Slimeantics #14

APPLE

In a sentence:

• Mia bit into a crisp red apple and tasted its sweet juice.
• The farmer picked each ripe apple from the branch and placed it gently in a crate.

HARVEST

Also accepted: REAPING

Close, for fewer points: HARVESTING, PRODUCE

• YIELD: Yield is the amount gathered, rather than the act of gathering.

In a sentence:

• In autumn, the whole village celebrates the harvest when farmers gather the ripe pumpkins and corn.
• The cold weather came early, so the harvest was smaller this year.

GLIMMER

Also accepted: SHIMMER, TWINKLE, GLEAM, GLISTEN

Close, for fewer points: FLASH, GLITTER, WINK, SPARKLE

• GLOW: Glow need not waver; a glint is usually a brief, sharper flash.
• GLINT: Glow need not waver; a glint is usually a brief, sharper flash.
• FLICKER: A flicker can be an abrupt change in brightness rather than a faint wavering shine.

In a sentence:

• Stars began to glimmer faintly in the sky as dusk settled.
• A candle will glimmer in the window to welcome travelers home.

OMINOUS

Also accepted: MENACING, THREATENING, SINISTER, FOREBODING, BALEFUL, INAUSPICIOUS, FORBIDDING, UNPROMISING

Close, for fewer points: GRIM, DIRE, GLOOMY, SCARY, EERIE, BLEAK, PORTENTOUS

• DARK: Dark has many meanings and need not suggest impending trouble.

In a sentence:

• Dark, ominous clouds rolled in, and we felt a storm was on its way.
• An ominous silence fell over the forest, as if something bad was about to happen.

ZEALOUS

Also accepted: PASSIONATE, FANATICAL, AVID, FERVID, DEDICATED, COMMITTED, ENTHUSIASTIC, INTENSE, EARNEST, MILITANT, RABID, FIERY, ENERGETIC

Close, for fewer points: DILIGENT, DRIVEN, VIGOROUS, TIRELESS, OBSESSIVE, EXTREME, WHOLEHEARTED, FERVENT, ARDENT

• EAGER: These need not imply devotion to a cause.
• KEEN: These need not imply devotion to a cause.

In a sentence:

• The zealous volunteer worked day and night for the cause, fired up with devotion.
• The zealous fans painted their faces and cheered at every game, showing great passion for their team.

LUGUBRIOUS

Also accepted: MOURNFUL, GLOOMY, DISMAL, DOLEFUL, SOMBER, MELANCHOLY, MELANCHOLIC, WOEFUL, SOMBRE, FUNEREAL, GLUM, DOUR, WOEBEGONE

Close, for fewer points: DREARY, SOLEMN, GRAVE, SERIOUS, TEARFUL, DEPRESSING, MOROSE

• SAD: Sadness need not be as deep or outwardly expressed as in this clue.

In a sentence:

• The lugubrious dog had droopy eyes and a sad howl, as if it mourned the whole world.
• He gave a lugubrious sigh and spoke in a sorrowful tone about the lost kitten.

GONGOOZLER

Close, for fewer points:

• SPECTATOR: These do not specifically mean watching boats on a canal.
• ONLOOKER: These do not specifically mean watching boats on a canal.
• OBSERVER: These do not specifically mean watching boats on a canal.
• IDLER: These do not specifically mean watching boats on a canal.
• WATCHER: These do not specifically mean watching boats on a canal.

In a sentence:

• The gongoozler leaned on the bridge for an hour, idly watching boats drift through the canal.
• A friendly gongoozler waved at the barge captain as it chugged slowly by.