Word |
Page 1st Used |
Meaning as used in The Lord of the Rings |
Context of use, sentence used in |
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Book VI, Chapter 1 |
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The Tower of Cirith Ungol |
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welter |
908 |
To roll, toss or heave, as waves, the sea, etc. |
The vast vapours that arose in Mordor and went steaming westward passed low overhead, a great
welter of cloud and smoke now lit again beneath with a sullen glow of red. |
veritably |
908 |
In accordance with the truth or fact, or true, as statements, etc. |
He felt that if once he went beyond the crown of the pass and took one step veritably
down into that land of Mordor, that step would be irrevocable. |
battlemented |
910 |
To furnish with battlements. |
About the lowest tier, two hundred feet below where Sam now stood, there was a battlemented
wall enclosing a narrow court. |
forbear |
911 |
To endure the absence of; to keep away from; also, to restrain from; desist from; also, to
restrain form using, etc. |
He felt that from now on he had only two choices: to forbear
the Ring, thought it would torment him; or to claim it, and challenge the Power that sat in its dark hold beyond the valley of shadows. |
cow |
911 |
To depress with fear; dispirit; intimidate; overawe (to restrain or subdue by inspiring awe; cow).
|
'He'd spot me and cow me, before I could so much as shout out. |
spoil |
913 |
To strip (a defeated or fallen enemy, etc.) of arms, armour, or the like; strip of goods, of
valuables, etc. by force, as in war. |
Almost certainly they were quarreling about Frodo, and the spoil. |
quickened |
913 |
To become quick or living, to receive life; also, figurative, to come into a state comparable to
life; come into activity; become more active, sensitive, etc; sometimes to grow bright or brighter. |
Its white light quickened swiftly, and the shadows under the dark arch fled. |
liveries |
914 |
A distinctive dress worn by an official, a member of a company of guild, etc. any characteristic
dress, garb or outward appearance. |
Two liveries
Sam noticed, one marked the Red Eyes, the other by a Moon disfigured with a ghastly face of death; but he did not stop to look more closely. |
rap |
914 |
To knock smartly or lightly, esp. so as to make a noise. |
There was no sound save the rap
of his feet, which seemed to grow to an echoing noise, like the slapping of great hands upon the stones. |
flout |
916 |
To mock, scoff at; treat with disdain or contempt; a mocking insult; gibe. |
If you think I'm so damaged that it's safe to flout me, you're mistaken. |
surlily |
916 |
Lordly, arrogant, or domineering; hence churlishly rude or ill-humored or in the manner, tone,
expression, etc. Uncivil or morose. |
'They won't come, not before you're dead anyway,' answered Snaga surlily. |
Nar |
916 |
Slang or dialect for 'no.' |
Nar! |
swag |
916 |
Plunder or booty. |
I've fought for the Tower against those stinking Morgul-rats, but a nice mess you two precious
captains have made of things, fighting over the swag.' |
guttering |
918 |
To become channeled, as a burning candle does by the flow of the melted tallow or wax down its
side. |
He came to the guttering
torch, fixed above a door on his left that faced a window-slit looking west-ward: one of the red eyes that he and Frodo had seen from below the tunnel's mouth. |
weal |
920 |
A wale or welt. See wale. Wale - a streak, stripe, or ridge produced on the skin by the stroke of
a rod or whip. |
He was naked, lying as if in a swoon on a heap of filthy rags: his arm was flung up, shielding his
head, and across his side there ran an ugly whip-weal. |
mock |
924 |
Being an imitation or having merely the semblance of something; counterfeit; sham; false; mimic;
imitate; ridicule. |
The Shadow that bred them can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own.
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Book VI, Chapter 2 |
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The Land of Shadow |
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peal |
927 |
Appeal, as if meaning
originally a summons or call by bell-ringing. A loud, prolonged sound of bells, etc; a series of changes rung on a set of bells; to sound forth in a peal; to assail with loud sounds. |
Suddenly its harsh bell clanged again, and then broke into a shattering peal. |
quick |
929 |
Living; endowed with life; also, having some quality suggestive of a living thing; lively or keen,
as feelings. |
Sam's quick spirits sank again at once. |
north-away |
930 |
In the north. |
It was used by patrols or by messengers going swiftly to lesser posts and strongholds
north-away, between Cirith Ungol and the narrows of Isenmouthe, the iron jaws of Carach Angren. |
marges |
931 |
A margin. |
Upon its outer marges
under the westward mountains Mordor was a dying land, but it was not yet dead. |
grating |
931 |
Harsh or jarring in sound; irritating or unpleasant in effect. |
The sullen shrivelled leaves of a past year hung on them, grating
and rattling in the sad airs, but their maggot-ridden buds were only just opening. |
tor |
932 |
A rocky eminence; a hill. |
There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor
high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. |
fresh |
932 |
Newly made; also, retaining the original properties, unimpaired; not deteriorated in any way, not
faded, worn, etc.; looking youthful and healthy; also, not exhausted or fatigued. |
Sam was almost fresh, ready for another day; but Frodo sighed. |
screes |
932 |
A steep mass of detritus on the side of a mountain. |
They did not know the time, nor how long they had slept; but after a morsel of food and a sip of
water they went on up the ravine, until it ended in a sharp slope of screes and sliding stones. |
gobbler |
936 |
One who or that which gobbles food, etc. |
That gobbler with the flapping hands? |
neat as neat |
936 |
Clear and free from deductions. |
'Why, before I knew he was wanted I shot him, as neat as neat, at fifty paces right
in the back; but he ran on.' |
kerb |
942 |
Occasional spelling of curb (stone border, edge of a sidewalk). |
It had a high kerb
by which troop-leaders could guide themselves in black of night or fog, and it was banked up some feet above the level of the open land. |
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Book VI, Chapter 3 |
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Mount Doom |
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drowsed |
945 |
To become heavy with sleepiness. |
At times by night, as they cowered or drowsed
uneasily in some hiding beside the road, they heard cries and the noise of many feet or the swift passing of some cruelly ridden steed. |
hiding |
945 |
A hiding-place. |
See text above for drowsed. |
stinted |
946 |
To cut short, discontinue, or cease (one's own action); also, to check, stop, or restrain from
further action. |
He had stinted
himself, and in his parched mouth his tongue seemed thick and swollen; but for all his care they now had very little left, perhaps half his bottle, and maybe there were still days to go. |
knell |
948 |
To ring or toll; to announce or proclaim by or as by knell; to ring for a funeral; hence, to give
forth a mournful, ominous, or warning sound; any sound announcing the death of a person or the passing of a thing. |
The clatter of his precious pans as the fell down into the dark was like a death-knell
to his heart. |
stratagems |
957 |
A piece of generalship; an artifice in war; a plan, scheme, or trick for deceiving the enemy.
|
From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery, from all his stratagems
and wars his mind shook free; and throughout his realm a tremor ran, his slaves quailed, and his armies halted, and his captains suddenly steerless, bereft of will, wavered and |
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Book VI, Chapter 4 |
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The Field of Cormallen |
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foundering |
959 |
To stumble; slip, plunge, or tumble about, with strong efforts to maintain or regain the footing
or balance. |
The Captains of the West were foundering in a gathering sea. |
vassals |
959 |
Servant, retainer, vassal. In the feudal system, a person holding lands by the obligation to
render military service or its equivalent to his superior. |
Behind them in long swift lines came all their vassals
from the northern mountains, speeding on a gathering wind. |
serried |
960 |
Crowded closely together, or in close orders, as ranks or files of armed men. |
Out from the beleaguered hills knights of Gondor, Riders of Rohan, Dúnedain of the North, close-
serried companies, drove against their wavering foes, piercing the press with the thrust of bitter spears. |
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Book VI, Chapter 5 |
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The Steward and the King |
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sloth |
970 |
Laziness; also, self-indulgent inactivity or idleness. |
'Sir', she said, 'I am in a great unrest, and I cannot lie longer in sloth.' |
mischances |
970 |
Ill luck; a mishap or misfortune. |
Though we should still have enough to do without them: the world is full enough of hurts and
mischances without wars to multiply them.' |
presage |
972 |
A presentiment or foreboding, or a prophetic impression; something that portends or fore-shadows a
future event; |
She did not answer, but as he looked at her it seemed to him that in her something softened, as
though a bitter frost were yielding at the first presage of Spring. |
abed |
972 |
In or to bed. |
'But the healers would have me lie abed seven days yet,' she said. |
ungentle |
973 |
Not gentle; harsh; rough. |
I am a shieldmaiden and my hand is ungentle. |
puissant |
976 |
Powerful; mighty; potent; of dominating authority or influence. |
Because he was high and puissant, and you wished to have renown and glory and to be
lifted far above the mean things that crawl on the earth. |
viols |
977 |
A musical instrument,, or various sizes, shapes, etc., having a hollow body, a neck, a finger
board, and strings, and played with a bow; esp., an old (medieval and later) type having from five to seven strings, and made in four sizes. |
And the City was filled again with women and fair children that returned to their homes laden with
flowers; and from Dol Amroth came the harpers that harped most skillfully in all the land; and there were players upon viols and upon flutes and upon horns |
argent |
977 |
Bright, white; silver or something resembling it. |
And when the sun rose in the clear morning above the mountains in the East, upon which shadows lay
no more, then all the bells rang, and all the banners broke and flowed in the wind; and upon the White Tower of the citadel the standard of the Stewards, br |
garlands |
978 |
A wreath or chaplet of flowers, leaves, or other material, for the head, worn for adornment or
serving as a mark of distinction or honor; any wreath, festoon or string of flowers, leaves or the like, hung on something as a decoration or on occasions of re |
Before the barrier stood Faramir the Steward, and Húrin Warden of the Keys, and other captains of
Gondor, and the Lady Éowyn of Rohan with Elfhelm the Marshal and many knights of the Mark; and upon either side of the Gate was a great press of fair people |
casket |
978 |
A small chest or box, as for jewels. |
Then forth form the Gate went Faramir with Húrin of the Keys, and no others, save that behind them
walked four men in the high helms and armour of the Citadel, and they bore a great casket of black lebethron bound with silver. |
remitted |
980 |
To pardon or forgive; also, to refrain from inflicting or enforcing, as punishment, sentence,
etc.; also, to set free, release, or liberate. |
'All penalty is remitted
for your valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir. |
palfrey |
985 |
An ordinary riding-horse, as distinguished from a war-horse. |
First rode Elrohir and Elladan with a banner of silver, and then came Glorfindel and Erestor and
all the household of Rivendell, and after them came the Lady Galadriel and Celeborn, Lord of Lothlorien, riding upon white steeds and with them many fair folk |
alighted |
985 |
To get down as from a horse or a vehicle; descend; come to rest. |
Then the King welcomed his guests, and they alighted; and Elrond surrendered the
sceptre, and laid the hand of his daughter in the hand of the King, and together they went up to the High City, and all the stars flowered in the sky. |
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Book VI, Chapter 6 |
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Many Partings |
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trothplighted |
989 |
Engaged by troth or promise, esp. of marriage; betrothed. |
Therefore they shall be trothplighted before you all.' |
niggard |
990 |
One excessively reluctant to give or spend; a parsimonious or stingy person. |
'No niggard
are you, Éomer,' said Aragorn, 'to give thus to Gondor the fairest thing in your realm!' |
stirrup-cup |
990 |
A cup of wine or other liquor presented to a rider already mounted for departure; a cup or drink
at parting. |
Now the guests were ready, and they drank the stirrup-cup, and with great praise and
friendship they departed, and came at length to Helm's Deep, and there they rested two days. |
schemed |
995 |
A plan of action devised in order to attain some end. |
And as for the Lady here, I do not trust her: she has always hated me, and schemed
for your part. |
urchins |
996 |
A kind of elf or mischievous sprite (spirit); hence, a mischievous boy, or any small boy, or
youngster. |
'So you have come to gloat too, have you, my urchins? he said. |
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Book VI, Chapter 7 |
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Homeward Bound |
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cudgel |
1003 |
A short, thick stick used as a weapon; a club. |
When they had called many times, at last the Gate-keeper came out, and they saw that he carried a
great cudgel. |
ruffianly |
1003 |
Having the character of a ruffian; a rough, lawless fellow; a brutal bully. |
'We won't stay for news out here in the cold and wet, a ruffianly evening. |
slowcoach |
1004 |
One who is slow in moving, acting, working, thinking, etc. one deficient in quickness, energy,
briskness, etc. |
Hey, Nob you slowcoach! |
set-to |
1005 |
A pugilistic (one who fights with fists; a boxer) encounter; hence, in general, a fight; a
vigorous altercation or dispute; a smart contest or bout of any kind. |
Why, we had a real set-to, and there were some folk killed, killed dead! |
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Book VI, Chapter 8 |
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The Scouring of the Shire |
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fag-end |
1013 |
The unfinished end of a piece of cloth; the untwisted end of a rope; hence, the last and inferior
part of anything; a remnant; the very end of something. |
The land looked rather sad and forlorn; but it was after all the first of November and the
fag-end of Autumn. |
Cock-robin |
1014 |
The male of the robin |
'Look here, Cock-robin!' said Sam. |
cavalcade |
1015 |
A procession of persons on horseback. |
It was a rather comic cavalcade
that left the village, though the few folk that came out to stare at the 'get-up' of the travellers did not seem quite sure whether laughing was allowed. |
dawdle |
1015 |
To idle; waste time; trifle; loiter. |
Don't dawdle on the way!' |
footpads |
1018 |
A highwayman who robs on foot. |
'We are not used to footpads in this country, but we know how to deal with them.'
|
uppish |
1018 |
Proud; arrogant; self-assertive; assuming. |
You little folk are getting too uppish. |
Swagger |
1018 |
To walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air, or with an obtrusive affection of superiority;
behave in an arrogant or vainglorious way. |
Swagger
it, swagger it, my little cock-a-whoop. |
Cock-a-whoop |
1018 |
Cock-a-hoop. Original in phrase to set cock a (or on) hoop, to set liquor
flowing freely, cast off restraint. In a state of unrestrained joy or exultation. |
See text above for Swagger. |
hubbub |
1020 |
A loud, confused noise, as of many voices or sounds; a confused din; also, a noisy tumult or
uproar. |
Behind him Sam heard a hubbub of voices and a great din and slamming of doors. |
call |
1024 |
A command or request to come; summon; a summons or signal sounded upon a bugle, etc. |
But we need a call. |
lording |
1025 |
A little lord, a petty lord, usually in a contemptuous sense |
At first goods and damage was paid for by Pimple; but soon they began lording
it around and taking what they wanted. |
weskit |
1026 |
A vest or waistcoat. |
What's come of his weskit? |
dawdling |
1030 |
To idle; waste time; trifle; loiter. |
But you must go dangling after him, dawdling
and talking, and riding round twice as far as you need. |
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Book VI, Chapter 9 |
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|
The Grey Havens |
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apace |
1034 |
At a quick pace; rapidly; fast. |
Meanwhile the labour of repair went on apace, and Sam was kept very busy. |
gammers |
1034 |
A rustic title or term for an old woman. |
Now there were thousands of willing hands of all ages, from the small but nimble ones of the
hobbit lads and lasses to the well-worn and horny ones of the gaffers and gammers. |
dash |
1037 |
Spirited action; vigor in action or style; also, an ostentatious display. |
The two young Travellers cut a great dash
in the Shire with their songs and their tales and their finery, and their wonderful parties. |
finery |
1037 |
Fineness, smartness, or elegance; also, fine or showy dress, ornaments, etc. |
See text above for dash. |
firth |
1042 |
A narrow arm of the sea. |
And when they passed from the Shire, going about the south skirts of the White Downs, they came to
the Far Downs, and to the Towers, and looked on the distant Sea; and so they rode down to Mithlond, the Grey Havens in the long firth of Lune. |
