Chandra's Wars — Vocabulary
Allan Stratton
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Exemplary sample Uses Broad Use
5 top 1000
cowercowercowered:showed fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit
She cowered in fear.more
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I see them cowering in the doorway.†4 more
cowercowering:showing fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit
Show general definition show fear by positioning the body as though afraid of being hit
4 top 1000
commotiondisturbance
I looked up to see what caused the commotion.more
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Inside, there's a commotion in the kids' room.†3 more
noisy disturbance
Show general definition a disturbance -- typically noisy
2 top 200
conflictstruggle
Violent conflict has broken out again in the Middle East.more
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It makes it possible for us to imagine the faces of real children caught and trampled by the scourge of war in so many recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa.†1 more
conflictconflicts:struggles or disagreements
Show general definition a struggle or disagreement
in various senses, including:
  • a serious disagreement -- as in "political conflict"
  • the tension from two opposing ideas or feelings -- as in "I'm conflicted about where I should go to college."
  • a violent fight or war -- as in "the Israeli-Palestinian conflict"
  • an idiom that refers to tension between responsibilities to different entities -- "conflict of interest"
3 top 1000
furtivedone in a way that attempts to avoid notice
Despite her attempt to look interested, her teacher did not miss her furtive glances at the clock.more
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Furtive glances through the crowd.†2 more
taking pains to avoid being observed; OR in a manner indicating nervousness
Show general definition taking pains to avoid being observed

or:

in a manner indicating nervousness (being cautious or appearing suspicious)
4 top 2000
fidgetfidgetfidgeting:making small restless movements
The child is always fidgeting in his seatmore
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He loses concentration and fidgets.†3 more
fidgetfidgets:makes small restless movements
Show general definition to make small restless movements
4 top 2000
rouserouseroused:awakened
A persistent knocking at the door finally roused her from her dreams.more
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Only this time when the children went to get her, their cries roused the Tafas, who thought we had robbers.†3 more
rouseroused:to awaken, make more active, or excite
Show general definition to awaken, make more active, or excite
3 top 1000
tauntintentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone
She used Twitter to taunt the opposing candidate.more
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"We didn't run off," Iris taunts.†2 more
taunttaunts:(verb) intentionally angers, challenges, or upsets someone  OR  (noun) insults or other actions intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
Show general definition to intentionally anger, challenge, or upset someone -- especially by mocking them or hurling insults

or (as a noun): an insult or other action intended to anger, challenge, or upset someone
3 top 1000
coaxgently persuade
Although she has retired from public life, we are going to try to coax her to accept the award.more
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They coax the truth out of me, like Mama's.†2 more
try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort
Show general definition for coax (as in: coax her to join us) try to obtain a result through gentle and careful effort -- often gentle persuasion
2 top 1000
debrisscattered wreckage
After the storm, the yard was covered with debris from broken branches.more
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It's strewn with debris.†1 more
pieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around
Show general definition pieces of something that has been destroyed; or trash that is lying around
3 top 2000
pactagreement
The two countries signed a non-aggression pact.more
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Turning the page, I see the headline "National pact with Ngala."†2 more
an agreement between parties
Show general definition an agreement between parties
3 top 2000
hobbledwalked with difficulty
After injuring her ankle, she hobbled between classes.more
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She hobbles to get them.†2 more
hobbledhobbles:walks with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment)  OR  hinders (made the action or progress of something difficult)
Show general definition for hobbled (as in: she hobbled up the hill) walked with difficulty (due to injury or physical impediment)

or:

hindered (made the action or progress of something difficult)
2 top 1000
bewilderconfuse
Some of their customs can bewilder travelers.more
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I glance from face to face, utterly bewildered.†1 more
bewilderbewildered:confused
Show general definition to confuse someone
2 top 2000
interrogatequestion intensely
The detective began to interrogate the suspect about his whereabouts that night.more
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There's a guard watching an old TV in a lounge opposite my interrogation room.†1 more
interrogateinterrogation:the process of asking a series of questions of someone
Show general definition ask a series of questions of someone -- typically asked by law enforcement officials or by someone in an aggressive manner
2 top 2000
talontalontalons:sharp hooked claws
Bald eagle talons can measure as long as two inches.more
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Talons and beaks etched sharp against the sky.†1 more
Show general definition a sharp hooked claw -- especially on a bird of prey
3
dowrymoney or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage
She was given her inheritance in the form of a dowry.more
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No girls to need dowry.†2 more
in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at…
Show general definition in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage

or less formally: money or property a bride brings to a marriage
1 top 200
invokeinvokeinvokes:calls upon
Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God. Each invokes God's aid against the other.Abraham Lincoln (Second Inaugural Address)more
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As the eldest male present—Grampa is indoors sleeping—Uncle Chisulo delivers a formal greeting and invokes the ancestors, praying that our meeting and celebration will be a blessing to all.†
Show general definition to call upon
The exact meaning of invoke can depend upon its context. For example:
  • "invoking God's help"; or "invoking the spirit of the dead" -- to call upon a great or magical power
  • "I invoke the First Amendment"; or "I invoke the words of Thomas Jefferson" -- to cite or call upon for validation
  • "She invoked his sympathy and family memories." -- to call upon someone's feelings or memories
  • "She invoked his assistance." -- to call earnestly for
  • "The program invokes the subroutine" -- to call up a computer program
1 top 1000
recuperaterecuperaterecuperating:regaining health
The patient is recuperating.more
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Mr. Lesole recuperates by stretching his lower back, while Soly and Iris prepare for the next adventure: Hyena Hideaway.†
recuperaterecuperates:regains health or strength
Show general definition to regain good health or strength
1
decoysomething used to trick or deceive
The thieves used a fake emergency call as a decoy to draw the security guard away from the vault.more
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He uses them as slaves, decoys, human shields.†
decoydecoys:someone or something used for trickery -- especially to lure
Show general definition someone or something used for trickery -- especially to lure
1
strifebitter conflict
Years of strife between the two families finally ended with a peaceful agreement.more
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Children and youth are forcibly recruited for combat in strife-torn regions of Africa, as they have been, and continue to be, in conflicts around the world.†
violent conflict or angry disagreement
Show general definition violent conflict or angry disagreement
1
indebtedgrateful
I am forever indebted to the stranger who saved my life that day.more
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I am also indebted to the wide range of materials available from Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, CARE, Defence for Children International, the Children's Institute, médecins sans frontiers, Amnesty International, War Child, and other NGOs.†
to be grateful for a favor; OR  to owe money…
Show general definition to be grateful for a favor; or to owe money; or to be in the position of owing a debt of gratitude