Vocabulary for Teachers and Parents
Here is a list of words that you might want to discuss with your kids before they read each chapter. Some of the younger readers may have difficulty with some of the terms. Make it a learning experience – expand their vocabulary.
Chapter 1
Envious
Full of, feeling, or expressing envy.
Ruthless
Without pity or compassion; cruel; merciless.
Bickered
To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble.
Maneuvers
An act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc., as required.
Rivalry
The action, position, or relation of a rival or rivals; competition.
Chapter 2
Confection
A sweet preparation of fruit or the like, as a preserve or candy.
Gingerly
With great care or caution; warily.
Sarcastically
Of, pertaining to, or characterized by sarcasm.
Daschund
A short-legged, elongated dog breed of the hound family. The breed's name is German and literally means "badger dog."
Aroma
An odor arising from spices, plants, cooking, etc., esp. an agreeable odor; fragrance.
Chapter 3
Zombie
The body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.
Architecture
The profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Architecture often includes design or selection of furnishings and decorations, supervision of construction work, and the examination, restoration, or remodeling of existing buildings.
Reluctantly
Unwilling; disinclined.
Subtle
Delicate or faint and mysterious: a subtle smile.
Chapter 4
Conquistador
A conqueror, especially one of the 16th-century Spanish soldiers who defeated the Indian civilizations of Mexico, Central America, or Peru.
Navigator
Person who practices, or is skilled in, navigation, as of ships or aircraft.
Medieval
Of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or in the style of the Middle Ages.
Coquina
A soft, whitish rock made up of fragments of marine shells and coral, used as a building material.
Artifacts
An object produced or shaped by human craft, especially a tool, weapon, or ornament of archaeological or historical interest.
Chapter 5
Manicured
Well groomed.
Icabod Crane
A fictional character in Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", first published in 1820.
Nonchalant
Coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual.
Enthusiastically
Full of or characterized by enthusiasm; ardent.
Rationalized
To remove unreasonable elements from.
Composure
Serene, self-controlled state of mind; calmness; tranquillity
Contraption
A mechanical contrivance; gadget; device.
Ingenious
Characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.
Chapter 6
Hibiscus
Any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.
Loped
To move or run with bounding steps, as a quadruped, or with a long, easy stride, as a person.
Chapter 7
Animated
Full of life, action, or spirit; lively; vigorous.
Chapter 8
Rummaged
To search thoroughly or actively through (a place, receptacle, etc.), esp. by moving around, turning over, or looking through contents.
Tiara
A jeweled, ornamental coronet worn by women.
Champagne
The sparkling, dry, white table wine from the region of Champagne in France.
Mademoiselle
Used as a courtesy title before the surname or full name of a girl or an unmarried woman in a French-speaking area.
Offensive
Causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying.
Banished
To force to leave a country or place by official decree; exile.
Chapter 10
Stumped
To cause to be at a loss; baffle.
Suspicious
Tending to cause or excite suspicion; questionable.
Minorcan
A Spanish island in the Balearics of the western Mediterranean Sea. Held by the British and the French at various times during the 18th century, it was a Loyalist stronghold in the Spanish Civil War.
Chapter 11
Gazebo
A structure, as an open or latticework pavilion or summerhouse, built on a site that provides an attractive view.
Huguenot
A member of the Reformed or Calvinistic communion of France in the 16th and 17th centuries; a French Protestant.
Gloating
To feel or express great, often malicious, pleasure or self-satisfaction.
Chapter 13
Kook
An eccentric, strange, or foolish person.
Snippets
A bit, scrap, or morsel.
Prickle
A sharp point.
Eccentric
Deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd.
Reclusive
A person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation.
Chapter 14
Anticipated
To realize beforehand; foretaste or foresee.
Dawdling
To waste time; idle; trifle; loiter.
Smug
Contentedly confident of one's ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent.
Chapter 15
Proofread
To read (printers' proofs, copy, etc.) in order to detect and mark errors to be corrected.
Pathetic
Causing or evoking pity, sympathetic sadness, sorrow, etc.; pitiful; pitiable.
Pulitzer Prize
One of a group of annual prizes in journalism, literature, music, etc., established by Joseph Pulitzer: administered by Columbia University; first awarded 1917.
Nobel Prize
Any of various awards made annually, beginning in 1901, from funds originally established by Alfred B. Nobel for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature, and the promotion of peace; an annual award in economics was established in 1969 from private funds.
Chapter 18
Enterprising
Ready to undertake projects of importance or difficulty, or untried schemes; energetic in carrying out any undertaking.
Intrigue
To arouse the curiosity or interest of by unusual, new, or otherwise fascinating or compelling qualities; appeal strongly to; captivate.
Chapter 20
Promenade
A stroll or walk, esp. in a public place, as for pleasure or display.
Liability
Moneys owed; debts or pecuniary obligations.
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