The Weight of Blood: Chapters 16–29

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. cathartic
    emotionally purging
    If you feel this way, break up with her, don’t hurt her. It would be a cathartic release.
  2. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
    Researchers hypothesized that hundreds of years ago, a massive meteor with an exceptionally high iron content landed in the area, causing strange magnetic anomalies.
  3. brooch
    a decorative pin
    The diamond brooch pinned on her side was from the store, kept in the glass display case that was rarely looked at.
  4. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    Maddy sat quiet and pensive.
  5. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    No one had seen the fire behind her gentle demeanor like he had.
  6. proprietary
    behaving in a way that is characteristic of an owner
    Even when they sat down, he seized any opportunity to touch her in some small proprietary way. His clammy palms felt like raw chicken cutlets as he held hers under the table.
  7. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    Something unsaid passed between them, a palpable mental intimacy, the connection sizzling in her ear.
  8. deprecation
    the act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself)
    She loved her friend but also found her self- deprecation annoying and hated the way the last few weeks had torn their once-tight clique apart.
  9. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    Kayleigh wore an iridescent plum spaghetti-strap dress with bubble-gum-pink shoes, her brown hair in soft waves.
  10. prattle
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
    As Jackie prattled on, Brady pulled out his mini drone and remote control.
  11. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    She wanted to see the look on her face during the fleeting moment of happiness before it was ripped away.
  12. equilibrium
    a sensory system that registers the orientation of the head
    She struggled to regain her equilibrium, torn between running away and running toward.
  13. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
    She raised her eyes just as they reached the stage and stared at the gilded thrones, mouth hanging open, stunned by the opulence.
  14. falter
    move hesitatingly, as if about to give way
    Her legs felt as if they might falter.
  15. apparition
    a ghostly appearing figure
    Jules spun around in shock, a ghostly apparition.
  16. accommodate
    have room for; hold without crowding
    She had no idea her body was morphing to accommodate an erupting savage madness.
  17. guttural
    relating to or articulated in the throat
    “No! Stop!” someone screamed, followed by a girl’s guttural sobs.
  18. balmy
    mild and pleasant
    The balmy air crackled with tension.
  19. flummox
    be a mystery or bewildering to
    The officers looked at one another, flummoxed and speechless.
  20. pragmatism
    the doctrine that practical consequences determine value
    Mr. Scott was known for his pragmatism and ability to perform under pressure without breaking a sweat.
  21. instill
    teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
    He’d attempted to instill these qualities in his children to better prepare them for the world. It’s important to stop, think, assess the situation, and proceed accordingly.
  22. affliction
    a cause of great suffering and distress
    But his weakness was an affliction. His mother had reminded him of that often. “Nothing but a weak, useless boy in a man’s skin.”
  23. quaver
    give off unsteady sounds
    “No, no...you gotta help her,” he quavered.
  24. salve
    anything that remedies, heals, or soothes
    She took a deep, choppy breath, gripping the white lace door curtain with both hands, the scent of home a salve, before peering over her shoulder.
  25. disquiet
    a feeling of mild anxiety about possible developments
    She shuffled through the pitch-black halls toward her bedroom, the disquiet rippling through her.
  26. talisman
    a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil
    Her fingers, searching for a talisman, wrapped around the silver paddle brush handle, nails biting little half-moons into her palm.
  27. flounder
    move clumsily or struggle to move, as in mud or water
    She floundered, tripping over the vanity bench, and flopped down on the ground with a shriek.
  28. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    The sight of Maddy so broken and despondent made Wendy’s heart sink into a pool of shame.
  29. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Wendy burst into the office and scrutinized the old desk, boxes, papers, and books stacked almost to the ceiling.
  30. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    Maddy hesitated before taking a tentative step inside, papers scattering away from her feet as if by a strong breeze.
  31. yahoo
    a person who is not intelligent or interested in culture
    I ain’t got the manpower to babysit and entertain these yahoos. And we’ve had all kinds of people come sniffing. Witches, ghost and UFO hunters.
  32. forensic
    used in the investigation of facts or evidence in court
    What we’re missing here is forensic evidence. Statistical and analogical analysis.
  33. anecdotal
    based on stories rather than data or scientific observation
    The type of data we’re working with is anecdotal at best. Observations from witnesses during a traumatic encounter, strong opinions without supported facts or even logic.
  34. comeuppance
    a usually negative outcome or fate that is well deserved
    The fact remains that she was an innocent bystander in a long overdue comeuppance for a town holding on to outdated ideologies.
  35. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
    The fact remains that she was an innocent bystander in a long overdue comeuppance for a town holding on to outdated ideologies.
  36. scapegoat
    someone who is punished for the errors of others
    And instead of holding the community at large accountable for their actions, everyone has continued to place blame on the greatest victim, creating a monster out of a young girl and using her legacy as a scapegoat to avoid self-reflection.
  37. inconsequential
    lacking worth or importance
    So whether she was a witch or not, alive or not, is inconsequential to the larger issue at hand.
  38. restitution
    a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
    Couldn’t her living a life on her own terms, without any interference, be considered adequate restitution? Isn’t she owed peace?
  39. magnitude
    the property of relative size or extent
    In fact, I gather it’s one of the reasons the state worked so hard to brush this under the rug. Because if people knew revenge of this magnitude was even a remote possibility, there would be far less incidents of racial injustice in the world.
  40. foreclose
    take away the right of mortgagors to redeem their mortgage
    Many residents relocated to distant cities and states, banks foreclosing on the few homes that weren't burned down.
Created on Fri Dec 29 13:20:28 EST 2023 (updated Wed Jan 03 10:34:01 EST 2024)

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