A Long Way from Chicago: 1931–1933

by Richard Peck
During the Great Depression, Joey and Mary Alice Dowdel spend summers with their eccentric and adventurous grandmother.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–1930, 1931–1933, 1934–1942
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. skittish
    unpredictably excitable, especially of horses
    Mary Alice was still skittish about the old snaggle-toothed tomcat in the cobhouse.
  2. mirage
    something illusory and unattainable
    But they were like a mirage that keeps its distance.
  3. stagnant
    not circulating or flowing
    Dragonflies skated over the scum on the stagnant backwater.
  4. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    Then I got the scare of my life. A low limb writhed and looped.
  5. relentless
    never-ceasing
    "Then she hauled off and flung it way out in the water," Mary Alice went on relentlessly. "Grandma's something with snakes. You should have seen."
  6. stifle
    smother or suppress
    Grandma stifled a rare smile.
  7. suspect
    imagine to be the case or true or probable
    I suspected she had no high opinion of the bravery of the male sex, and I hadn't done anything to change her mind.
  8. contraption
    a small mechanical device or tool
    In the bottom of the boat was a wire-and-net contraption that expanded as she filled it with wiggling fish.
  9. ramshackle
    in poor or broken-down condition
    Through the undergrowth we saw a ramshackle building on the far bank.
  10. grisly
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    It was a grisly sight, and Mary Alice's eyes bugged.
  11. prim
    affectedly dainty or refined
    "They're not acting right," she said, very prim.
  12. bluff
    a high steep bank
    We tied up there, and now we were out of the boat, climbing a bluff.
  13. larder
    a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
    And we'd brought a full hamper to add to Aunt Puss's larder.
  14. spry
    moving quickly and lightly
    Aunt Puss was already at her place, so she was spryer than she looked.
  15. dawdle
    take one's time; proceed slowly
    "Well, don't dawdle. You dawdle, and I've spoken to you about that before. Get on out of here," Aunt Puss hollered.
  16. larceny
    the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
    That's what we call larceny, Mrs. Dowdel.
  17. posse
    a temporary police force
    The sheriff and his posse were in retreat now.
  18. morsel
    a small amount of solid food; a mouthful
    The drifters had wolfed down the last morsel. With a small finger, Mary Alice pointed out the bare platters.
  19. influence
    a cognitive factor tending to have an effect on what you do
    "I don't think Grandma's a very good influence on us," Mary Alice said.
  20. reconcile
    come to terms
    It had taken her a while to come to that conclusion, and I had to agree. It reconciled us some to our trips to visit her.
  21. recommence
    cause to start anew
    "As you recall," Mrs. Weidenbach said, "my bread-and-butter pickles have taken the blue ribbon every year since the fair recommenced after the Great War."
  22. benediction
    the act of praying for divine protection
    She waved a hand in benediction over us. "And there'll be plenty of room for your grand kiddies."
  23. gritty
    composed of or covered with small particles
    Some pies were still too sour, others gritty with too much sugar.
  24. galleon
    a large square-rigged sailing ship with three or more masts
    Then Grandma sailed like a galleon into the front room, striking us dumb.
  25. glare
    look at with a fixed or angry gaze
    She glared, daring us to pay her a compliment.
  26. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    Mary Alice stared up at her, transfixed.
  27. repeal
    cancel officially
    Prohibition was about to be repealed, but the Temperance people had another big tent, offering ice water inside and a stage out front with a quartet performing.
  28. wily
    marked by skill in deception
    Any minute now Mr. Buchanan is going to show us his stuff by putting his machine through the same maneuvers he used in the Great War against the wily Hun.
  29. gratis
    costing nothing
    To every blue ribbon winner, Mr. Buchanan will give a ride in his plane gratis.
  30. avert
    turn away or aside
    Mrs. Weidenbach averted her eyes as we passed Pickled Products.
  31. competition
    the challenger or contestant you hope to defeat
    Grandma started at the other end of the table, casting an eye over the competition.
  32. sweltering
    excessively hot and humid; marked by sweating and faintness
    The judging went on forever, but nobody left the sweltering tent.
  33. celestial
    relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
    The heavens opened. I thought I heard celestial music.
  34. tremble
    move quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
    Somehow I was up in the front seat of the plane, buckling myself in with trembling hands.
  35. poise
    great coolness and composure under strain
    Though Mary Alice was getting a little too leggy to be a child star, Mother said taking tap would give her poise.
  36. confounded
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    "You done paid her before she worked out her day?" Miz Eubanks was confounded.
  37. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    The sun hadn't been up long, and the morning glories were just beginning to unfurl.
  38. lurk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    Mary Alice and I lurked near, taking in every word.
  39. shroud
    wrap in a burial garment
    Down by the haunted timber a deathly figure stood, shrouded in black, swinging an old-time lantern.
  40. ghastly
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    Before he could send the fireman to investigate, the ghastly figure had vanished in the haze, melted in the mist.
Created on Sat Sep 17 19:44:04 EDT 2016 (updated Wed Sep 12 15:27:23 EDT 2018)

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