Vocabulary

In the book Catching Fire, written by Suzanne Collins there is a lot of interesting scenes with lots of different types of scenes.  Although, I didn't understand some of the words that were put in this book.  When traveling to the different Districts, the word slog is used when it says, " We slog back to the train in silence" (Collins 45).  I thought this word men't waling slowly or drunkenly.  When I looked this word up it actually men't to walk or plod heavily, which was basically the same as what I had thought.  Another confusing word was Preliminary when it said, "What do they do?  Have preliminary drawings?" (Collins 56).  I thought preliminary men't a random or un chosen vote, when this actually men't proceeding and leading up to a pre- chosen vote.  I didn't quite understand the correct meaning of this word, while being the complete opposit of the true meaning..