Dream Within a Dream: Chapters 12–18

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 29 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. nuzzle
    gently rub or push one's nose or face against something
    Rafiki nuzzles his hand for pats all through our talk.
  2. wharf
    a platform from the shore that provides access to ships
    Angelo waves at us from his big fishing boat, tied up at the wharf.
  3. fragile
    vulnerably delicate
    A bird and more
    come to her
    sit in her hand
    with their fragile feet.
  4. tolerate
    put up with something or somebody unpleasant
    “Yikes,” says Jake, who does not tolerate Talking Tillie well.
  5. secure
    cause to be firmly attached
    My father and I took our boat out of the water and helped Angelo secure his.
  6. soothing
    freeing from fear and anxiety
    We can hear Jake downstairs talking soothingly to the sheep, though the sheep seem peaceful.
  7. fierce
    violently agitated and turbulent
    When it is morning the storm is still fierce and I hear the bleating of the sheep downstairs.
  8. hail
    precipitation of ice pellets
    The storm goes on, hail pellets beginning to hit the windows now.
  9. bleat
    cry plaintively like a sheep or goat
    All of the sheep—Bitty and Flossie and Flip—look at Theo and begin to bleat loudly. “Baa, Baa. BAA.”
  10. grant
    any monetary aid
    “Jack has a grant for at least two years to travel and study in many exciting places. We’ll take you with us, and you can go to school wherever we stop! Isn’t that wonderful? I’ve already spoken to your school.”
  11. stricken
    grievously affected especially by disease
    “Who’s Rafiki?” asks my mother, looking stricken.
  12. compelling
    tending to persuade by forcefulness of argument
    “I’m so glad you understand,” I say to my father.
    “It was what you said about us being the wanderers,” he says softly. “And Theo, as young as he is, being so compelling. Your mother,” he adds, “will understand as soon as she realizes that you have her strong opinions.”
  13. poignant
    arousing powerful emotions, especially pity or sadness
    “Would you and Mother like to see my library?” asks Theo in a poignant voice.
  14. lilt
    a jaunty rhythm in music or speech
    “‘Something’ always happens,” says Boots with a lilt in her voice, looking satisfied with herself.
  15. version
    something a little different from others of the same type
    When I turn to look at my mother, it is a bit like looking at myself—a version of me. Or I am a version of her.
  16. bill
    the projecting mouth of a bird
    The malachite kingfishers are colorful with bright orange bills. My father says this bird is more beautiful than any jewel.
  17. captivated
    filled with wonder and delight
    My parents have already put down their forks, captivated by George.
  18. venture
    an undertaking with an uncertain outcome
    Boots has gone off on some kind of secret venture.
  19. asparagus
    plant with long green stems that is eaten as a vegetable
    “Buttered asparagus with a touch of lemon,” said Boots with a smile.
  20. license
    a legal document giving official permission to do something
    “I learned to drive. I got my license!”
Created on Mon Jan 30 11:03:46 EST 2023 (updated Thu Mar 23 12:56:38 EDT 2023)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.