Things Have Changed

Thurber modernizes an old story that everyone has read or heard. It has to do with a nefarious wolf who kept a vigil in an ominous forest until a little girl came along carrying a basket of food for her grandmother. With alacrity, this vivacious youngster told the wolf the address to which she was going. Hungry and gaunt, the wolf rushed to the house. Then the girl arrived and entered; she saw someone on the bed wearing a nightcap and a nightgown. While the figure was dressed like her grandmother, the little girl surmised with only a perfunctory glance that it didn’t have the old lady’s mien. She approached and became cognizant of the hirsute face of the wolf. She drew a revolver from her purse and shot the interloper dead. Thurber arrives at a moral for this story that anyone would find difficult to refute: It is not as easy to fool little girls nowadays as it used to be.

• nefarious
• vigil
• ominous
• alacrity
• vivacious
• gaunt
• surmise
• perfunctory
• mien
• cognizant
• hirsute
• interloper
• refute

Here are explanations and sample sentences for the words you provided:

Nefarious: This describes something that is wicked, evil, or criminal. It suggests a malicious intent or a deliberate act of wrongdoing.

• The villain’s nefarious plan involved stealing the crown jewels.
• The detective investigated the nefarious activities of the criminal organization.
• The dictator’s nefarious regime oppressed its citizens.

Vigil: This refers to a period of watchful attention, often for religious or ceremonial purposes. It suggests a prolonged period of observation or a state of alertness.

• The family held a vigil for the lost child.
• The soldiers kept a constant vigil during the war.
• The monks maintained a vigil throughout the night, chanting prayers.

Ominous: This describes something that suggests that something bad is going to happen. It creates a sense of foreboding or a feeling of impending danger.

• The ominous clouds gathering on the horizon signaled an approaching storm.
• The ominous silence in the room made her feel uneasy.
• The ominous prophecy foretold the downfall of the kingdom.

Alacrity: This refers to speed, eagerness, or enthusiasm. It suggests a willingness to act quickly or a readiness to do something.

• The students responded to the teacher’s request with alacrity.
• The athlete ran the race with alacrity, determined to win.
• The company welcomed the new employee with alacrity.

Vivacious: This describes someone who is lively, animated, and full of energy. It suggests a cheerful and spirited personality.

• The vivacious actress charmed the audience with her performance.
• The vivacious hostess kept the party lively with her jokes and stories.
• The vivacious child was always full of energy and enthusiasm.

Gaunt: This describes someone who is thin and bony, often due to illness or hunger. It suggests a lack of flesh or a skeletal appearance.

• The gaunt prisoner looked weak and exhausted.
• The artist’s gaunt features reflected her struggles.
• The famine left the people gaunt and emaciated.

Surmise: This means to guess or infer something based on incomplete information. It suggests a tentative conclusion or a reasoned assumption.

• I surmised that he was unhappy based on his somber expression.
• The detective surmised that the thief had an accomplice.
• The scientist surmised that the new drug could cure the disease.

Perfunctory: This describes something that is done in a routine or mechanical way, without much care or attention. It suggests a lack of enthusiasm or a casual approach.

• The waiter gave a perfunctory greeting to the customers.
• The politician delivered a perfunctory speech, lacking any genuine passion.
• The employee performed her tasks in a perfunctory manner, showing little interest.

Mien: This refers to a person’s appearance, manner, or bearing. It suggests the way someone presents themselves to the world.

• The queen’s regal mien commanded respect.
• The athlete’s confident mien inspired his teammates.
• The artist’s somber mien reflected her inner turmoil.

Cognizant: This means to be aware of or to understand something. It suggests a knowledge or a conscious awareness of something.

• The driver was cognizant of the speed limit.
• The students were cognizant of the importance of their studies.
• The company was cognizant of the environmental impact of its operations.

Hirsute: This describes someone who is hairy or covered in hair. It suggests a thick growth of hair or a hairy appearance.

• The hirsute man had a long, flowing beard.
• The hirsute dog shed its fur all over the house.
• The hirsute mountain climber was covered in a thick layer of hair.

Interloper: This refers to someone who intrudes or interferes in a place or situation where they are not welcome. It suggests an outsider or an unwelcome guest.

• The interloper was caught trying to steal the jewels.
• The interloper disrupted the meeting with his unwelcome comments.
• The interloper was forced to leave the party.

Refute: This means to prove something wrong or false. It suggests a challenge to a claim or an argument.

• The scientist refuted the theory with evidence from her research.
• The lawyer refuted the accusations against her client.
• The historian refuted the myth with historical facts.

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The Ominous Vigil

In a small, secluded village, there was a nefarious plot brewing under the cover of darkness. The villagers maintained a constant vigil, aware of the ominous signs that something terrible was about to unfold. Despite the danger, a group of vivacious youths approached the situation with alacrity, determined to uncover the truth.

Among them was a gaunt young man named Elias, whose sharp mind allowed him to surmise the intentions of the shadowy figures lurking in the village. His observations were never perfunctory; he paid close attention to every detail, noting the mien of each stranger. Elias was cognizant of the risks, but his curiosity drove him forward.

One night, while on patrol, Elias encountered a hirsute interloper attempting to sneak into the village. The stranger’s appearance was wild and unkempt, but Elias remained calm. He confronted the interloper and demanded answers. The stranger tried to refute Elias’s accusations, but the evidence was clear.

With the help of his friends, Elias exposed the nefarious plot and saved the village from impending doom. Their bravery and quick thinking turned the tide, and the village celebrated their heroes. The ominous days were over, and peace was restored, thanks to the unwavering vigil of the vivacious youths.