The Weight of Blood: Chapters 3–4

by Tiffany D. Jackson
In the small town of Springville, Georgia, the struggle to hide family secrets comes to a bloody end in Madison Washington's senior year of high school.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–11, Chapters 12–15, Chapters 16–29
40 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. deterrent
    tending to prevent
    It’s an acoustic deterrent device, a technology originally invented to keep animals away from a designated area—until they realized it worked on humans.
  2. provocative
    serving or tending to excite or stimulate
    Her seductive, provocative wit shrouded a nefarious nature.
  3. discerning
    having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
    The girl didn’t blink, her face tight and discerning, resolve unwavering.
  4. unwavering
    marked by firm determination or resolution
    The girl didn’t blink, her face tight and discerning, resolve unwavering.
  5. commiserate
    feel or express sympathy or compassion
    Wendy chalked up her pity partly to commiserating.
  6. exorbitant
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
    She remembered what it was like being a prospect back in middle school, pleading for her parents to take her to the cheer banquet, and spending an exorbitant amount on a white dress that made her look demure, wholesome even.
  7. demure
    suggestive of modesty or reserve
    She remembered what it was like being a prospect back in middle school, pleading for her parents to take her to the cheer banquet, and spending an exorbitant amount on a white dress that made her look demure, wholesome even.
  8. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    Maddy frowned and took a step back, realizing she had been daydreaming at the threshold of Papa's office again.
  9. wholesome
    characteristic of physical or moral well-being
    It represented his values: a wholesome family with a father who comes home from work in time for dinner, wholesome kids with milk mustaches, and a mother who cleaned the house, staying in the kitchen where she belonged.
  10. modest
    following standards of propriety in conduct or appearance
    “See? That's how women are supposed to dress,” Papa said, pointing to the woman’s tea-length skirt. “Modest. Decent.”
  11. elaborate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    Maddy often dreamed of being part of a movie crew someday, working in the design department, sewing elaborate costumes, or maybe in the kitchen, cooking gourmet meals.
  12. revel
    take delight in
    They worshipped at his feet, leaving pizza at his saintly altar. The stares, the whispers...they made him itch. But Wendy seemed to revel in it, talking to everyone on his behalf.
  13. modular
    constructed with standardized, prefabricated units or pieces
    The Scotts lived in a modest four-bedroom modular home on the West Side, only a few blocks from Wendy, but they almost always hung out at his place.
  14. deadpan
    speak in a deliberately impassive or serious manner
    “We got pizza, and I got you a soda.”
    “Oh. Goodie,” Kali deadpanned.
  15. coy
    showing marked and often playful evasiveness or reluctance
    “You said you’d be nicer,” Kenny whispered.
    Kali played coy. “I am being nice.”
  16. farce
    an event or situation that is absurd, empty, or insincere
    Almost everyone considered the last few weeks of school a complete farce.
  17. perfunctory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
    And he liked it that way, feelings never overly complicated or perfunctory.
  18. fathom
    come to understand
    So explain this whole prom situation to me. Because I just can’t fathom it.
  19. purview
    the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated
    Well, since their prom wasn’t a school-sanctioned event, and was held privately off campus within the respective communities, it technically didn’t fall under federal or state purview.
  20. ideal
    conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection
    She liked the planning, organizing, and decorating. She was good at it. It made her the ideal class president, cheer cocaptain, as well as homecoming committee chair.
  21. rescind
    cancel officially
    "...We already got into college.”
    “But what if they rescind?”
  22. muse
    reflect deeply on a subject
    “Let’s vote on it. Graduating seniors only. We either have an all-together prom or do the usual.”
    All together, Wendy mused. She liked the sound of that.
  23. chide
    scold or reprimand severely or angrily
    “Better schedule another visit with that nutritionist,” Mr. Scott chided.
  24. crestfallen
    brought low in spirit
    He glanced at his mother's crestfallen face, torn about how to intervene.
  25. blatant
    without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
    If he voted, no matter how anonymous they insisted the vote would be, someone would find out, and it would be a blatant choice of sides.
  26. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
    In school, Thomas had an affinity for world history and, like his baby-boomer mother, he was obsessed with the golden age of America.
  27. idyllic
    excellent and delightful in all respects
    That 1950s post-war era when girls wore poodle skirts, boys had James Dean haircuts, records played Elvis, and everyone gathered to watch The Dick Van Dyke Show. He wanted to live in an idyllic Norman Rockwell painting.
  28. tithe
    an offering of a tenth part of some personal income
    When Reverend Washington died of alcohol poisoning, Thomas tried to take over the family business, but tithes and congregation membership were nearly nonexistent.
  29. seminary
    a school for training ministers or priests or rabbis
    There is no available information on Reba’s family history, but many believed she was from the New England area and met her southern husband at seminary school.
  30. coveted
    greatly desired
    Filled to the ceiling with relics and coveted collectibles, the shop had little room for anyone to walk through, leaving the space dark and looming, like the inside of a wasp hive.
  31. cesspool
    a corrupt or disgusting place or state
    Papa condemned the place. “A cesspool. And those girls, refusing to protect their modesty. Have they no decency?”
  32. purgatory
    a temporary condition of torment or suffering
    The kids would never accept her, especially now that they knew the truth. She was doomed to live in purgatory behind the counter until she was old and gray.
  33. fray
    a noisy fight
    Would she have made her hide like Papa had? Would she have agreed with his tactics? She probably wouldn’t have had a choice, just like her, but at least they would’ve had each other in the fray.
  34. impartial
    showing lack of favoritism
    Kenny had perfected the art of remaining impartial, though some would call it acute obliviousness.
  35. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
    “Well, I think combining proms is a start toward restorative justice, community healing, and unity against an archaic practice,” she offered.
  36. liberal
    having political views favoring reform and progress
    “You’re just trying to push some liberal agenda on us. Crying foul whenever something doesn’t go your way.’’
  37. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    It took all she could muster to remain calm.
  38. vanity
    low table with a mirror where one sits while dressing
    She sat at her vanity, trying to put the pieces together.
  39. feral
    wild and menacing
    In the deepest parts of her, she had always known that something dark lay inside her, feral and dangerous.
  40. bestow
    give as a gift
    He had seen her struggle—with Papa and the kids at school—and decided to bestow upon her a great mercy, a gift to help protect herself.
Created on Fri Dec 29 13:19:43 EST 2023 (updated Wed Jan 03 10:33:40 EST 2024)

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