- climenounChapter 1 →
A region or area of the world, especially one defined by its climate or geography. Used here in a poetic, old-fashioned sense to mean every country or corner of the earth.
“Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, / Beasts of every land and clime”
- hearkenverbChapter 1 →
To listen carefully and pay close attention. An old-fashioned word used here to urge the animals to hear an important message.
“Hearken to my joyful tidings / Of the golden future time.”
- tidingsnounChapter 1 →
News or information, especially news that is announced formally or with great feeling. Here it refers to the hopeful message Old Major is about to share.
“Hearken to my joyful tidings / Of the golden future time.”
- tyranniseverbChapter 1 →
To rule over others in a cruel, unjust, and oppressive way, using power to dominate and harm those who are weaker.
“And above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind.”
- lordnounChapter 1 →
A master or ruler who holds complete power and control over others. Used here to describe the total dominance humans have over animals.
“Yet he is lord of …”
- ploughnounChapter 1 →
A large farming tool pulled across fields to turn over the soil before planting crops. The British spelling of 'plow.'
“he is too weak to pull the plough”
- directed and supervisedphraseChapter 2 →
Gave instructions and watched over others to make sure work was done correctly, without doing the physical labor themselves.
“The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others.”
- assume the leadershipphraseChapter 2 →
To take on the role of being in charge, often without being formally elected or chosen, treating it as a natural or obvious right.
“With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership.”
- counted onphraseChapter 2 →
Reliably expected to do something; certain to behave in a predictable way. Here it means one pig could always be depended on to disagree with the other.
“whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it”
- tarredadjectiveChapter 2 →
Coated with tar, a thick black sticky substance, to weatherproof a surface. Here it describes the dark wall on which the Commandments were painted.
“were written on the tarred wall in great white letters”
- comradesnounChapter 3 →
Fellow members of a group who share the same cause or struggle. Used here as the standard form of address among the animals, replacing words like 'friends' or 'neighbors.'
“Comrades! You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?”
- privilegenounChapter 3 →
A special advantage or benefit enjoyed by one group but not others, often unfairly. Here the pigs deny they are keeping the milk and apples for selfish personal gain.
“we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?”
- pelletnounChapter 4 →
A small metal ball fired from a gun, especially a shotgun or air rifle. Here it refers to a piece of shot that grazed Boxer during the battle.
“a pellet had grazed his leg”
- grazedverbChapter 4 →
Scraped or scratched the surface of skin without causing a deep wound. Here it means the pellet barely touched Boxer's leg rather than piercing it.
“a pellet had grazed his leg”
- sacrificenounChapter 6 →
Something valuable given up for the benefit of others or a greater cause. Used here by Squealer to falsely frame Napoleon's self-serving decisions as acts of noble selflessness.
“every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself”
- overthrownverbChapter 6 →
Knocked down or destroyed by force, removing something from its position of power or stability. Here it refers to the windmill being demolished.
“Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill?”
- executionsnounChapter 7 →
The killing of individuals as a punishment, carried out by those in authority. Here it refers to Napoleon having animals put to death after they confess to supposed crimes.
“the tale of confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet”
- confessionsnounChapter 7 →
Statements in which someone admits to having committed a crime or wrongdoing. Here animals are forced or frightened into admitting to acts of betrayal they may not have done.
“the tale of confessions and executions went on”
- corpsesnounChapter 7 →
Dead bodies, especially of those who have been killed. Used here to emphasize the brutal reality of Napoleon's purges.
“there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet”
- capacitynounChapter 7 →
The level of ability or skill that a person or animal naturally possesses. Here it means each animal contributing as much as their individual strength and talent allows.
“each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the weak”
- formal stylephraseChapter 8 →
An official, ceremonial manner of speaking or writing, using titles and honorifics rather than plain names. Here it means Napoleon must always be addressed with grand titles.
“He was always referred to in formal style as 'our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.'”
- with one accordphraseChapter 8 →
All together at exactly the same moment, acting as one without any prior planning or signal. It emphasizes the animals' spontaneous, unified response.
“With one accord, though nothing of the kind had been planned in advance, they dashed straight for it.”
- veterinary surgeonnounChapter 9 →
A doctor trained to treat the illnesses and injuries of animals, equivalent to what is commonly called a vet. Here Squealer uses the formal title to make Boxer's supposed care sound more credible.
“the veterinary surgeon had not arrived too late”
- knackernounChapter 9 →
A person or business that buys old or worn-out animals and slaughters them, often to sell their hides, bones, and flesh. Being sold to the knacker means being sent to one's death.
- maximnoun
A short, memorable statement expressing a general rule or truth meant to guide behavior. Here it refers to the single slogan left on the barn wall after all the Commandments have been altered.
Animal FarmNovella by George Orwell