peril
The tone surrounding the perils seems playful, because the example sentence is about a game between a father and son. But chess is often used as a metaphor for life. Thus, the scene is also a foreshadowing of unhappy events. In both chess and life, the father takes unnecessary risks that put him in conflict with a larger force (game strategies or fate--both of which predetermine movement). And in both cases, he loses.
Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.
fatal
The adjective also means "bringing death." This is suggested as a foreshadowing, but in the example sentence, the fatal mistake leads to the capture of the king. Another pun is suggested by the theme of the story and the spelling of the word: "fatal" also means "controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined."
"Hark at the wind," said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.
condole
In the example sentence, the verb is used in exaggeration to create a humorous moment (that foreshadows and contrasts with a later scene). What the two men are condoling with each other about is the cold and wet weather that the new arrival had to travel through. They condole so much that the lady of the house disapproves with a "Tut, tut!" and a gentle cough.
The old man rose with hospitable haste, and opening the door, was heard condoling with the new arrival.
grimace
Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.
sorrow
He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow.
grave
As an adjective, the word also means "causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm." As a noun, the word refers to "a place for the burial of a corpse." All three meanings are suggested by the monkey's paw, but the chosen definition is the best fit for the example sentence because the serious tones of the soldier's voice affect the happy mood of the gathering.
His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.
solemnly
"Better let it burn," said the soldier, solemnly.
consequence
"Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud," said the sergeant-major, "but I warn you of the consequences."
talisman
The definition makes a talisman sound like a helpful thing, but the Greek roots of the word hint that this magic comes with a price: "telesma" means "religious rite, payment."
Her husband drew the talisman from his pocket, and then all three burst into laughter as the sergeant-major, with a look of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm.
malign
Although the words "maligned" and "armed" sound harmful, the example sentence describes a playful scene between mother and son. The son had just insulted the mother, so she chases him around the table with a piece of cloth. This characterization of their relationship serves to deepen the grief and desperation of the mother later on.
He darted round the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar.
dubiously
Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously.
credulity
Compare with the previous word and example sentence. The adjectives "dubious" and "credulous" can be antonyms. Mr. White should've kept his dubious manner and original outlook on his life ("It seems to me I've got all I want"). Instead, he shamefully gives in to a credulous desire to make a wish magically come true.
His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords.
simian
The word can function as both an adjective and a noun. The title of the story could be "The Simian's Paw" and the description here can be rewritten as "the last face was so horrible and so monkey-like..." But these changes would not fit the intended tones and rhythms, since "monkey" sounds cute, while the sibilant sound of "simian" is sinister.
The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement.
betoken
The "prosaic wholesomeness" (dull or ordinary quality of being good, healthy and moral) of the room betokens the nature of the family's life before they came into possession of the monkey's paw. In contrast, the monkey's paw is "dirty, shrivelled" which betokens its unwholesome nature. Although the monkey's paw is temporarily cast aside, its position on a piece of dining room furniture (instead of in the fire) betokens how it would ruin the Whites.
There was an air of prosaic wholesomeness about the room which it had lacked on the previous night, and the dirty, shrivelled little paw was pitched on the sideboard with a carelessness which betokened no great belief in its virtues.
coincidence
"Morris said the things happened so naturally," said his father, "that you might if you so wished attribute it to coincidence."
avaricious
"I'm afraid it'll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we shall have to disown you."
sinister
She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's averted face.
sympathy
"The firm wished me to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss," he said, without looking round.
inaudible
There was no reply; the old woman's face was white, her eyes staring, and her breath inaudible; on the husband's face was a look such as his friend the sergeant might have carried into his first action.
compensation
"They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."
resignation
Apathy is "an absence of emotion or enthusiasm" and is often associated with younger people who don't care to explore the world around them. Resignation (as used here and not in its more common meaning of giving up an office, claim, or possession) is often associated with older people because it comes from seeing too much of the world's woes and realizing that the only way out is death.
But the days passed, and expectation gave place to resignation—the hopeless resignation of the old, sometimes miscalled, apathy.
subdued
The room was in darkness, and the sound of subdued weeping came from the window.
aghast
"Good God, you are mad!" he cried, aghast.
mutilated
The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door.
falter
"It is foolish and wicked," he faltered.
expire
As the definition shows, the word can connect to death (it can also be a synonym for "exhale" which connects to breathing). Here, the expiration of the candle can represent the end of the hope that the monkey's paw can bring the son back. It could also foreshadow a person's death. In this case, it could've been the death of the mother at the hands of her resurrected son. But the father prevents that with his final wish (so indirectly and directly, he is responsible for his son expiring twice).
The candle-end, which had burned below the rim of the china candlestick, was throwing pulsating shadows on the ceiling and walls, until, with a flicker larger than the rest, it expired.
oppressive
The darkness was oppressive, and after lying for some time screwing up his courage, he took the box of matches, and striking one, went downstairs for a candle.
stealthy
At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock, so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door.
fusillade
Here, the fusillade is not literally rapid gunfire, but the use of the word suggests the dangerous nature of the one doing the knocking. It also connects to the soldier, who had been in wars, experienced the harmful effects of the monkey's paw, and warned the father against using it.
A perfect fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house, and he heard the scraping of a chair as his wife put it down in the passage against the door.
frantically
He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey's paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.
