Key terms & definitions

An oil-based treatment that penetrates the timber surface, enhances its grain and offers some water resistance.

A surface treatment using heat and oil, such as linseed oil, to blacken steel and produce a matt, textured finish. The oil also provides a barrier against oxygen and water, helping to prevent rusting.

Coating a cooking surface with a thin, even layer of oil to help prevent food sticking.

The amount of oil extracted over a given period, often measured in barrels per day.

Estimated quantities of oil that can be recovered using existing technology under current economic conditions.

A memory aid for redox in terms of electrons: Oxidation Is Loss of electrons; Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

The quantity of oil available for sale over a given period.

The Tsarist secret police, which monitored, infiltrated and suppressed opposition movements.

Hebrew for ‘the world to come’; it can refer to life after death or the future Messianic Age.

A measure comparing older people with the working-age population. The ONS measure discussed here counts people of State Pension age per 1,000 people of working age.

A regular payment to an eligible elderly person. The 1908 Old Age Pensions Act introduced state-funded pensions for qualifying people aged 70 and over.

London’s major criminal court, where serious criminal cases were tried.

Long-standing Bolshevik Party members who had worked with Lenin before or during the 1917 Revolution.

An informal network of connections, traditionally between former male pupils of elite schools and universities, which can help members gain jobs, promotions and influence.

The Germanic language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons, which formed the foundation of the later English language.

Opponents of revivalism who defended established religious authority and more traditional worship.

James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James VII and II and the claimant supported by the Jacobites in 1715. His opponents called him the Old Pretender because they rejected his claim to the throne.

The first main division of the Christian Bible, containing writings about God’s relationship with Israel before Jesus Christ.

The sensory system that detects smells, including aromas released from food during chewing.

Government controlled by a relatively small group, often the wealthy or socially powerful.

Control of a country or organisation by a small group of powerful people, usually pursuing their own interests.

An independent investigator of complaints about unfair treatment or failures by organisations within their remit.

An event interpreted as a sign of what will happen in the future.

An event or sign interpreted as predicting something that will happen.

A divine sign interpreted as revealing the gods’ intentions or indicating what should happen next.

Signs interpreted as messages from the gods about whether a proposed action would succeed or receive divine approval.

A six-syllable mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, especially in Tibetan Buddhism.

The belief that God is all-loving and perfectly good.

The quality of being wholly good and all-loving.

All-loving; perfectly good and loving towards all creation.