Vocabulary

• in a nutshell: As a summary; including the main points concisely
• apart from: Except for; not considering
• to do with: To be about something; concern
• to death: Extremely; to a great degree
• in need: Not having the necessary things, such as food
• also known as: Also called; alternatively named.
• in fact: Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that contrasts with or contradicts something else.
• better known as: More widely or commonly recognized by a particular name or description.
• take down: To capture physically
• sort: To organize things by putting them into groups
• recognize: To accept the truth or reality of something
• embrace: Act of holding someone closely
• feature: Special report in a magazine or paper
• establish: To set or create something to last for a long time
• medieval: Old or out of date and not of much use
• religious: Following the rules and beliefs of a faith
• throw: To use your arm to make something fly in the air
• charity: Kindness and willingness to forgive, help
• advent: First appearance of something important
• infant: Child in the beginning stage of life; a baby
• feast: Religious celebration
• nutshell: Shell that surrounds the kernel of a nut
• firmly: In a hard, steady, unchanging way
• communal: Shared or used in common by members of a group
• century: Period of 100 years
• distribute: To hand out or give to people
• roll: Small, round piece of bread for one person to eat
• worship: Acts of respect and honor to God or a god
• epiphany: Christian feast celebrating Jesus as an infant
• flesh: Soft part of fruit, vegetable that can be eaten
• kick: Feeling of enjoyment or excitement
• middle: Place that is halfway between two things
• pagan: People who do not have a formal religion
• wise: Knowledgeable about life; having good judgment
• murder: Something that is difficult or painful to do
• poison: To affect something in a very negative way
• fast: In a way that is difficult to move or change
• popular: Liked or enjoyed by many people
• peasant: A person of low social status who works on a farm
• march: To force someone to walk somewhere
• service: Work that a person does to assist others
• officially: According to what is stated by an authority figure
• cathedral: Large impressive main church in a particular area
• tradition: An event, custom or way common to a people or race
• sail: To travel across water in a boat or a ship
• complain: To say something is wrong and should be changed
• time: Speed at which music is played; tempo
• martyr: Someone killed of suffering for their beliefs
• begin: To do the first part of an action; to start
• drunk: To put liquid in your body through your mouth
• give: Degree of flexibility in something, a material
• people: Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
• choir: Group of people who sing together e.g. in church
• pine: Tall pointed evergreen tree with needlelike leaves
• solstice: Time of year when sun is farthest away from Earth
• wine: Dark red color
• dress: Women's garment with a top part and a skirt
• mark: Person's name
• miraculously: In a wonderful and extraordinary manner
• gospel: Book of the New Testament in Christian teaching
• festive: Colorful, exciting or joyous, as for a celebration
• carol: Traditional song sung at Christmas
• ivy: Climbing plant growing up walls of buildings
• eve: The time just before something happens
• ale: Fermented alcoholic drink made from malt
• holly: Tree with red berries, associated with Christmas
• merriment: Happy cheerful feelings or activities
• yonder: Distant but within sight