VOCABULARY UNIT 7Theme: Chicken Run

The chickens obviously abhor the vile Mrs. Tweedy, especially after they discover her plan to turn them into chicken pies.

Abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

The chickens had to amend their plans for building a flying machine several times.

Amend

to change in a formal way; to change for the better

If the automatic pie machine didn’t kill the chickens immediately, it would certainly buffet them about.

Buffet

(v.) to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; (n.) a slap or blow

When the chickens first learn of their possible fate, chaos temporarily ensues.

chaos

great confusion, disorder

Even though it is essentially a prison, the chicken coop is actually quite commodious, leaving lots of room for celebrations.

commodious

roomy, spacious

Rocky’s abandonment of the chickens could have had a corrosive effect on their morale, but thanks to Ginger they do not let it eat away at their determination to escape.

corrosive

eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

By sneaking out of the coop and other clever plans, the chickens are able to discern Mrs. Tweedy’s diabolical plan.

discern

to see clearly, recognize

Unfortunately, the poster for Rocky’s short time in the circus is still extant, leading the chickens to believe he can fly.

extant

still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

If the chickens were caught red handed by Mrs. Tweedy, they would clearly be implicated in their escape scheme.

implicate

to involve in; to connect with or be related to

When a chicken “misbehaves”, as Ginger often does, the Tweedys inter them in coal in the coal box.

inter

to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

Mrs. Tweedy is clearly a martinet, demanding that the chickens comply by her rules or face harsh penalties.

martinet

a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

In order to obviate the possibility of ending up in a pie, the chickens embark on their daring escape.

obviate

to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

While he is temporarily a renegade, Rocky returns to the group of chickens when he sees the poster advertising Tweedy’s pies.

renegade

(n.) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj.) traitorous, unconventional,

unorthodox

Though his leaving was reprehensible, Rocky makes up for it by returning and assisting the chickens’ escape.

reprehensible

deserving blame or punishment

The chickens were in a somber mood after learning of the pie machine, but shake off their gloomy attitude to hatch their plan.

somber

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

A chicken coop is normally a squalid place full of filth and waste, but this one is quite nice.

squalid

filthy, wretched, debased

It must have been a turbulent ride on the airplane as the chickens escaped.

turbulent

disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

Babs is a particularly vociferous chicken, constantly talking and asking “are we going on holiday?”

vociferous

loud and noisy; compelling attention

The voluminous plans drawn up for the flying machine, taking up pages and pages, paid off in a successful escape.

voluminous

of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

The chickens refuse to waive their right to decide their future and fight the evil Tweedys’ plan.

waive

to do without, give up voluntarily, to put off temporarily, defer