siren

n. alarm, horn

shriek

v. scream

drone

n. hum, buzz

alms

n. charity, money for the poor

evacuation

n. departure (escape)

staff

n. workers, employees

PA (Public Address)

n. sound system, speakers

"all aboard!"

idiom: common saying when train is ready to depart

screech

n. scream, loud high noise

whistle

n. a high pitched noise

sputter

v. a low pitched, repeated noise-- as if from an engine

professor

n. college teacher

label

v. classify

"small favors"

common saying: "Thank God for small favors"

accustomed

adj. familiar, used to

improper

adj. unsuitable, unfit

dumwaiter

n. small food elevator

artifacts

n. man-made objects, usually old and dug from the ground

rumble

v. to make a continuous deep reverberating sound

gastrovascular

adj. serving for digestion and circulation, as a cavity.

hide-and-seek

n. a children's game

wardrobe

n. cabinet, furniture for storing clothes

rustle

n. small swishing noise

stammer

n. stutter, hesitate, stumble

faun

n. mythical creature; half man, half goat.

dwarf

n. mythical creature; manlike, short and strong-- usually with a beard

spare room

n. extra room

lamppost

n. street light

icicle

n. hanging, frozen water

shining

adj. bright, beaming

wonderous

adj. great and good

glorious

adj. great, beautiful

toast

n. a slice of heated bread

sardines

n. a type of small fish

"bucketloads"

slang: a lot

ice skating

n. gliding on frozen water

snowball fight

n. a game; people throw balls of snow at each other

dryad

n. mythical creature; a female nature spirit

lullaby

n. a sleep song

sample

n. example, model

kidnap

v. person-stealing, man-theft

witch

n. mythical creature; magic-making woman

imagination

n. mental creativity

cupboard

n. a place for storing tableware

reindeer

n. northern deer; both sexes have antlers

dominion

n. the power or right to rule

"Your Majesty"

n. polite term for a king or queen

sire

n. an old polite form of "sir" used to honor a person of high rank or status

prince

n. a son of the king and queen

servants

n. personal helpers

appetite

n. desire for food, thirst

ruin

v. destroy

shenanigan

n. mischief

shy

adj. short, lacking, failing

stable

n. horse house

delicate

n. fragile, easily unbalanced

magic

n. supernatural power

lunatic

adj. crazy

mad

adj. crazy

wicket

n. sports term; used in cricket

shove

v. strong push

logic

n. correct thinking method

treason

n. betraying your country

fraternize

v. be friendly; associate with