"Vanka" Vocabulary

silvered "The night is dark, but one can see the whole village with its white roofs and coils of smoke coming from the chimneys, the trees silvered with hoar frost, the snowdrifts"

(adj.) covered with silver

wretched "My life is wretched, worse than any dog's. . . ."

(adj.) miserable.

ample "at night, wrapped in an ample sheepskin"

(adj.) more than enough, large, spacious.

nimble "He was a thin but extraordinarily nimble and lively little old man of sixty-five"

(adj.) quick and skillful in movement, agile; clever.

tremulous "Vanka gave a tremulous sigh, and again stared at the window"

(adj.) shaking or quivering slightly due to fear.

spangled "The whole sky spangled with gay twinkling stars...

(adj.) sprinkled with bright or glittering spots.

chortle "Grandfather made a noise in his throat, the forest crackled with the frost, and looking at them Vanka chortled too"

(n.) chuckle with delight

ikon "stole a glance at the dark ikon, on both sides of which stretched shelves full of lasts, and heaved a broken sigh"

(n.) icon; a religious representation.

meekness "Under his politeness and meekness..."

(n.) mildness, gentleness.

mallet "he walked round the grounds and tapped with his little mallet"

(n.) wooden hammer

gilt "Dear grandfather, when they have the Christmas tree at the big house, get me a gilt walnut, and put it away in the green trunk."

(n./v./adj.) covered in gold. English

creep up "No one knew better how to creep up on occasion and snap at one's legs, to slip into the store-room, or steal a hen from a peasant".

(v.) increase slowly. Sneak up.

thrash "I will pray for you, and if I do anything you can thrash me like Sidor's goat."

(v.) to beat, hit. English

concertina "I send greetings to Alyona, one-eyed Yegorka, and the coachman, and don't give my concertina to anyone."

a small musical, instrument, like an accordion