Anya and the Nightingale: Chapters 12–18

by Sofiya Pasternack
Anya, Ivan, and the magical dragon set out on a mission to bring Anya's father home from war, but during their journey, they encounter the Nightingale — a monster who is terrorizing travelers in the forest.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–11, Chapters 12–18, Chapters 19–28, Chapters 29–39
40 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
    Their path through the castle took them from the opulence outside the throne room into gradually less grand areas.
  2. quarry
    extract from or as if from an excavation
    Her father was building churches as fast as he could quarry the stones.
  3. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    This trip through the halls was slower, and Misha was a very amiable chaperone. Without his cowl on, he looked much friendlier.
  4. apprehend
    take into police custody
    “So, you’re going to apprehend the Nightingale,” Misha said after walking in silence down several hallways.
  5. dais
    a platform raised above the surrounding level
    A stone dais under one window was carved into a bowl on top, and a pitcher with a towel over it sat on the edge of the dais.
  6. haggard
    showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
    He looked haggard. Dark circles made his glittering eyes sunken.
  7. steward
    someone who manages property or affairs for someone else
    A steward with a sour face stood there, a bundle of clothes hung over one arm.
  8. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    A matching embroidered belt cinched at her waist, and the black head covering was held in place with another matching embroidered cloth.
  9. finery
    elaborate or showy attire and accessories
    Ivan stood on the other side, dressed in finery as Anya was.
  10. regal
    belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
    He would have looked absolutely regal if the rich clothes weren’t fastened incorrectly.
  11. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
    His hat was tipped so far askew, Anya was sure it would fall off.
  12. sconce
    a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights
    Torches burned in sconces, their flames scorching the stone walls behind them.
  13. impeccable
    without error or flaw
    His beard was trimmed impeccably, the golden diadem on his head flashing with every movement.
  14. diadem
    an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty
    His beard was trimmed impeccably, the golden diadem on his head flashing with every movement.
  15. ornate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    Even from a distance, she was glowing perfection: long golden hair in an ornate braid, a high forehead, graceful eyebrows, a delicate nose.
  16. imposing
    befitting an important, distinguished, or powerful person
    He was huge as well, but he crunched in his shoulders to make himself seem less like a mountain of a person. He reminded Anya of Dobrynya: imposing but kind, powerful yet gentle.
  17. inexplicable
    incapable of being explained or accounted for
    He didn’t look stupid to Anya. He just looked inexplicably smug.
  18. truss
    tie the wings and legs of a bird before cooking it
    She reached for a loaf of bread, but a server swept it out of the way to make room for a new dish: a huge platter with a suckling pig on it. An entire pig, trussed and cooked, its mouth open and stuffed with some kind of fruit.
  19. tureen
    a large deep serving dish with a cover
    He pulled a dish from his other side—a deep tureen with some kind of stew in it—and he said, “I think this is just vegetables.”
  20. devout
    deeply religious
    “His father is the priest of my newest cathedral in Rostov. Alyosha is not only a mighty bogatyr but a devout and dedicated man of God.”
  21. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
    He blanched. “You what? How?”
  22. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    Anya had felt an ominous prickle up her spine during the tsar’s speech earlier, and now she felt another prickle.
  23. nonchalantly
    in a composed and unconcerned manner
    “Who is your father?”
    Casually, nonchalantly, like it was a totally normal thing to say, Misha said, “The head rabbi of Kiev.”
  24. delectable
    extremely pleasing to the sense of taste
    It smelled like Babulya’s most delectable tinctures, when she took the most aromatic of her plants and stewed them into good magic.
  25. tincture
    a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution
    It smelled like Babulya’s most delectable tinctures, when she took the most aromatic of her plants and stewed them into good magic.
  26. parchment
    a superior paper resembling sheepskin
    One shelf held nothing but writing tools: quills, parchment, bottles of ink, and several boxes with probably more of the same inside.
  27. tome
    a large and scholarly book
    On the wall between the bookshelf and the fireplace, a taller bookshelf stood apart. It was emptier than the other, holding a collection of almost two dozen tomes that matched in size and color.
  28. rile
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    “Mikhail! You’re going to get your cousins all riled up before dinner! Put them—”
  29. berate
    censure severely or angrily
    Misha put his hands up while his mother continued to berate him and whack him with the back of her hand.
  30. deviant
    a person whose behavior does not conform to social norms
    My only son, a deviant, walking good girls through the dark streets without a chaperone at all.
  31. bustle
    move or cause to move energetically or busily
    Anya let Ilana pull her through the kitchen, bustling with even more people, out a back door and into a walled courtyard.
  32. trinket
    a small cheap ornament, knickknack, or piece of jewelry
    The covering on the inside was hung with little trinkets and decorations.
  33. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Nava ignored Ilana and turned her solemn face to Anya. “Are you going to marry my brother?”
  34. beleaguer
    annoy persistently
    Anya kept her beleaguered sigh to herself, and the two girls followed Dvorah back inside.
  35. rabid
    infected by an acute viral disease of the nervous system
    His voice was soft but powerful. Like he could calm a rabid bear with just words.
  36. intact
    undamaged in any way
    Was her sukkah even still intact? She assumed that without her supervision, Zvezda had eaten most of it by now.
  37. contemplative
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    The rabbi was contemplatively quiet, and this gave Nava the opportunity to blurt, “Why would you live somewhere with no rabbi?"
  38. profound
    showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
    Anya listened with a profound ache of understanding in her heart.
  39. shoddy
    of inferior workmanship and materials
    Her old dress was still on the bed where she had left it, so she pulled it on. It was worn and shoddy in comparison to the resplendence of the castle, but it was comfortable, and it was her.
  40. resplendent
    having great beauty
    Her old dress was still on the bed where she had left it, so she pulled it on. It was worn and shoddy in comparison to the resplendence of the castle, but it was comfortable, and it was her.
Created on Thu May 12 13:58:58 EDT 2022 (updated Mon May 23 09:21:11 EDT 2022)

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