VOCABULARY LIST 8
SABOTEUR
 Noun
 Definition: some one who commits sabotage
 Story sentence: “’…how the train to Qual would be
blown up by saboteurs” (38).
RECEDE
 Verb
 Definition: To grow or move back from a point
 Story sentence: “Every now and then …onion could see
the pointy roofs of the wizards’ towers leaning against
the sky as if they were waiting for him… and then the
towers would recede, and he would go with them” (38).
PALLET
 Noun
 Definition: a makeshift bed
 Story sentence : "there was a pallet of reeds and
mothy wool blankets"(p.40).
RECOIL
 Verb
 Definition: suddenly spring or flinch back in fear,
horror, or disgust.
 story sentence : "{A white bird) flung itself at the
door where Halsa stood, peering in. She
recoiled"(p.42).
 My sentence : Bob recoiled at the stench of the
landfill
CONSCRIPT
 verb
 Definition: To draft for military or naval service.
 Story sentence: ”He hasn’t paid his army in 2 years.
When they rebel, he just conscripts another army
and sends them off to fight the first one”
 My sentence: Efforts to conscript an army out of a
small population had failed.
PARSIMONIOUS
 Adjective
 Characterized by or showing greed; frugal or stingy.
 Story sentence: ”wizards are sly, greedy,
absentminded, obsessed with stars and bugs,
parsimonious , frivolous, invisible, tyrannous,
untrustworthy, secretive, inquisitive, meddlesome,
long-lived, dangerous useless, and have far too
good an opinion of themselves.”
 My sentence: He was too parsimonious to buy the
watermelons.
SMUG
 Adjective
 Definition: having or showing an excessive pride in
oneself or one's achievements.
 Story sentence: “’oh stop yelling. Go away. How am
I supposed to stop a train?’ Onion said… Halsa
looked smug” (52).
 My sentence: After getting an A on my math test I
looked smug.
CAPITULATE
 Verb
 Definition: to surrender unconditionally
 Story sentence: “’something bad is going to
happen,’ Onion said, capitulating”(52).
 My sentence: If Henry does not capitulate and turn
himself in to authorities, he will spend the rest of
his life running.
WISTFUL
 Adjective
 Definition: characterized by melancholy; longing;
yearning.
 Story sentence: “Halsa shook off a last, wistful
regret, almost sorry not to have been eaten” (58 ).
 My sentence: After the passing of his grandma, the
boy’s wistful attitude was seen more often by all of
his friends and family.
TREACHERY
 Noun
 Definition: violation of faith; betrayal of trust; treason
 Story sentence: “There were other stories, sad stories
about long ago wizards who had fought great battles or
gone on long journeys. Wizards who had perished by
treachery or been imprisoned by ones they thought
friends” (58).
 My sentence: Betrayal of your country is the highest
form of treachery.
SUBDUED
 Adjective
 Meaning: dispirited or gloomy; quiet and rather reflective .
 Story Sentence: "The women from the town had brought food
and bedding. They seemed subdued and anxious, and it was
hard to tell whether it was the approaching army or wizards of
Perfil that scared them most"(67).
 My Sentence: I was subdued after my dog died because I was
very sad.
ACCURSED
 Adjective
 Meaning: used to express strong dislike of or anger towards
someone or something; wicked.
 Story Sentence: "There were a lot of stairs this time. Of
course the accursed wizards of Perfil would know what she
was up to. This was their favorite kind of wizardly joke,
making her climb and climb and climb” (70).
 My Sentence: The accursed man was put in jail because he
committed crimes.