Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence: Chapters 6–10

by Sonja Thomas
Twelve-year-old Mira Williams, an Orlando Magic fan and budding astrophysicist, focuses on facts when she sets out to save her sick cat.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–10, Chapters 11–19, Chapters 20–30, Chapters 31–38
40 words 16 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. wiry
    lean but strong
    Dad stood up, holding out the computer. Instead of taking it, I wrapped my arms tight around his wiry frame.
  2. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
    Unaware of my plight, poor Thomas was obviously bothered by my unusual silence.
  3. attest
    provide evidence for
    “I’m trying to prove that people can change their mood through music.”
    “I can attest to that, honey.” Mrs. Branson nodded. “Whenever I hear ‘Let’s Stay Together,’ I start bawling. Happy tears. That was my baby sister’s first wedding dance.”
  4. grim
    filled with melancholy and despondency
    “I miss my job, but I’ll be going back soon without Sabrina by my side, and...” Mrs. Branson paused, her lips set in a grim line as if her thoughts were playing tug-of-war.
  5. frenetic
    fast and energetic in an uncontrolled or wild way
    A high-pitched howl wailed over frenetic guitar riffs, followed by booming drums.
  6. lurch
    move abruptly
    Eyes wide, Mrs. B lurched forward, her messy bun falling over to one side.
  7. demise
    the time when something ends
    Testing my hypothesis that music could change one’s mood hadn’t even made round one before screeching to an unexpected demise.
  8. coarse
    rough to the touch
    My fingers rubbed against the coarse bark of the oak, broken up like burnt cornflakes.
  9. ulterior
    lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed
    Who knew what ulterior motives were hidden in the ingredients?
  10. prodigious
    very impressive; far beyond what is usual
    “A prodigious idea,” Tamika said brightly.
  11. repress
    block the action of
    Repressing an eye roll, I plodded into the house with Tamika at my heels.
  12. perturbed
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    I stomped down the hall and into my room, Tamika trailing in my perturbed wake.
  13. elliptical
    rounded like an egg
    “That’s the relationship between orbital period and distance. Planets in their elliptical orbits move faster when they’re closer to the sun and slower when they’re farther away. That’s why the speed that a planet travels at is always changing.”
  14. ordeal
    a severe or trying experience
    He must have slept through the whole awful ordeal with Tamika.
  15. comatose
    in a state of deep and usually prolonged unconsciousness
    Although Fig was practically comatose, I remained frozen at the event horizon.
  16. bleak
    offering little or no hope
    My face bleak, I nodded.
    Four long days trapped with Gran and Viper, separated from my poor sick Fig. Could this summer get any worse?
  17. a cappella
    without musical accompaniment
    A symphony of voices harmonizing a cappella blasted throughout her house.
  18. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    Even though she was seventy years old and only 5’2”, Gran looked towering in the foyer.
  19. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Gran’s manicured nails lifted up my chin, and her deep brown eyes inspected my solemn face.
  20. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    Books lined the three shelves in descending height order, flanked by a gold-framed photo on either side.
  21. taut
    subjected to great tension; stretched tight
    A frown cut across Gran’s taut face. “I don’t tolerate that language in my house.”
  22. cacophony
    loud confusing disagreeable sounds
    A cacophony of the buzzing fluorescent lights and fingers striking keyboards filled the stale air.
  23. alcove
    a small recess opening off a large room or garden
    She marched across the room, with me tailing her neon pink flats, to a huge copier tucked away in an alcove.
  24. scuttle
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    She scuttled off in a pink blur.
  25. vinyl
    shiny, tough, and flexible plastic
    I settled into the chair’s vinyl padded seat and faced the computer.
  26. noxious
    injurious to physical or mental health
    The Cat Fancy Pants article covered noxious, putrid, foul, stinky, and even urine-smelling breath.
  27. lethargy
    inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy
    My energy perked once I read the title: “Lethargy in Cats.”
  28. jaundice
    yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
    Cats naturally sleep a lot, but excessive rest can be a sign of illness.... Other symptoms associated with causes of lethargy include: diarrhea, jaundice, difficulty breathing, hair loss.
  29. insulin
    a glucose-regulating hormone produced in the pancreas
    “Diabetes mellitus—commonly referred to as diabetes—is a costly, silent killer. This complex but common disease occurs when a cat’s body either doesn’t produce or doesn’t properly use insulin.”
  30. ravenous
    extremely hungry
    My body stiffened as I read the list of symptoms smack in the middle of the screen:
    •excessive urination and thirst

    •larger clumps in the litter box

    •a decreased or ravenous appetite

    •overweight/obese body or weight loss

    •abnormal breath

    •lethargy
  31. hock
    joint of the hind leg of hoofed mammals
    There was even a picture of a cat who’d suffered nerve damage, his hocks flat on the ground, each like a broken, unlucky rabbit’s foot.
  32. pungent
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    The smell grew stronger and more pungent.
  33. kibble
    pellets of coarsely ground grain used as animal feed
    Was Fig enjoying a midafternoon nap? Devouring a bowl of kibble? Grooming his gray fur?
  34. lush
    produced or growing in extreme abundance
    Gran pulled the Oldsmobile into her driveway, butted against a lush green lawn on one side and bushes on the other.
  35. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    Viper greeted Gran at the front door with a high-pitched howl, and me with a seething hiss.
  36. haphazardly
    in a random manner
    Rusty hammers and screwdrivers of various sizes haphazardly decorated a wall.
  37. periodical
    a publication that appears at fixed intervals
    "I started subscriptions to several feline periodicals, back when I had my Maine coons, and never canceled them.”
  38. virtue
    any admirable quality or attribute
    “Envy is not a virtue.”
  39. mite
    small arachnid that infests animals, plants, or stored foods
    I didn’t know what tickled worse: inhaling dust mites, or Viper’s sharp whiskers poking into my bare leg.
  40. complacent
    contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
    “How would you describe your current mood?”
    She savored another sip. Her face was calm, but her eyes flickered as if searching for the right word. “Somewhere between content and complacent.”
Created on Thu Nov 09 07:47:25 EST 2023 (updated Fri Nov 10 14:06:57 EST 2023)

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