Nyxia: List 1

by Scott Reintgen
Desperate for money to fund his mother's medical treatment, Emmett Atwater accepts an offer from Babel Communications to compete for the right to mine a valuable commodity on the hidden planet of Eden. This book is the first volume of the Nyxia Triad.

This list covers Part I: Day 1, 8:47 A.M.–Day 2, 8:38 A.M.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
40 words 137 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. manifest
    clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
    "You were chosen to be at the forefront of the most serious space exploration known to mankind. The results of your mission will change the outlook for our species." Defoe goes on to talk about humanity, manifest destiny, and final frontiers.
  2. perpetuity
    the property of being seemingly ceaseless
    "Beyond monetary stability, we are also offering our medical plans for your families. They now have free access to health care, counseling, surgery, and the most advanced treatments for cancer and other terminal diseases. Those services come without a price tag, and they're offered in perpetuity."
    I don't know what perpetuity means, but some of the kids around the table are nodding wisely.
  3. privatization
    changing something from state to individual ownership
    But life is good, so I carefully skim a paragraph with words like privatization and extrajudicial.
  4. cipher
    convert ordinary language into code
    They trade lyrics until it feels like I'm back in the concrete jungle, ciphering and laughing with the Most Excellent Brothers.
  5. rendezvous
    meet at an appointed place
    The Tower Space Station is already orbiting Eden. We will rendezvous there before sending you to the surface.
  6. obscure
    make unclear or less visible
    Shadows stretch and obscure the so-called Adamites.
  7. interloper
    someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another
    The Adamites spare only one of the interlopers.
  8. revere
    regard with feelings of respect
    The Adamites revere children and young people.
  9. manipulation
    touching with the hands or by use of mechanical means
    With a quick manipulation, the substance stretches. Defoe's hands dance.
  10. logistic
    relating to necessary details of operation
    "Each black dot represents an underground mine of nyxia. Speaking logistically, each of those black dots is worth somewhere in the realm of fifty billion dollars."
  11. disgruntled
    in a state of sulky dissatisfaction
    My disgruntled neighbor lets out a whistle. We finally agree on something: that's a boatload of money.
  12. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
    Our journey will give us ample opportunity to train you in safely extracting nyxia from the mines you enter.
  13. quota
    a prescribed number
    We will set quotas for each of you. Meeting those quotas will gain you the monetary rewards promised earlier.
  14. precedent
    an example that is used to justify similar occurrences
    "Longwei has asked about the risks. He's worried about being killed and not receiving his reward. Not only do we have a confirmed occurrence where they demonstrated a clear precedent for protection of young people, but two months ago we made an agreement with the Adamites. Those of you that set foot on Eden will be permitted to come and go wherever you like. You will be their welcome guests."
  15. bay
    a compartment on a ship between decks
    A Babel employee leads me to one of the ship's comfort pods and tells me to enjoy the view. The docking bay is chaos.
  16. default
    fail to pay up
    Really, though, he's defaulting on loans and working night shifts with my pops.
  17. cog
    a subordinate who performs an important but routine function
    I see his data pad blinking with a new assignment, and even though he's standing stock-still, I can sense which direction he wants to start walking. The well-oiled cogs of Genesis 11 are waiting on me.
  18. apparatus
    equipment designed to serve a specific function
    "You might have noticed the apparatus she was wearing. The mask."
  19. babel
    a confusion of voices and other sounds
    It's strange to have our language barriers removed so easily. I don't know much about the Bible, but I do remember the story of Babel. I always thought it was weird. God scatters the people and gives them different languages. Babel Communications has gathered the peoples of Earth and reversed it.
  20. riotous
    unrestrained by convention or morality
    He forgets the punch line, though, laughs riotously, and points at a handful of other challengers descending the stairs.
  21. intrepid
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    "Our intrepid crew, welcome. Did you know that you are officially the youngest crew to ever enter space? Already setting records."
  22. minion
    a servile or fawning dependent
    "Welcome to the end of the world, minions. I'm Commander Crocker, but you can call me Crock. I'll be your flight operations commander. If all goes well, you won't see my pretty face until we reach the Tower Space Station."
  23. immaculate
    without error or flaw
    "Well, we have policies in place, but the history of space exploration has very few casualties. Babel's records are immaculate, so I wouldn't worry about that."
  24. hone
    refine or make more perfect or effective
    We want the best of the best to go down to Eden and work for us. You already know the rewards we've arranged for being one of the best. My job is to hone the skills and impart the knowledge you'll need before you go to the Adamites' home planet.
  25. impart
    transmit, as knowledge or a skill
    We want the best of the best to go down to Eden and work for us. You already know the rewards we've arranged for being one of the best. My job is to hone the skills and impart the knowledge you'll need before you go to the Adamites' home planet.
  26. frenetic
    fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way
    I can feel something too. Something pulling at me as I turn it over in my palm. The substance feels active, frenetic with energy.
  27. inept
    generally incompetent and ineffectual
    I stare at my inept purple flower and try not to have a panic attack.
  28. simulate
    create a representation or model of
    Each of us swims for ten minutes in a turbine tank that simulates gale-force winds.
  29. indigenous
    originating where it is found
    After drying off, we spend an hour in an actual classroom learning about Eden's plant life and some indigenous species.
  30. evasion
    the act of physically escaping from something
    We perform simulated evasion exercises, as well as a set of situational tests designed to help us understand the way Adamites think.
  31. materialize
    come into being; become reality
    The black spaces flicker, and identical images of a forest materialize on either side of the net, each with brilliant, lifelike color.
  32. successive
    following in order without gaps
    Their walls pulse with successive lights.
  33. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
    It's a surprise to see Jazzy running at the head of their tight knot, but a second of watching her form is answer enough. She’s composed, running like she's halfway through a normal cross-country race.
  34. fissure
    a long narrow depression in a surface
    Cliffs and canyons wait. The first is a snaking fissure that divides the path in two.
  35. consolation
    the act of giving relief in affliction
    The consolation package Babel offered would still help, but I'd spend the rest of my life working the same jobs my pops did and grinding out paychecks, wondering what it would have been like if only I'd won.
  36. parable
    a short moral story
    I learned our history in parables, stories of warning.
  37. fare
    the food and drink regularly served or consumed
    I snag a hearty-looking croissant and some fruit. Not exactly Detroit fare, but everything tastes delicious here.
  38. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    He tilts the black metal onto his wide head and folds his arms regally.
  39. disdainfully
    without respect
    He examines Katsu with those knowing eyes and shakes his head disdainfully. "I don't see any kings or queens here."
  40. doggedly
    with obstinate determination
    I pound through strokes and know I'm outpacing myself, outpacing the others.
    Ten minutes later, the waves die down and I climb doggedly out of the pool.
Created on Thu May 16 12:15:31 EDT 2019 (updated Fri May 17 13:32:30 EDT 2019)

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