Vocabulary in To Build a Fire

To an extreme or very great degree; used here to emphasize how cold and severe the conditions are beyond what is ordinary.

Gentle rising and falling waves or curves in a surface; here referring to the rolling, uneven shape of the snow-covered landscape.

Based on guesswork or incomplete information rather than certainty; used to describe the man's uncertain, speculative way of thinking about his situation.

Something that cannot be physically touched or clearly grasped; here describing a vague, unnamed feeling or impression the man cannot quite identify.

Saliva or spit from the mouth; in this story it freezes almost instantly in the extreme cold, signaling the deadly temperature.

Soft leather shoes or boots, originally of Native American design, worn here as cold-weather footwear in the Yukon wilderness.

A dark, heavy covering or cloud that spreads over something; here used to describe a gloomy, oppressive shadow hanging over the landscape.

In a commanding, dismissive way that allows no argument or delay; here describing how the man sharply orders or drives the dog forward.

The mind's ability to understand and interpret new experiences by connecting them to existing knowledge; used to highlight the dog's instinctive rather than reasoned awareness of danger.

Stuck out or jutted beyond a surrounding surface; here describing ice or flesh pushing outward from the skin due to freezing cold.

Dry, easily ignited material used to start a fire; the man carefully gathers and uses it as the first step in his desperate attempts to make a flame.

Past tense of 'smite'; struck hard or hit with force. Here used to describe the sharp, painful impact of the cold on exposed flesh.

A hidden or stored supply of food or goods kept for later use; here referring to a supply depot the man hopes to reach on his journey.

A large, destructive, and uncontrolled fire; used ironically here given the man's desperate struggle to produce even the smallest flame.

The loss of feeling or sensation in a part of the body, especially from cold; a central physical threat in the story as the man's extremities stop working.

A yellow chemical element used in making matches; the matches in this story have sulphur tips that the man struggles to ignite with his frozen hands.

A soft, moist mass applied to the body for warmth or healing; here used figuratively as the man considers pressing his freezing hands against his body for warmth.

Flinched or drew back sharply, usually from something frightening or painful; here describing the dog's instinctive shrinking away from the man or from danger.

Happened or followed as a result; used to describe events or conditions that came about after a particular action or moment.

Unusual or unfamiliar; not customary or expected. Here it describes a strange or uncharacteristic behavior or sensation that signals something is wrong.