"The Wide Window" by Lemony Snicket, Chapters 4–8

Anna
In this third book of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Baudelaire orphans are sent to live with Aunt Josephine and continue to find ways to keep themselves and their inheritance out of Count Olaf's hands.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–8, Chapters 9–13
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
    “I will thank you not to be impertinent,” Aunt Josephine said, using a word which here means “pointing out that I’m wrong, which annoys me.”
  2. admiral
    the supreme commander of a fleet
    In order to escape from the castle of an enemy of mine, I once had cards printed that said I was an admiral in the French navy.
  3. eavesdrop
    listen without the speaker's knowledge
    “Now run along so I can discuss it without your eavesdropping.”
    “We’re not eavesdropping,” Violet said, “but I think it would be better if we stayed here.”
    “Perhaps you are confused about the meaning of the word ‘eavesdropping,’” Aunt Josephine said. “It means ‘listening in.’ If you stay here, you will be eavesdropping. Please go to your room.”
  4. caboose
    a car on a freight train for use of the train crew
    Violet put aside pieces of the toy caboose that she had planned to examine that evening to make room on her bed for the three of them to lie beside one another and frown at the ceiling.
  5. solemnly
    in a serious and dignified manner
    The Baudelaire orphans nodded solemnly, but the cold pit in their stomachs had not gone away.
  6. socialist
    advocating the state ownership of industry
    I have a friend named Gina-Sue who is socialist, and Gina-Sue has a favorite saying: “You can’t lock up the barn after the horses are gone.”
  7. pry
    move or force in an effort to get something open
    A piece of paper, folded in half, was attached to the wood with a thumbtack. Klaus pried the paper loose and unfolded it.
  8. crane
    stretch, so as to see better
    “What is it?” Violet asked, and Sunny craned her little neck to see.
  9. testament
    a legal document disposing of property after a death
    As my last will and testament, I leave you three in the care of Captain Sham, a kind and honorable men.
  10. shard
    a broken piece of a brittle artifact
    The Wide Window had shattered. Except for a few shards that still stuck to the window frame, the enormous pane of glass was gone, leaving a vacant hole that looked out into the still blackness of the night.
  11. unbearable
    incapable of being put up with
    “No matter how much she liked grammar, it says she found her life unbearable.”
    “But that’s another error in the note,” Klaus said. “It doesn’t say unbearable, with a U. It says inbearable, with an I.”
    “You are being unbearable, with a U,” Violet cried.
  12. meek
    humble in spirit or manner
    “I’m sorry, Klaus,” Violet said meekly.
  13. dissolve
    become or cause to become soft or liquid
    When a fly, attracted by the smell of the flower, lands on the Venus flytrap, the mouth of the plant begins to close, trapping the fly. The terrified fly buzzes around the closed mouth of the plant, but there is nothing it can do, and the plant slowly, slowly, dissolves the fly into nothing.
  14. forgery
    criminal falsification by making or altering an instrument
    “Well, we could do a forgery,” Klaus said, using a word which here means “write something yourself and pretend somebody else wrote it.”
  15. mournful
    filled with or evoking sadness
    And when they reached the door, Sunny looked mournfully at the welcome mat that Aunt Josephine thought could cause someone to break their neck.
  16. promptly
    with little or no delay
    “You see? You are very intelligent children, but even the most intelligent people in the world often need the help of a banker. Now, where can we find a sample of Aunt Josephine’s handwriting?”
    “In the kitchen,” Violet said promptly.
  17. analysis
    a detailed investigation or examination of something
    There are men and women who are experts in the field of handwriting analysis.
  18. deceased
    someone who is no longer alive
    Someone’s last will and testament is an official statement of the wishes of the deceased.
  19. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    Mr. Poe took his white handkerchief out of his pocket and coughed into it at great length and with great gusto, a word which here means “in a way which produced a great deal of phlegm.”
  20. hearten
    give encouragement to
    “It is heartening to see that you are glad to raise the Baudelaires, but you must understand that the children are rather upset about their Aunt Josephine.”
  21. untimely
    uncommonly early
    “We soon became friends,” Captain Sham said, going on with his story as if no one had interrupted, “and one day she said to me, ‘if I ever adopt some orphans and then meet an untimely death, promise me you will raise them for me.’ I told her I would, but of course I never thought I would have to keep my promise.”
  22. garish
    tastelessly showy
    But even so, the three children were eager to leave the Anxious Clown, and not just because the garish restaurant—the word “garish” here means “filled with balloons, neon lights, and obnoxious waiters”—was filled with balloons, neon lights, and obnoxious waiters.
  23. obnoxious
    causing disapproval or protest
    But even so, the three children were eager to leave the Anxious Clown, and not just because the garish restaurant—the word “garish” here means “filled with balloons, neon lights, and obnoxious waiters”—was filled with balloons, neon lights, and obnoxious waiters.
  24. vigorously
    in an energetic manner
    “Bluh,” Klaus said, nodding vigorously, and he began hurrying down the hallway.
  25. stagger
    walk with great difficulty
    Each of the books was as thick as a watermelon, and Klaus staggered under the weight of carrying all three.
  26. copious
    large in number or quantity
    He opened all of the books and took copious—the word “copious” here means “lots of”—notes, stopping every so often to draw a circle around some part of what Aunt Josephine had written.
  27. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    Then, as lightning began to flash outside, he stopped, and stared at the note for a long time, frowning intently.
  28. maraca
    a rattle-like instrument that is shaken to make noise
    A great gust of wind interrupted Klaus as it came through the shattered window and shook the library as if it were maracas, a word which describes rattling percussion instruments used in Latin American music.
  29. index
    alphabetical listing of names and topics with page numbers
    Klaus flipped to the index, which I’m sure you know is an alphabetical list of each thing a book contains and what page it’s on.
  30. lurch
    move abruptly
    The whole room seemed to lurch slightly to one side as the orphans staggered back to their feet.
Created on Sat Dec 24 16:00:26 EST 2022 (updated Sat Jan 07 13:25:08 EST 2023)

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