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Glossary Page C

canopy     the spreading branches of a tropical forest

canter      a gait that resembles a gallop but is much smoother and slower

caption     the heading of an article or document

catastrophe     a momentous tragic event

cavernous     like a large cave

cavort     to engage in extravagant behavior

chameleon

chink     gaps in a log cabin that need to be caulked.

chipolatas     small Italian pork sausages

chortle      laugh or chuckle

chuck     to toss or throw

churlish     vulgar, ill-natured and peevish

churning      turning over and over

circumstances     the sum of essential and environmental factors

civil tongue     adequate in courtesy and politeness

clairvoyant     unusually perceptive

clamour     a loud continuous noise

clatter      a rattling sound

clumsy     lacking dexterity, nimbleness or grace

clunk     a dull sound

cluster     a group of things in close proximity

clutching     grasping and holding

cobblestone street

cock and bull story     an incredible story told as if it were true

cockatrice     a legendary serpent that is hatched by a reptile from a cock's egg

                       and that has a deadly glance

cocky     boldly or brashly self-confident

codswallop     nonsense

coincidence     the occurrence of simultaneous events     

collywobbles    now known as cholera

commentary     a record of events

compatible     capable of existing together in harmony

concocted     devised, fabricated, cooked up

compliment     an expression of esteem, respect, affection or admiration      

compromise     a settlement of differences reached by mutual concession.

comply     to conform

compulsively     having power to compel

concoct     to devise or fabricate  

confirm     to remove doubt

consent      to agree or give permission

contagious     communicable by contact

contemptuous     feeling or expressing contempt

contrary     in conflict with

cope     to deal with and attempt to overcome problems

confiscated     to seize by authority

conjured      summoned by invocation or incantation

contorted     twisted into a strange shape

contrary     in a matter opposite to what is reasonable or normal

corporeal     relating to a physical body

corruption     impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle

coursing     the pursuit of a running game with dogs that follow by sight instead of

                  by scent

cowering     quivering as if in grave fear or abject distress

crackpot     one given to eccentric or lunatic ideas

craning     stretching the neck to get a better view

crestfallen     feeling shame or humiliation

crimson

cringing      to shrink in fear or civility

crinkled     related to wrinkled

croaked     uttered in a hoarse raucous voice

Crookshanks          pet cat of Hermione

cronies     close friends especially of long standing

crossbow

crucial     essential  or decisive in dealing with a crisis

crumpets

Crunch

cubicle      small partitioned space

cue      a signal to action in a play

culprit     one accused of or found guilty of a crime

cunning     characterized by willingness and trickery

curse     to call upo divine or supernatural powers to bring harm upon one

Leg-Locker Curse     A curse that will cause the victim's legs to lock together

curt     terse