peremptory
putting an end to all debate or action
“And everyone heard the peremptory shouts of the captain at the door” (Solzhenitsyn 75).
The tension between two countries loosened when the presidents passed a peremptory treaty.
obliquely
to, toward or at one side
“...it beams cutting obliquely through the gates, the whole building site, and the fence” (Solzhenitsyn 42).
The plane steered obliquely as the pilot skillfully navigated it to land in the airport.
scaffold
a temporary arrangement erected around a building
“From knee to the chest, without the help of a scaffold” (Solzhenitsyn 89).
I scare myself by imagining what will happen if the scaffold suddenly collapsed whenever I see a carpenter working.
expostulate
reason with for the purpose of dissuasion
“‘I’ve already counted fourteen,’ the cook expostulated. ‘So you did, but didn’t pass them out' " (Solzhenitsyn 74).
The concerned girl tried to expostulate her best friend after finding out her plans on robbing the jewelry store.
imperiously
in a manner showing arrogant superiority
“At that very moment his blanket and jacket were imperiously jerked off him” (Solzhenitsyn 7).
The king imperiously demanded for all the gold discovered in his kingdom to be handed in to him.
knave
a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
"HAMLET: 'Who was in life a foolish prating knave'" (Shakespeare III.4.238).
The policeman had great pride for his job - he always imagined himself as a hero who saved the world from knaves.
mutiny
open rebellion against constituted authority
“...with the underground and smuggled in arms for the mutiny;” (Solzhenitsyn 66).
The Friends of the ABC planned a mutiny against monarchy during the June Rebellion of 1832.
chagrin
strong feelings of embarrassment
"‘What for, citizen* chief?’ asked Shukhov with more chagrin than he felt in his voice” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
Filled with chagrin, the student slowly sat down after incorrectly answering the teacher's question confidently.
toady
a person who tries to please someone to gain an advantage
“...on a marble staircase covered with a red carpet that recalled a toadying version of the red banner” (Solzhenitsyn vii).
The toady salesman smiled and shook hands with the housewife as he eyed the contract paper he would get her to sign somehow.
dexterous
skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
“He dexterously pulled his feet out of the valenki, put the valenki in the corner…” (Solzhenitsyn 13).
Using his dexterous hands, the magician shuffled a deck of playing cards.
ostensibly
from appearances alone
“And so we have One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - ostensibly one day in the life of a gulag prisoner” (Solzhenitsyn 174).
Ostensibly, the author acted as if she was ready to hand in her work - but in reality, she had barely finished the first few pages.
imperturbable
marked by extreme calm and composure
"His crumpled, hairless face was imperturbable” (Solzhenitsyn 8).
After years of spiritual training, the Buddhist monk was imperturbable.
derisive
expressing contempt or ridicule
"'Permit me to point out,' Shukov lisped derisively, 'that if the mortar is laid thick in weather like this, the place will be like a sieve in the spring'" (Solzhenitsyn 99).
The boss didn't like the derisive attitude of his employee, who rolled his eyes and chewed gum during the meeting.
amalgamate
to bring or combine together or with something else
“It’d been amalgamated with neighboring farms - that’d happened before, too, but afterward they’d reduced it to its former condition” (Solzhenitsyn 39).
Seven Eleven and Ito Yokado amalgamated into Seven & I Holdings.
apparatus
equipment designed to serve a specific function
“The vast apparatus just doesn’t care about poor little Ivan” (Solzhenitsyn 116).
Taking out the necessary apparatus from his toolbox, the carpenter started to prepare for the build.