1. Admonitions: counsel, advice, or caution
“…consisted mainly of admonitions to breathe deeply…” (Page 2)
The word admonitions used in the sentence is trying to tell the readers that the husband gave the wife a warning sign to be cautious or an advice towards the baby. As he is a doctor, he suggested breathing deeply and drinking plenty of water were the admonitions. 2. Cochineal: a red dye prepared from the dried bodies of the females of the cochineal insect
“…the wounds poured cochineal.” (Page 5)
The writer referred to the wounds as the red dye that the insects give off. 3. Drab: lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
“…a drab place full of kitchen utensils…” (Page 8)
Since the protagonist gave a brief idea about her Grandfather’s shop, he stated that “he could not imagine the store looking any other way than now. The passage shows that the Grandfather’s place lacks the surprise and charm because it is no longer his anymore. 4. Fissure: a narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation of parts.
“…on each fissure a neat mound of earth appeared.” (Page 3)
The author had mentioned that the cement was not repaired, and it had been frost-heaved. Therefore, the process from frost heaving is causing the soil in the ground to break or become separation of parts. 5. Guillotine: any of various machines in which a vertical blade between two parallel uprights descends to cut or trim metal, stacks of paper, etc. “…despite beheadings from the clanking guillotine lawn mower…” (Page 2)
The word guillotine basically describes the lawn mower, as it has a blade which cuts or trims grass. 6. Heed: to pay careful attention to
“…but he never paid heed.” (Page 8)
Heed is defined as paying close attention to and this was directed to Bill Saunder’s health. 7. Indigenous: originating in and characteristic of a particular region orcountry; native
“Spruce was not indigenous to that part of the prairies.” (Page 1)
The Spruce are not adapted or originated in the prairies. 8. Inexplicably: incapable of being explained or accounted for
“Yet I was inexplicably drawn to them, too.” (Page 7)
She was unable to explain why the old men were drawn towards her attention, and she did however said that she had no idea why she felt embarrassed, etc. 9. Invariably: not changing or capable of being changed
“…my grandfather invariably spent the Sabbath in this manner.” (Page 6)
The grandfather doesn’t want the change, since he had no plans he decided to stick with no plans like any other day. 10. Middy: informal
“…collar of the white middy which I hated…” (Page 3)
The dress that she wore is considered to be informal because she said she hated it and in the passage the author had stated that the outfit had been worn as it was still winter. 11. Mortification: a feeling of humiliation or shame
“They were a deep mortification to their families…” (Page 7)
Downright was what she had referred to old men who sat on the sidewalks and spitting tobacco. It is understandable as to why families would feel the shame or mortification. 12. Oddments: an odd article, bit, remnant, or the like.
“…nails and bolts, collected oddments being sifted through.” (Page 6)
The word oddments means that bits and pieces were collected, and the grandfather is looking through them