A formal greeting; the words used to say hello to someone

📝 The letter began with warm salutations before delivering the good news.

📖 'Salutations!' said the voice. Wilbur jumped to his feet. 'Salu-what?' he cried.

Extraordinarily good; magnificent and impressive

📝 Everyone agreed the performance was absolutely terrific.

📖 'You're terrific as far as I'm concerned,' said Charlotte, 'and I shall save you.'

Growing weak and losing energy; suffering from lack of something needed

📝 The plant was languishing in the corner because it never received any sunlight.

📖 Wilbur was languishing in his pen, lonely and bored, with no one to talk to.

Dull and repetitive; never changing and therefore boring

📝 The long drive through flat farmland was monotonous and tiring.

📖 The days were monotonous — the same slop, the same pen, the same view of the barn door.

Extremely beautiful and delicate; of outstanding quality

📝 The jeweller showed them an exquisite necklace made of tiny pearls.

📖 Charlotte's web was exquisite — each thread placed with extraordinary care and skill.

Clever at achieving things through deception or skill; crafty

📝 The fox was cunning enough to avoid every trap the farmer had set.

📖 Charlotte was cunning as well as kind — she had already formed a plan to save Wilbur's life.

Feelings of guilt or unease about doing something wrong

📝 He had no compunctions about taking the last piece of cake.

📖 Charlotte had no compunctions about eating insects — it was simply the way she lived.

Able to do many different things; useful in many different ways

📝 A good chef is versatile and can cook dishes from any country.

📖 Charlotte was versatile — she could build a web, catch prey, and write words, all with equal skill.

Easily tricked or deceived; too ready to believe what others say

📝 He was so gullible that he believed every tall story his friends told him.

📖 Wilbur was gullible by nature — he trusted everyone and never suspected a trick.

A deep feeling of sympathy for others who are suffering, along with a desire to help

📝 She showed great compassion by sitting with the injured bird until help arrived.

📖 Charlotte's compassion for Wilbur was genuine — she could not bear the thought of him coming to harm.

Tending to sit still and be inactive; not moving around much

📝 The old cat had become sedentary and spent most of the day asleep on the sofa.

📖 Charlotte lived a largely sedentary life at the centre of her web, waiting patiently for what came to her.

Holding on very firmly; not giving up despite difficulty

📝 The tenacious climber refused to turn back even as the weather worsened.

📖 Charlotte was tenacious in her friendship — she had made a promise and she intended to keep it.