Number the Stars — Vocabulary
Lois Lowry
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
3 top 500
exasperatedgreatly annoyed
She was exasperated by his teasing.more
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Mama followed her with an exasperated look and set a package down on the table.†p.28.12 more
Show general definition greatly annoyed
2 top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more
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He laughed scornfully.†p.47.31 more
scorn → scornfully:in a disrespectful or rejecting manner
Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
2 top 1000
solemnvery serious
He took a solemn oath.more
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Thinking of Lise, her solemn, lovely sister, always made her sad.†p.13.21 more
very serious--possibly dignified
Show general definition in a very serious (and often dignified) manner
2 top 1000
wryhumorous in an subtle, ironic, or cynical way
The old woman gave a wry smile, as if she knew something that I didn't.more
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He smiled wryly.†p.77.91 more
wry → wryly:humor
Show general definition humor -- often understated, sarcastic, or ironic -- often expressed by twisting the face
2 top 1000
rationration → rationed:restricted in the amount each person could have
Gasoline was rationed during the 1970s oil embargo.more
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Mama used it too, sometimes, for cooking, because electricity was rationed now.†p.18.91 more
Show general definition a fixed share of something, especially scarce goods like food or fuel; or to limit and distribute something in fixed shares
2 top 2000
tormenttorment → tormenting:causing great mental or physical suffering
She enjoys tormenting others.†more
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It is their way of tormenting.†p.24.11 more
Show general definition to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
2 top 2000
sulkto overly indulge in being unhappy and unsociable
She was disappointed and retreated to her room to sulk.more
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But Mama had been firm, and finally Kirsti, sulking, had trudged upstairs with her dolls under one arm and the kitten under the other.†p.78.51 more
sulk → sulking:overly unhappy and unsociable
Show general definition to be overly unhappy and unsociable -- often due to disappointment or a sense of not getting what was deserved
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disdainlack of respect
She tries to be polite, but she cannot hide her disdain for authority.more
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She took her new shoes, holding them disdainfully, and put them on a chair.†p.29.8
disdain → disdainfully:with a lack of respect; or with a sense of superiority
Show general definition to disrespect or reject as unworthy
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tentativetentative → tentatively:in a careful way (indicating a lack of confidence)
The puppy approached us tentatively until it knew we wouldn't harm it.more
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Ellen and Annemarie both smiled tentatively.p.50.8
tentative → tentatively:in an unsure or hesitant manner
Show general definition for tentative (as in: said it tentatively) done in a careful or unsure way (indicating a lack of confidence in exactly what will happen)
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dubiousquestionable or unreliable
The theory is based on dubious evidence that hasn’t been verified.more
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Kirsti asked dubiously.†p.34.8
dubious → dubiously:doubtfully or suspiciously
Show general definition doubtful, questionable, or suspicious -- especially in a way that makes something seem unreliable, improper, or uncertain

doubtful
in various senses, including:
  • questionable or doubtful that something should be relied upon -- as in "The argument relies on a dubious assumption."
  • suspicious or doubtful that something is morally proper -- as in "The company is accused of using dubious sales practices to influence minors."
  • bad or of questionable value -- as in "The state has the dubious distinction of the highest taxes."
  • uncertain or doubtful -- as in "She is dubious about making the change."
1 top 500
congregationpeople who worship together in the same building
It's a casual congregation where many people wander into services late.more
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This morning, at the synagogue, the rabbi told his congregation that the Nazis have taken the synagogue lists of all the Jews.†p.35.8
Show general definition for congregation (as in: the congregation voted) people who worship together in the same building
1 top 500
warydistrustful
She was taught to be wary of strangers.more
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But the noise from Blossom, forgotten, unmilked, uncomfortable, in the barn, had sent Annemarie warily out with the milking bucket.†p.120.9
wary → warily:in a nervous or distrustful manner
Show general definition careful or nervous about something
1 top 1000
distortalter in an unnatural or untrue way
These sunglasses distort my vision.more
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One of them had something stuck in his teeth; he probed with his tongue and distorted his own face.†p.55.2
distort → distorted:altered in an unnatural or untrue way
Show general definition to alter something in an unnatural or untrue way
1 top 500
waverwaver → wavered:faltered (stopped being strong)
Through good times and bad her love for him has never wavered.more
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"Lise Margrete," he read finally, and stared at Ellen for a long, unwavering moment.†p.48.8
waver → unwavering:steady
Show context notes The prefix "un-" in unwavering means not and reverses the meaning of wavering. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
Show general definition to move back and forth (shake or quiver)

or:

to change, be unsure, or weak
3
synagoguesynagogue → synagogues:Jewish houses of worship
They were arrested for planning to bomb a series of synagogues.more
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Leaving for school on Thursday with her sister, Annemarie saw the Rosens walking to the synagogue early in the morning, dressed in their best clothes.†p.33.52 more
a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
Show general definition a place of worship for a people of the Jewish faith
1 top 500
condescendingacting superior
She gave me that condescending look as though I wasn't worthy to ask her a question.more
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"Poor Great-aunt Birte," he said, in a condescending voice.†p.84.9
treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
Show general definition treating others as inferior; or doing something considered beneath one's position or dignity
1 top 500
haughtyarrogant or condescending (acting superior or self-important)
It is a story about a haughty princess who has a great fall.more
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Kirsti said haughtily from the bedroom doorway.†p.19.8
haughty → haughtily:condescendingly (in a superior or self-important way)
1 top 2000
brusqueabrupt (not taking the time to be friendly)
She is known for her brusque manner and brief meetings.more
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The local doctor was an old man, brusque and businesslike, though with kind eyes.†p.110.7
abrupt
Show general definition abrupt (sudden and quick -- without taking the time to be friendly)
1 top 2000
insolentrudely disrespectful
Even though the officer remained calm, the driver continued to be insolent and uncooperative.more
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"You know we have no meat," she said insolently.†p.116.1
insolent → insolently:with rude disrespect
Show general definition rudely disrespectful -- especially toward someone in authority
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obstinatestubbornly not doing what others want
She is an obstinate child who will not follow the family rules.more
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Stand still, Kirsti, Annemarie ordered silently, praying that somehow the obstinate five-year-old would receive the message.†p.4.8