Sisters in the Wind: Part Three

by Angeline Boulley
This novel follows Ojibwe teenager Lucy Smith as she faces the horrors of her past in the foster system.

This list covers vocabulary from Part Three.

Here are links to our lists for the book:

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five.
15 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. complicit
    associated with or involved in some crime or wrongdoing
    Complicit women training little girls to be obedient while making excuses for the bad acts of boys and men.
  2. fitful
    intermittently stopping and starting
    I wake after fitful dreams of being chased while using a walker that grew heavier with each step.
  3. lilting
    characterized by a buoyant rhythm
    “Yes. I was thirteen. After my first night, I never wanted to leave,” Jennifer replied in her delicate, lilting voice that contrasted with her sturdiness.
  4. good egg
    (old-fashioned slang) a good person
    Although my roommate was what my dad would’ve called “rough around the edges,” she was also what Mister called “a good egg.”
  5. gravitas
    formality, dignity, or seriousness
    Jennifer’s voice, the most delicate thing about her, seemed to have gained volume and gravitas.
  6. solemnity
    a somber and dignified feeling
    Diego spoke with the solemnity of a priest administering the Last Rites.
  7. reticence
    the trait of being uncommunicative
    His cancer had been the most extreme example of his reticence.
  8. meekness
    a disposition to be patient and long suffering
    Meekness was out of character for Tonya.
  9. overhaul
    make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to
    I decided to overhaul the library as part of my spring-cleaning project.
  10. haggard
    showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
    The fourth woman is the oldest among us, although her haggard appearance makes it hard to tell exactly how much older.
  11. ostentatious
    intended to attract notice and impress others
    Not Prada like Jamie, but the less ostentatious attire.
  12. arraignment
    the act of calling someone before a court to be formally charged and to enter a plea
    My arraignment hearing goes the way Jamie hopes.
  13. cover story
    a made-up account to hide the truth or one's identity
    I know she pounced on the chance to see Jamie; I was just the cover story.
  14. inclement
    severe, of weather
    Inclement weather earlier in the day, including a tornado, impacted the response time.
  15. serendipitous
    lucky in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries
    “It’s so serendipitous … crossing paths with Maggie’s daughter after all this time.”
Created on Mon Mar 09 08:14:15 EDT 2026 (updated Mon Mar 16 12:18:32 EDT 2026)

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