Guns, Germs, and Steel

Guns, Germs, and Steel Glossary

binge

a short period devoted to indulging, for example in drinking alcohol

decimate

kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of people

density

the degree of compactness of a substance

disparity

a great difference

dispossess

deprive someone of something that they own, typically land or property

edible

fit to be eaten

egalitarian

a principle based on the belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable

illiterate

unable to read or write

industrialization

the process of moving resources into the industrial sector. This is common in the early stages of economic development, when resources move out of primary production

intent

purpose

nomadic

migratory

pharaoh

a ruler in ancient Egypt

plague

a disease that spreads rapidly and kills many people

precipitate

cause to happen suddenly, unexpectedly

prerequisite

a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist

proximate

closest in relationship

ransom

a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner

shorthand

a method of rapid writing by means of abbreviations and symbols, used esp. for taking dictation

tremendous

very great in amount

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