1. tegument — covering; integument
He stood haughtily above the field, his bronzed and polished armor a bright protective tegument over the doomed flesh within.
2. quiff — lock or curl of hair hanging over the forehead
My eyes kept straying to the oiled quiff of his dark hair which he affected in some misguided attempt at fashion, and I found it difficult to pay attention to the import of his argument.
3. hecatomb — large public sacrifice; great slaughter
This lovely wood was once the muddy pit where hecatombs of both British and German soldiers lost their lives.
4. wizened — dried up, shriveled, withered
The wizened farmer stepped out of the storm shelter to see once more the wreck of all his plans and efforts, gave a short sigh, and began to clean up the mess.
5. atabal — Moorish tambour or kettle-drum
We heard the low rumble of the atabals and braced ourselves to receive their first charge.
6. chine — backbone or spine of animal; cut of meat containing the backbone
After the capons, a roasted chine of beef was laid upon the table.
7. chine — steep valley formed by running water
There at the very foot of the chine was a small house, a hut really, hidden by the young pines which grew almost at the edge of the rushing stream.
8. imperator — title conferred upon victorious general in Republican Rome; title for the Roman emperor; absolute ruler
Now that his only rival was bested, shamed with failure after the dough tossing contest, Virgil reigned alone as imperator of the Shakey’s Pizza Shop.
9. steeve — to compress and pack into a ship’s hold
After the hold had been inspected thoroughly to make sure it was waterproof, the crew steeved the cotton tightly within.
10. gambado — large boot-like coverings attached to saddle in lieu of stirrups
Besides the obvious protection from the brambles which surround Athelney’s estate, I daresay the support the gambadoes give to the old duffer is a more important reason that he chooses to eschew a proper saddle.
Bonus Vocabulary
(Latin)
nihil obstat — permission to publish, certification that a Roman Catholic censor has examined a work and found nothing contrary to official church doctrine, lit. “nothing stands in the way”
That this work, which today reads like one of the most vicious attacks upon a duly elected official, ever received the nihil obstat is perhaps the most incredible aspect of the entire affair.