulsions)
epoch n. a particular period of time in history
era n. a particular period of time in history
erstwhile adj. former. In Chapter 18 his erstwhile captor means the person who used to be his captor
escarpment n. a long, very steep slope
esteemed adj. held in high regard; respected
estimate v. to make a rough calculation (e.g. as to size or distance)
evade v. to get around; to dodge; to avoid
evaporate v. to fade away; to disappear
exalted adj. high in rank or position; noble; dignified
excavate v. to dig out; to remove (earth, etc.); to make a hole or cavity
exclusive adj. belonging to a particular individual or organization. In Chapter 18 the story about Lucy belongs to the tabloid newspaper and nobody else
excrement n. poo (slang); faeces; dung; droppings
excruciating adj. intensely painful; agonizing
exhilaration n. pleasurable excitement; elation
exotic adj. strange beauty or quality; having unusual allure