Glossary
Page references are from Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited 1965 'Torchbook' edition,
ISBN 0-06-090101-2
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
acetate (p.110)
2. Cellulose acetate or any of various products, especially fibers, derived from it.
agave (p.111)
Any of numerous plants of the genus Agave, native to hot, dry regions of the New World and having basal rosettes of tough, sword-shaped, often spiny-margined leaves. Agaves are grown for ornament, fiber, and food.
ambergris (p.111)
A waxy grayish substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales and found floating at sea or washed ashore. It is added to perfumes to slow down the rate of evaporation.
anthrax (p.36)
1. An infectious, usually fatal disease of warm-blooded animals, especially of cattle and sheep, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The disease can be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated animal substances, such as hair, feces, or hides, and is characterized by ulcerative skin lesions.
aphides – aphid (p. 49)
Any of various small, soft-bodied insects of the family Aphididae that have mouthparts specially adapted for piercing and feed by sucking sap from plants.
asafetida (p. 20)
A brownish, bitter, foul-smelling resinous material obtained from the roots of several plants of the genus Ferula in the parsley family and formerly used in medicine.
aseptic (p. 13)
2. Lacking animation or emotion: an aseptic smile.
aquiline (p. 122)
2. Curved or hooked like an eagle's beak: an aquiline nose.
boscage (p. 21)
A mass of trees or shrubs; a thicket.
brachycephalic (p. 77)
Having a short, broad head with a cephalic index over 80.
Cephalic index: the ratio of the maximum width of the head to its maximum length, multiplied by 100.
cadged – cadge (p. 119)
To beg or get by begging.
carapace (p. 163)
1. Zoology A hard bony or chitinous outer covering, such as the fused dorsal plates of a turtle or the portion of the exoskeleton covering the head and thorax of a crustacean. 2. A protective, shell-like covering likened to that of a turtle or crustacean: “He used to worry that Sarah would age the same way, develop the same brittle carapace” (Anne Tyler).
carotene (p. 134)
An orange-yellow to red crystalline pigment, C40H56, found in animal tissue and certain plants, such as carrots and squash. It exists in several isomeric forms and is converted to vitamin A in the liver.
Carrara (p. 61)
A city of northern Italy near the Ligurian Sea east of Genoa. It is famous for the white marble quarried nearby that was favored by Michelangelo.
caste (p. 9)
2. A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank, profession, or wealth. 4. A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function.
chary (p. 173)
1. Very cautious; wary: was chary of the risks involved.
coccyx (p. 192)
A small triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and tailless apes, consisting of several fused rudimentary vertebrae.
collation (p. 134 )
2b. A light meal.
copse (p. 189)
A thicket of small trees or shrubs; a coppice.
corpus luteum (p. 8)
A yellow, progesterone-secreting mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle after the release of a mature egg.
discarnate (p. 23)
Having no material body or form: a discarnate spirit.
demijohn (p. 7)
A large, narrow-necked bottle made of glass or earthenware, usually encased in wickerwork.
diadem (p. 83)
1. A crown worn as a sign of royalty.
dolychocephalic – dolichocephalic (p. 160)
Having a relatively long head with a cephalic index below 76.
Cephalic index: the ratio of the maximum width of the head to its maximum length, multiplied by 100.
flivver (p. 32)
Slang: An automobile, especially one that is small, inexpensive, and old.
galvanic (p. 129)
2a. Having the effect of an electric shock: a galvanic revelation. b. Produced as if by an electric shock: The new leader had a galvanic effect on our morale.
gamete (p. 2)
A reproductive cell having the haploid number of chromosomes, especially a mature sperm or egg capable of fusing with a gamete of the opposite sex to produce the fertilized egg.
goiter (p. 85)
A noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland, visible as a swelling at the front of the neck, that is often associated with iodine deficiency.
incarnadine (p. 89)
1. Of a fleshy pink color. 2. Blood-red.
jim-jams (p. 143 )
Slang 1. The jitters. 2. Delirium tremens.
lupus (p. 7)
1. Systemic lupus erythematosus. 2. Any of various chronic skin conditions characterized by ulcerative lesions that spread over the body. No longer in scientific use.
lupus erythematosus- Any of several connective tissue disorders, especially systemic lupus erythematosus, that primarily affect women of childbearing age, have a variety of clinical forms, and are characterized by red scaly skin lesions.
maudlin (p. 22)
Effusively or tearfully sentimental: “displayed an almost maudlin concern for the welfare of animals” (Aldous Huxley).
midden (p. 27)
1. A dunghill or refuse heap. 2. Archaeology A mound or deposit containing shells, animal bones, and other refuse that indicates the site of a human settlement.
moribund (p. 152, 155)
1. Approaching death; about to die. 2. On the verge of becoming obsolete: moribund customs; a moribund way of life.
myrtle (p. 127)
1. Any of several evergreen shrubs or trees of the genus Myrtus, especially M. communis, an aromatic shrub native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia, having pink or white flowers and blue-black berries and widely cultivated as a hedge plant.
neurasthenia (p. 184)
Function: noun
an emotional and psychic disorder that is characterized especially by easy fatigability and often by lack of motivation, feelings of inadequacy, and psychosomatic symptoms.
(source: online Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
ophthalmia (p. 85)
Inflammation of the eye, esp. of the conjunctiva of the eye; phthalmitis.
ordure (p. 157)
1. Excrement; dung. 2. Something morally offensive; filth.
orthodox (p.113) Gk. ortho- straight, regular, upright + doxa- opinion, thought;
conforming to the usual beliefs or established doctrines, as in religion, politics, etc.;
approved or conventional.
paroxysm (p. 174)
1. A sudden outburst of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter. 2a. A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease. b. A spasm or fit; a convulsion.
peritoneum (p. 6 )
The serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and folds inward to enclose the viscera.
pneumatic (p. 32)
b. Filled with air, especially compressed air: a pneumatic tire.
(with this word, Huxley celebrates the voluptuous woman with an "inflated" physique in stark contrast to more recent trends favoring an emaciated look)
portentous (p. 113)
1. Of the nature of or constituting a portent; foreboding: “The present aspect of society is portentous of great change” (Edward Bellamy). 2. Full of unspecifiable significance; exciting wonder and awe: “Such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity” (Herman Melville). 3. Marked by pompousness; pretentiously weighty.
prognathous (p. 122 )
Having jaws that project forward to a marked degree.
propitiatingly – propitiate (p. 162)
To conciliate (an offended power); appease: propitiate the gods with a sacrifice.
pueblo (p. 82)
A permanent village or community of any of the Pueblo peoples, typically consisting of multilevel adobe or stone apartment dwellings of terraced design clustered around a central plaza.
pullulation – pullulate (p. 56)
3. To teem; swarm: a lagoon that pullulated with tropical fish.
revitrifying (p. 49), vitrified – vitrify (p. 125)
To change or make into glass or a glassy substance, especially through heat fusion.
scatological (p. 116)
3. Obscene language or literature, especially that dealing pruriently or humorously with excrement and excretory functions.
sedulously – sedulous (p. 175)
Persevering and constant in effort or application; assiduous.
sententiously – sententious (p. 32, 144)
1. Terse and energetic in expression; pithy. 2a. Abounding in aphorisms. b. Given to aphoristic utterances. 3a. Abounding in pompous moralizing. b. Given to pompous moralizing.
sepulchral (p. 135)
2. Suggestive of the grave; funereal. From 'sepulchre' meaning 'tomb'.
sibilant (p. 18)
Of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh): the sibilant consonants; a sibilant bird call.
solecism (p. 73)
2. A violation of etiquette. 3. An impropriety, mistake, or incongruity.
spanner (p. 9)
1. A wrench having a hook, hole, or pin at the end for meshing with a related device on another object. 2. Chiefly British: A wrench.
stave (p. 189)
1. A narrow strip of wood forming part of the sides of a barrel, tub, or similar structure. 2. A rung of a ladder or chair. 3. A staff or cudgel.
supine (p. 66)
1. Lying on the back or having the face upward.
trypanosoma
transmitted to the vertebrate bloodstream, lymph, and spinal fluid by certain insects and often causing diseases such as sleeping sickness and nagana.
trypanosome
Any of various parasitic flagellate protozoans of the genus
trypanosomiasis (p. 144)
A disease or infection caused by a trypanosome.
verbena (p. 153)
1. Any of various New World plants of the genus Verbena, especially one of several species cultivated for their showy spikes of variously colored flowers.
viscera
1. The soft internal organs of the body, especially those contained within the abdominal and thoracic cavities. 2. The intestines.
viscose (p. 13 )
1. A thick, golden-brown viscous solution of cellulose xanthate, used in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane.
viscosity (p. 2)
1. The condition or property of being viscous.
viscous
1. Having relatively high resistance to flow.
viviparous (p. 16)
1. Zoology Giving birth to living offspring that develop within the mother's body. Most mammals and some other animals are viviparous.
Sources: American Heritage Dictionary online and Oxford English Dictionary online