Smoke in the Sun (Vocabulary)

Chapter 1: A Good Death
• funereal (pg. 1) - having the mournful, somber character appropriate to a funeral
• "hichiriki" (pg. 2) - short, double-reed Japense wind instrument with a sound often described as haunting
• din (pg. 2) - a loud continued noise
• agarwood (pg. 2) - the soft, dark heartwood that is produced by any of various southeast Asian evergreen trees (genus Aquilaria, especially A. malaccensis synonym A. agallocha) when they become infected with a fungus and that contains a fragrant resin used chiefly to produce incense, perfumes, and traditional medicines
• sandalwood (pg. 2) - the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree (Santalum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) of southern Asia much used in ornamental carving and cabinetwork
• affront (pg. 3) - a remark or action intended to insult or offend someone
• pine eave (pg. 3) - the edge of a roof that sticks out over the top of a wall
• fleet-footed (pg. 3) - nimble and fast on one's feet
• ridgeline (pg. 3) - an area of higher ground separating two adjacent streams or watersheds
• cascade (pg. 4) - a short, steep waterfall (= place where a river falls to a lower level), often one of a series
• footfall (pg. 4) - the sound of a person's foot hitting the ground as they walk
• forge (pg. 4) - a furnace or a shop with its furnace where is metal is heated and wrought : smithy / a workshop where wrought iron is produced or where iron is made malleable
• rain barrel (pg. 4) - a large container for collecting rain that can then be used to water plants
• crook (pg. 4) - a bend in something, especially at the elbow in a person's arm
• underbelly (pg. 4) - the weakest or most unpleasant part of something
• dogwood (pg. 6) - a small tree or bush that has flowers, growing either wild or in gardens
• "jinrikisha" (pg. 6) - a light two-wheeled hooded vehicle drawn by one or more people, used chiefly in Asian countries
• deft (pg. 6) - skillful, clever, or quick
• crown (pg. 6) - the top part of a head, hat, or hill
• coif (pg. 6) - a woman's close-fitting cap, now only worn under a veil by nuns / HISTORICAL: a protective metal skullcap worn under armor
• demure (pg. 6) - (especially of women) quiet and well behaved
• lilt (pg. 7) - a gentle and pleasant rising and falling sound in a person's voice
• carafe (pg. 7) - a bottle with a flaring lip used to hold beverages and especially wine
• "tansu" (pg. 7) - a Japanese chest of drawers or cabinet
• threshold (pg. 7) - the floor of an entrance to a building or room
• "okiya" (pg. 8) - the lodging house/drinking establishment to which a maiko or geisha is affiliated with during her career as a geisha
• alabaster (pg. 8) - an almost transparent, white stone, often used for making decorative objects
• mete something out (pg. 9) - to give or order a punishment or make someone receive cruel or unfair treatment

Chapter 2: A Mask of Mercy
• pore over something (pg. 10) - to look at and study something, usually a book or document, carefully
• careworn (pg. 11) - appearing tired, worried, and unhappy
• overtired (pg. 11) - extremely tired, often so that you can not sleep
• pewter (pg. 11) - a bluish-grey metal that is a mixture of tin and lead

Chapter 3: Tall and Proud and Hapless
• ensconced (pg. 13) - positioned safely or comfortably somewhere
• scullery (pg. 17) - especially in a large old house, a room next to the kitchen where pans are washed and vegetables are prepared for cooking
• fray (pg. 19) - to become or to cause the threads in cloth or rope to become slightly separated, forming loose threads at the edge or end
• harrumph (pg. 19) - to express anger and disapproval, often not by speaking but making a noise
• emollient (pg. 19) - a cream or liquid that makes dry or sore skin softer or less painful
• simper (pg. 21) - to smile in a silly or annoying way
•  truculent (pg. 21) - unpleasant and likely to argue a lot
• hapless (pg. 23) - unlucky and usually unhappy

Chapter 4: The Ox and the Rat
• bower (pg. 24) - a pleasant place under the branches of a tree in a wood or garden
• wiles (pg. 24) - ways of persuading someone that trick them into doing something
• commune (pg. 24) - to get very close to someone or something by exchanging feelings or thoughts
• roost (pg. 25) - a place, such as branch of a tree, where birds rest or sleep
• tittering (pg. 25) - laughing in a silly or nervous way, often about something you feel you should not be laughing at
• misbegotten (pg. 26) - badly or stupidly planned or designed / not deserving to be respected or thought valuable
• lead by example (pg. 26) - to act in a way that shows others how to act
• marshal (pg. 28) - to bring together or organize people or things in order to achieve a particular aim
• obelisk (pg. 28) - a tall stone column with four sloping sides and a pointed top, made in honour of an important person or event
• infantile (pg. 28) - typical of a child and therefore unsuitable for an adult
• wastrel (pg. 29) - a person who does nothing positive with their life, making no use of their abilities or the opportunities that are offered to them
• rampart (pg. 29) - a large wall built round a town, castle, etc. to protect it
• apprise (pg. 31) - to tell or inform something about something


Chapter 5: Possessed by the Wind and Sky
• contour (pg. 36) - the shape of a mass of land or other object, especially its curved surface or the curved shape formed by its outer edge
• creek (pg. 36) - a narrow area of water that flows into the land from the sea, a lake, etc.
• starling (pg. 37) - a common bird with black or dark brown feathers that lives in large groups in many parts of the world
• battlement (pg. 37) - a parapet at the top of a wall, especially of a fort or castle, that has regularly spaced squared openings for shooting through
• nock (pg. 38) - fit (an arrow) to the bowstring ready for shooting
• thatched (pg. 38) - A thatched roof is made from straw or reeds; a thatched building has a roof that is made from straw or reeds
• caterwaul (pg. 39) - (of a person or animal) to make a high unpleasant noise like a cat
• animalian (pg. 41) - of or relating to animals or animalism
• impish (pg. 42) - showing a child's pleasure in enjoying yourself and making trouble
• preternatural (pg. 42) - more than is usual or natural

Chapter 6: Marked for Life
• rafter (pg. 45) - any of the large, specially shaped pieces of wood that support a roof
• grate (pg. 45) - a structure made of iron bars for holding wood or other fuel, esp. in a fireplace
• "samegawa" (pg. 46) - "shark skin"; a popular material used in making katana handle, due to its durability and resistance to wear and tear. Its durability allowed it to survive the rigors and demands of battle, while also enhancing the sword's aesthetic appeal
• somnolent (pg. 47) - almost sleeping, or causing a sleep
• "saya" (pg. 48) - "scabbard/seath"
• slatted (pg. 48) - made with slats
• crinkled (pg. 49) - covered in many small lines or folds
• feckless (pg. 53) - weak in character and lacking determination

Chapter 7: The Ashes of Loyalty
• regicide (pg. 55) - a person who kills a king, or the act of killing a king
• fatuous (pg. 57) - stupid, not correct, or not carefully thought out
• thrum (pg. 57) - a continuous low sound
• invective (pg. 58) - criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude
• cajole (pg. 58) - to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises
• boorish (pg. 63) - rude and not considering other people's feelings
• vulpine (pg. 63) - relating to foxes or like a fox

Chapter 8: Traps of Spun Silk
• susurrate (pg. 68) - (of leaves, wind, etc.) make a whispering or rustling sound
• "furisode" (pg. 69) - A style of kimono distinguishable by its long sleeves. Furisode are the most formal style of kimono worn by unmarried women in Japan. The furisode is made of very fine, brightly colored silk, and is commonly rented or bought by parents for their daughters to wear when celebrating Coming of Age Day the year they turn 20. By wearing a furisode, a young woman signifies that she is both single and a legal adult, and thus available for marriage. In this sense, a furisode might be likened to the formal gowns worn by debutantes in the West.
• camellia (pg. 69) - a bush with dark, shiny leaves and large white, pink, or red flowers that are similar to roses
• flitted (pg. 69) - to fly or move quickly and lightly
• "uguisu" (pg. 71) - a bird known as a Japanese bush warbler
• duplicity (pg. 73) - dishonest talk or behaviour, especially by saying different things to two people

Chapter 9: Gilded Petals and Dripping Wounds
• sill (pg. 77) - a flat piece of wood, stone, etc. that forms the base of a window or door
• courtier (pg. 80) - a companion of a queen, king, or other ruler in their official home, especially in the past
• "azuki" (pg. 82) - a sweet, red bean used in Chinese and Japanese cooking
• doe (pg. 82) - the female of animals such as the deer or rabbit
• hand-wringing (pg. 82) - the clasping together and squeezing of one's hands, especially when distressed or worried / an excessive display of concern or distress
• quirk (pg. 83) - curve, twist
• attune to (pg. 84) - To reach a deep understanding of or an ideal relationship with someone or something.
• in the throes of something (pg. 88) - experiencing or doing something that is difficult, unpleasant, or painful
• cavorting (pg. 88) - to jump or move around in a playful way, sometimes noisily, and often in a sexual way
• wantonness (pg. 89) - bad behaviour that is intentional or shows no care about bad things that might result
• lyrical (pg. 89) - expressing personal thoughts and feelings in a beautiful way
• licentiously (pg. 90) - sexually, in a way that is uncontrolled and socially unacceptable
• untoward (pg. 90) - unexpected and not convenient or unpleasant
• allay (pg. 93) - If you allay a strong emotion felt by someone, such as fear or worry, you cause them to feel it less or to feel calm again

Chapter 10: Gleaming Darkly
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