"The Landlady"

Mackenzie S. (United States of America)
While on the road, Billy Weaver stops at a quaint bed and breakfast—but the old landlady isn't what she seems.

Here is a link to our lists for Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl.
15 words 19 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. porter
    a railroad employee who assists passengers
    “Try The Bell and Dragon,” the porter answered, pointing down the road.
  2. swanky
    impressively fashionable and elegant
    They had porches and pillars and four or five steps going up to their front doors, and it was obvious that once upon a time they had been very swanky residences.
  3. facade
    the front of a building
    But now, even in the darkness, he could see that the paint was peeling from the woodwork on their doors and windows, and that the handsome white facades were cracked and blotchy from neglect.
  4. congenial
    suitable to your needs
    On the other hand, a pub would be more congenial than a boardinghouse.
  5. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    The name itself conjured up images of watery cabbage, rapacious landladies, and a powerful smell of kippers in the living-room.
  6. rapacious
    excessively greedy and grasping
    The name itself conjured up images of watery cabbage, rapacious landladies, and a powerful smell of kippers in the living room.
  7. dither
    be undecided or uncertain
    After dithering about like this in the cold for two or three minutes, Billy decided that he would walk on and take a look at The Bell and Dragon before making up his mind.
  8. compulsion
    an urge to do something that might be better left undone
    The compulsion or, more accurately, the desire to follow after her into that house was extraordinarily strong.
  9. earnest
    characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions
    “I’m so glad you appeared,” she said, looking earnestly into his face. “I was beginning to get worried.”
  10. swamp
    drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
    Everyone has to do that because it’s the law of the land, and we don’t want to go breaking any laws at this stage in the proceedings, do we?
  11. dainty
    affectedly refined
    “Dear me,” she said, shaking her head and heaving a dainty little sigh.
  12. tantalizing
    arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
    There is nothing more tantalizing than a thing like this that lingers just outside the borders of one’s memory.
  13. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    Now and again, he caught a whiff of a peculiar smell that seemed to emanate directly from her person.
  14. trifle
    something of small importance
    But I think he was a trifle shorter than you are; in fact I’m sure he was, and his teeth weren’t quite so white.
  15. blemish
    a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something
    There wasn’t a blemish on his body.
Created on Thu Apr 16 15:30:42 EDT 2026 (updated Thu Apr 16 15:31:09 EDT 2026)

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