Dealing with Dragons: Chapters 1–2

by Patricia C. Wrede
Princess Cimorene, bored with being a princess, runs away to live with a powerful dragon named Kazul. Her life becomes full of exciting adventures and dangerous characters: a witch, a jinn, wizards, and more!

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–11, Chapters 12–15
15 words 11 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. disposition
    an attitude of mind that favors one alternative over others
    Their first six daughters were perfectly normal princesses, with long, golden hair and sweet dispositions, each more beautiful than the last.
  2. minstrel
    a singer of folk songs
    The same thing happened over the Latin lessons from the court philosopher, the cooking lessons from the castle chef, the economics lessons from the court treasurer, and the juggling lessons from the court minstrel.
  3. precocious
    characterized by exceptionally early development
    “Oh, very well. You’re a bit young to have fallen in love already; still, you
    always have been a precocious child. Tell me about him.”
  4. tourney
    a sporting competition
    A few weeks later, Cimorene’s parents took her to a tourney in Sathem-by-the-Mountains, the next kingdom over.
  5. stipulation
    a restriction insisted upon as a condition for an agreement
    “The stipulations and covenants and contracts and settlements have all been drawn up, and they’re going to sign them the day after tomorrow and announce it on Th-Thursday.”
  6. covenant
    a signed written agreement between two or more parties
    “The stipulations and covenants and contracts and settlements have all been drawn up, and they’re going to sign them the day after tomorrow and announce it on Th-Thursday.”
  7. placidly
    in a quiet and tranquil manner
    “That’s a great pity, dear, but it can’t be helped,” Cimorene’s mother said placidly.
  8. reprovingly
    in a disapproving, disappointing, or critical manner
    “I don’t think it’s necessary,” Cimorene’s mother said. She looked reprovingly at Cimorene.
  9. abruptly
    quickly and without warning
    The frog turned abruptly and dove into the pool.
  10. prowess
    a superior skill learned by study and practice
    By the end of the formal banquet, at which she had to sit next to Prince Therandil and listen to endless stories of his prowess in battle, Cimorene was more than ready to take the frog’s advice.
  11. conjugate
    add inflections showing person, number, gender, or tense
    “Well, I’m not a proper princess, then,” Cimorene snapped. “I make cherries jubilee, and I volunteer for dragons, and I conjugate Latin verbs—or at least I would if anyone would let me. So there!”
  12. aback
    by surprise
    “Not be rescued?” The knight's puzzled look deepened. “But princesses always—”
    “No, they don’t,” Cimorene said firmly, recognizing the beginning of a familiar argument. “And even if I wanted to be rescued, you’re going at it all wrong.”
    “What?” said the knight, thoroughly taken aback.
  13. crestfallen
    brought low in spirit
    “Oh,” said the knight, sounding very crestfallen. “What should I have said?”
  14. dowry
    money brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
    “Father’s offered half the kingdom to whoever rescues me?” Cimorene said incredulously. “That’s more than all my sisters’ dowries put together!”
  15. incredulously
    in a disbelieving manner
    “Father’s offered half the kingdom to whoever rescues me?” Cimorene said incredulously. “That’s more than all my sisters’ dowries put together!”
Created on Fri Jun 12 16:09:26 EDT 2026 (updated Mon Jul 06 16:21:24 EDT 2026)

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