Nova S36E10: English vocabulary

confident and hopeful, especially when things are difficult

impossible to defeat, control, or discourage

causing someone to feel great pain or suffering

in a very beautiful, delicate, or skillful way

to feel your way with your hands in the dark or when you cannot see clearly

a strong alcoholic drink made with rum and hot water

to attack someone or something violently

a small dog breed with short legs, often kept as a pet or used for hunting

in a way that seems wonderfully good or pleasant

in a strong, emphatic way

the process of making an animal tame and keeping it with humans

to bring someone before a court to answer a criminal charge

covered with a thin layer of flour

to make someone feel unhappy or annoyed

not able to be changed

very small or too small to be useful or fair

an old or nonstandard comparative of bad, meaning worse

a piece of music that suggests the night or evening

boring and lacking variety

something that shows a large amount or variety of things

too confident in a way that is rude or not appropriate

more elaborate or expensive than usual

to begin to grow and produce roots or shoots

the hard outer shell on the back of a turtle, crab, or similar animal

a South American cowboy, especially one who works on the pampas

a small sea animal that sticks firmly to rocks, boats, and other surfaces

not thinking about other people and causing them trouble or upset

in a way that is not bright or clear

impossible to avoid or escape

a British coin worth six old pennies

the act of hunting or trapping rats

to make a quick, small movement because of pain, fear, or embarrassment

a small growth on a body surface, especially in the nose, throat, or intestines

to stop something from happening by acting before it starts

showing a sly, wicked, or mischievous quality

in a fair and reasonable way

a brightly colored bird with a pointed bill and a clear, musical song

impossible to repair or fix

making a low, angry sound with the teeth showing

very bad, unpleasant, or morally shocking

a short extra note added at the end of a letter or message

a narrow line of sunlight

willing and quick to help other people

a clear liquid made from pine resin, used as a solvent and paint thinner

to blow suddenly and strongly for a short time

imaginative, unusual, or not based on reality

a person whose job or role is to welcome and help guests or newcomers

continuing for a very long time without stopping

very sad and without hope

not pleasant or easy to deal with

showing signs of a fever, such as heat, sweating, or restlessness

the feathers fixed to the back of an arrow or dart to help it fly straight

to act early to stop something from happening or to get ahead of it

a small remaining sign of something that has mostly disappeared

a serious bacterial disease that affects the throat and can make breathing difficult

cause something bad to happen suddenly or earlier than expected

lying flat on the ground with the face downward

to exist or happen before something else

to change into a fossil over a very long time

a person who believes in the unity of God, especially in the Unitarian church

to give someone the right to have or do something

to attract and hold someone's attention or interest strongly

to move back or farther away

mysterious and hard to understand

the ability to stay brave and strong during pain, difficulty, or suffering

broken into small parts or pieces

a crew member on a bomber who aims and drops the bombs

to value something very highly

a glass container used in laboratories, usually with a flat bottom and a pouring lip

small, delicate, and pretty in an attractive way

clean something with a sponge

relating to animals or the study of animals

in a way that shows honesty, fairness, and good character

to show that something is true or correct by giving evidence

the hard outer shell of a sea creature, often found on a beach

in a kind, gentle, or pleasing way