Daughters of the Lamp: Part One

by Nedda Lewers
This first book of the series introduces twelve-year-old budding scientist Sahara Rashad from 1980s New York and thirteen-year-old servant Morgana Salem from 980s Baghdad, who are connected by their family's mission to protect an underground Egyptian chamber that contains magical treasures.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Parts Four–Five
40 words 48 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. scathing
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    She stopped munching on her popcorn long enough to shoot Corey a scathing look that sent him and his bonehead friends snickering away.
  2. conscience
    motivation deriving from ethical or moral principles
    A twinge of guilt poked at her conscience, but Sahara prodded it back.
  3. rig
    arrange the outcome of by means of deceit
    It wasn’t cheating when the game was rigged.
  4. rogue
    disposed to or engaged in defiance of authority or rules
    “Rein it in,” Sahara whispered as she bent down, pretending to help pick up the darts while sneaking a rogue one out of her backpack. Vicky had stolen it from her brother’s dartboard set.
  5. loom
    appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    Beyond the refreshment station loomed rides like the spinning Round-Up, which had made Vicky throw up last year—they were steering clear of it today—while game booths covered the back of the field.
  6. gallantry
    the qualities of a hero or heroine
    And if that wasn’t bad enough, Corey suggested everyone wear their MERLIN’S MAGIC FIVE: MYSTERY, ADVENTURE, GALLANTRY, IMAGINATION, AND CURIOSITY pins the next day, knowing full well Sahara didn’t have one.
  7. appeal
    be attractive to
    Last Sunday, she’d spent the afternoon at the library researching and loading her list with attractions that would appeal to her engineer father.
  8. fabricate
    put together out of artificial or natural components
    She’d inherited her passion for “sciencey stuff” from her dad. She was way more interested in seeing the futuristic robots and computers and meeting the engineers responsible for fabricating the “magic” at the park than taking photos with some dude dressed up as Merlin.
  9. embroider
    decorate with needlework
    Just then, Ali Baba emerged from the house, dressed in his robe of honor, his graying hair neatly combed to one side. Her master only wore the gold- embroidered khil‘a for special occasions.
  10. reception
    a formal party
    Morgana had worked hard to make sure everything in the reception room, where they would be hosting tonight’s dinner, was in order.
  11. discretion
    knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress
    “Have you remembered to give Abu Hamid the night off once he’s done preparing dinner? Whatever brings Prince Ala el-Din and Princess Badr here in such a hurry demands discretion. Our discretion.”
  12. practically
    almost; nearly
    Morgana nodded as he walked, practically bounced, out the arched portico.
  13. emir
    an independent ruler or chieftain
    The emir had been so impressed by Ali Baba’s honesty when he’d reported the stolen gold and gems he found in the thieves’ chamber that he entrusted him with their guarding.
  14. yield
    give in, as to influence or pressure
    But even the firmest of plans must yield to the winds of change.
  15. adorned
    decorated or dressed up to be more beautiful or distinct
    Morgana slowly removed it, studying the round pendant hanging from its chain. An open palm facing down was engraved on it, each of the five fingers adorned with intricate scrollwork.
  16. vinyl
    shiny, tough, and flexible plastic
    Sahara preferred the clunky wooden table, where she didn’t have to worry about spilling anything on its dark vinyl cushions or adding another scratch to its already nicked surface.
  17. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    But not before casting a forlorn glance at an envelope taped to her closet. A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH, it read in bold letters, along with the logo of the retirement company that had sent it.
  18. sheer
    so thin as to transmit light
    In front of her stood a woman with a sheer scarf draped over her dark hair.
  19. subside
    wear off or die down
    Now that her anger had subsided, she couldn’t believe she’d run out on dinner.
  20. knack
    a special way of doing something
    Amitu had a knack for answering her unasked questions.
  21. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    She couldn’t wait to shove her I MET MERLIN THE MAGICIAN pin in front of Corey’s smug face.
  22. elusive
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    The world seemed so vast, and Morgana wondered if she’d ever get to see more than her corner of it. Tonight, that big, elusive world came to her.
  23. lattice
    framework consisting of an ornamental wood or metal design
    Her heart pounding in her chest, she peeked through the lattice window in time to catch Ali Baba bowing before the royal couple’s crimson robes.
  24. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    The princess complimented Ali Baba’s home, the word exquisite dripping from her red lips more than once.
    Ever humble, Morgana’s mawlay credited her for its fine state.
  25. drab
    causing dejection
    “After the loss of my beloved wife, this house would’ve become a drab shell of walls and floors if not for Morgana. Alhamdulillah. She has preserved and protected its sparkle.”
  26. partake
    consume
    Though Morgana had never heard of tea before, her mawlay had, begging the couple’s pardon for not partaking in any tonight.
  27. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    She memorized the intricate stitches of the embroidered golden birds, just in case one day she’d be able to tell Deena about tonight and how the princess’s beauty had rivaled the moon at its fullest.
  28. poise
    great coolness and composure under strain
    Not to mention her poise and the way she spun intelligent words together. Those came with high status, something Morgana would never have. But surely, the princess was rattled sometimes.
  29. privy
    informed about something secret or not generally known
    Morgana restrained herself from blurting, Are you here because of the jinni lamp? That would’ve gotten her thrown out of the reception room, especially since she shouldn’t have been privy to their conversation in the first place.
  30. settee
    a small sofa
    She searched for something, anything, that needed tidying, thanking Allah when her eyes met with the cushions that had fallen off the settee.
  31. tarnish
    discoloration of metal surface caused by oxidation
    Morgana would never gripe again at the time it took to remove the tarnish from the table’s silver top, for tonight it held an enchanted lamp!
  32. imperative
    requiring attention or action
    I know not if the lamp originated with him. Nonetheless, his hunger for it has driven him mad, making it imperative its powerful magic never falls into his hands.
  33. restraint
    discipline in personal and social activities
    Unlike you and my dear husband, he has no restraint or moral compass. He’s already slain several of our guards in pursuit of it.
  34. bestow
    present
    Of course Morgana would help Ali Baba keep the lamp safe, as she’d done with all of the chamber’s valuables, but this duty had been bestowed on him, not her.
  35. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    A light breeze rustled through the trees of the dark courtyard, cooling her flushed cheeks.
  36. lurch
    move abruptly
    Morgana’s stomach lurched.
  37. in vain
    without a successful result or effect
    If she hadn’t used the knife, she wouldn’t be alive, and the lamp would be gone. The prince and princess would’ve died in vain.
  38. malady
    impairment of normal physiological function
    He’d told her that its scent could heal any malady short of death.
  39. maintain
    state or assert
    He’d always maintained that their duty was to protect the treasures, not employ them for their advantage.
  40. correspondence
    communication by the exchange of letters
    She ran to Ali Baba’s study and grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill from the chest where he kept his old correspondences. Though she wasn’t very good at writing, Morgana thanked Allah that she could manage a sentence or two.
Created on Thu Aug 22 16:44:32 EDT 2024 (updated Fri Aug 23 14:32:06 EDT 2024)

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.