A Pinch of Magic: Chapter 22–Epilogue

by Michelle Harrison
In this first book of the series, thirteen-year-old Betty Widdershin, with her sisters Felicity and Charlotte, must figure out how to use their inherited magical objects to reverse an ancient family curse that does not allow them to leave the island of Crowstone.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 3, Chapters 4–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapters 15–21, Chapter 22–Epilogue
40 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. invoke
    summon into action or bring into existence
    “Trouble was,” Fingerty said, “when she invoked that curse, she cursed Prudence’s blood...which then became the Widdershinses’ blood.”
  2. forge
    make out of components, often in an improvising manner
    Prue had betrayed and stolen to forge herself a new life, tainting the Widdershinses forever.
  3. lapse
    pass into a specified state or condition
    The journey lapsed into silence.
  4. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    Betty turned Sorsha’s story over and over in her mind, but the answers still eluded her.
  5. molder
    decay or break down
    A few moldering berries were oozing on its branches, but the bush had been plucked almost bare.
  6. regale
    occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
    As they’d filled their baskets Fliss had regaled them with Granny’s superstitions: how it was unlucky to pick the berries after sundown, and how you should never eat them after Halloween because imps would have danced all over them.
  7. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    On a hill directly ahead was a dilapidated building, its once-grand sails useless as broken birds’ wings, its windows boarded up.
  8. trepidation
    a feeling of alarm or dread
    Colton hurried after her with Fingerty, who was regarding the eerie-looking place with trepidation.
  9. boggy
    (of soil) soft and watery
    The sounds of their approach were camouflaged by the boggy ground.
  10. elfin
    small and delicate
    Charlie raised her head, her pointed elfin face confused.
  11. hack
    chop or cut away
    For Fliss’s glossy dark hair, which had once tumbled down her back in smooth, flowing locks, had been hacked away unevenly and was now too short even to tie a ribbon in.
  12. loll
    hang loosely or laxly
    His head lolled to one side, tongue out like a dog.
  13. loathing
    hate coupled with disgust
    Betty shot him a look of loathing.
  14. delve
    search for something in a receptacle or container
    She had just delved into it and removed the mirror—which Jarrod had evidently confiscated, too—but her triumph ended as Jarrod’s eyes flew open and, with a drunken lurch, he seized her ankle.
  15. waffle
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    “So, anyway, we, er...just wanted you not to worry,” Fliss waffled.
  16. intact
    undamaged in any way
    She was so used to the place looking shabby and run-down that it was quite a surprise to see the windows with all their panes intact, and the glossily painted doors displaying no signs of flaking.
  17. hanker
    desire strongly or persistently
    She stared at Prudence, longing to slap the simpering face and sickened to think she shared the same blood as this hateful creature. It was a dirty, uncomfortable sensation that left Betty hankering after a good wash.
  18. morbid
    suggesting the horror of death and decay
    Inside, the Poacher’s Pocket crackled with morbid excitement. Whispers of “spells,” “sorceress,” and “magic” caught Betty’s ears.
  19. devoid
    completely wanting or lacking
    Betty stared into the pale depths, so devoid of color and conscience, and couldn’t help a sharp intake of breath.
  20. salve
    a preparation applied externally as a soothing remedy
    The dressing table was bare except for a comb and a small pot of hand salve.
  21. pristine
    immaculately clean and unused
    She hurried into the other rooms: Fliss’s and the one she and Charlie shared. Both were furnished and pristine, but unlived in. Guest rooms.
  22. disarray
    untidiness, especially of clothing and appearance
    The door had swung open where Betty had forgotten to latch it, and its contents were in disarray.
  23. botch
    make a mess of, destroy, or ruin
    If Prue suspected Sorsha was behind the objects’ disappearance, she might try to contact her and botch the rescue.
  24. fracas
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
    The Poacher’s Pocket had descended into a fracas.
  25. bawdy
    humorously vulgar
    Fliss’s song had struck up a bawdy rendition with some of the customers joining in, while dozens more were thumping on the bar to be served.
  26. swagger
    walk with a lofty proud gait
    Betty couldn’t help but think back to when they had first met, when Colton had swaggered into the visiting room full of bravado. All she saw now was a scared young man.
  27. falter
    speak haltingly
    “But...but...” she faltered, struggling to process his words and the strength of her feeling against them.
  28. scathing
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    Betty rolled her eyes, doing her best to sound scathing. “Well, you just wouldn’t be you if you went a day without kissing someone, would you?”
  29. sheer
    very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front
    The sheer distance to the top made her woozy; she had never been so close to it, never realized just how high it was.
  30. sconce
    a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights
    Aside from a scattering of tiny windows in the passageway, only a few wall sconces lit the way, sending flickering shadows across the walls as they passed.
  31. sonorous
    full and loud and deep
    They had made it to the last turn of the staircase when from outside the tower a sonorous clanging of the prison bell began.
  32. reverberate
    ring or echo with sound
    The sound of wood being pounded on reverberated in her skull, in time with the chimes of the bell.
  33. intoxicating
    extremely exciting
    A deliciously warm feeling of gratitude spread through her body, as intoxicating as the magic itself.
  34. gallivant
    wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
    “Just where have you three been? Crowstone is on lockdown—there are prisoners on the loose and you three go gallivanting?”
  35. tirade
    a speech of violent denunciation
    Granny softened, exhausted by her tirade.
  36. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    Tentatively, she put her arms around him, half afraid he would vanish like marsh mist.
  37. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    “I know,” Fliss conceded. “You’re right.”
  38. laden
    filled with a great quantity
    Hot on her heels was Fingerty, laden down with a further two baskets.
  39. moor
    secure with cables or ropes
    Father unwound the mooring, swaying easily with the motion of the boat.
  40. fateful
    having momentous consequences; of decisive importance
    She stroked her thumb over the doll’s sleek surface, recalling that other journey to Marshfoot, on a foggy, fateful night when she had been so unprepared, and unknowing.
Created on Wed Sep 21 15:49:41 EDT 2022 (updated Mon Jul 31 16:18:11 EDT 2023)

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