I was familiar with words such as calamity and docile. Sometimes the meaning of the new word was so obvious because of the context that I didn’t even have to stop to think about what it meant. But guessing the meanings of the following words was hard:
Stolid: I found it difficult to guess the meaning of this word because it appears in a complex sentence (“I don't suppose that the most stolid brain could contrive to believe that there is not a mere trifle of danger in filibustering . . .”).
Valise: I vaguely knew that a valise is a type of traveling bag. But the way the author used the word made me unsure (“valise about as large as a hotel”).
Filibustering: The article does connect filibustering to guns, but the word’s meaning wasn’t entirely clear. I wasn’t sure if it meant supplying illegal weapons, entering a territory illegally, or something else.
Prophet: This word was used as if it were a nickname, so there were few surrounding words that could help me determine its meaning.
Explanation:
filibusteringsupplying weapons illegallya person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country
stevedoresa person who loads cargo onto a shipa person employed at a dock to load and unload cargo from ships
placidlypeacefullypleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed
stolidcalmcalm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation
ignominiousshamefuldeserving or causing public disgrace or shame
calamitydisasteran event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
prophetleadera member of some religions (such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) who delivers messages believed to be from God
agitationan anxious state or feelinga state of anxiety or nervous excitement
valisesuitcasea small piece of luggage that can be carried by hand, used to hold clothing and toilet articles; a suitcase; a traveling bag
stokera person who tends a firea worker who tends and fuels a furnace, especially one that produces steam
docilelysubmissivelypassively and obediently
