Dream Within a Dream: Chapters 7–11

by Patricia MacLachlan
Eleven-year-old Louisa doesn't love change but explores new ways of looking at life when she visits her grandparents' farm on Deer Island and meets a boy named George.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 6, Chapters 7–11, Chapters 12–18
20 words 34 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. degeneration
    the process of declining from a higher to a lower level
    I look at the booklet title: Macular Degeneration.
  2. retina
    a light-sensitive membrane covering the back of the eyeball
    “With macular degeneration you lose the central part of your retina sight. The middle of what you see,” says Jake.
  3. presently
    at this time or period; now
    “Don’t ask me about the project,” warns Theo, holding up his hands as a shield. “It is presently a secret.”
    I am fairly sure the word “presently” is Micha’s word.
  4. imitate
    reproduce someone's behavior or looks
    I fold my hands under my chin and lean on the table, looking at George.
    He puts down his fork, folding his hands under his chin, leaning on the table, imitating me.
  5. mournful
    filled with or evoking sadness
    “I want a library,” says Theo finally, almost mournfully.
  6. harbor
    a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo
    The ferry is coming into the small harbor.
  7. exotic
    characteristic of another place or part of the world
    “Maybe he’ll get on the ferry. Maybe he’ll stay. He has his own life. But he’ll come back when he wants, I know.”
    “Like my parents,” I say.
    I could be having an exotic life somewhere with them.
  8. emphasis
    special and significant stress by position or repetition
    “You two did very well dancing. The emphasis is on the word ‘very.’”
  9. canvas
    a piece of canvas cloth prepared as the surface for a painting
    Eliasi picks up Dahlia’s canvas. Very carefully he unrolls it.
  10. insight
    a feeling of understanding
    I teach George and know he is a great writer, and he says you have great insight, Louisiana. Could you two visit these islanders and write about them?
  11. fervently
    with strong emotion or zeal
    “Welcome to my world. I was born far away, and when I came to visit the island one day I knew I wanted to live here forever.”
    “Yes!” says Theo fervently.
  12. traipse
    walk or tramp about
    George and I, Theo, Dahlia, and Marco all traipse up the hill to visit Billie.
  13. beckon
    signal with the hands or nod
    She beckons us around the house.
  14. cardinal
    crested North American songbird having bright red plumage
    And as Marco holds out his hand, a cardinal comes, picks up a seed, and flies up to the tree.
  15. pang
    a sudden sharp feeling
    There is a sudden pang in my stomach as I watch it, thinking of the end of summer, of going back to school, of leaving the island.
  16. stern
    the rear part of a ship
    I run to the stern of the boat and jump in.
  17. muted
    being or made softer or less loud or clear
    Billie with her muted red hair, her figure soft—several birds at her feet and a titmouse in her hand, with its large staring black iridescent eye.
  18. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    Billie with her muted red hair, her figure soft—several birds at her feet and a titmouse in her hand, with its large staring black iridescent eye.
  19. hazy
    indistinct in outline
    It is a painting, hazy, but it is clear to me that it is Boots.
  20. impressionism
    a school of late 19th-century French painters
    You can’t tell her age by the painting. It is almost Boots at all ages, like an impressionist painting.
Created on Mon Jan 30 11:03:30 EST 2023 (updated Thu Mar 23 12:55:56 EDT 2023)

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