Nova S47E11: English vocabulary

words spoken as part of a magic spell or ritual

relating to ancient Sumer, its people, or their language

happening as a result of something else

to dig in the ground to find something buried, especially old objects or remains

to argue about something unimportant

broken into small parts or pieces

causing horror or disgust because it is very shocking or gruesome

a decorative covering or ornament worn on the head

relating to the family of languages that includes Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic

becoming sour, spoiled, or unpleasant

the process of drawing or outlining with ink

a person whose job is to keep a business's financial records

the holy book of Islam

a small area inside another country or area, often with people who are different from those around them

to supply water to land or crops, especially through pipes or channels

a wild dog found in Australia

a written symbol that stands for a number

a long spear with a barbed point, used for catching large sea animals

the ability to think of clever, original solutions

by speaking, not in writing

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head

based on ideas and concepts rather than on real things or details

a strong, smooth material made from animal skin and used for writing or books in the past

a person who copies documents by hand, especially in the past

moved a page or screen up or down

relating to the Maya people or their civilization

a book or system for recording financial accounts

the act of gently rubbing or stroking something

very old and no longer used in modern life, language, or style

the fact that something can be understood in more than one way

a greenish-blue color

bring back to life

to keep someone or something within limits or in one place

the act of removing a covering, layer, or clothes

locked with a key

to bring different people, groups, or things together so they work as one

covered with breadcrumbs or a similar coating before cooking

the practice of learning a job by following and watching an experienced worker

made hard or tougher by heat, cold, use, or time

to fill something too full by pushing things in

in a way that is complete and causes major change

to bring a dead person back to life

a tool with a sharp edge, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, or metal

the act of following someone closely in order to watch them or spy on them

smoothed by rubbing with sandpaper

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

the life or world believed to exist after death

to rebel against authority or start a revolt

to think of someone or something in a particular way

to attack someone in a drive-by shooting

to adjust a gun's sights so it shoots accurately

to look for something in a way that is not very organized or certain

the act of postponing a proposal or motion for later discussion

in a careful, organized way that follows a plan or method

to make something more difficult or harder to understand

to form or imagine an idea, plan, or situation in your mind

relating to thinking, learning, memory, and understanding

the process of preparing land for growing crops or plants

the act of hitting one thing against another, especially in music or medicine

to make a word or phrase shorter by leaving out letters or using a shorter form

to record that you have started work or a shift

the practice of analyzing people or data to predict behavior or group people by characteristics

existing as a natural part of something

boring because it involves the same actions or things again and again

the sound of someone walking, or one step in a walk

a fish that lives in rivers, lakes, or the sea and has whisker-like feelers near its mouth

relating to the original people living in a place before colonization

to make a long, loud, sad cry

the holy writings of a religion

a flat board that an artist uses to hold and mix paint

a ruler of ancient Egypt

to think that something is probably true or will happen

the process of increasing gradually

a person or source that is believed to give wise or certain guidance