Tangleroot: Chapters 6–9

by Kalela Williams
Noni Reid has to leave her Boston home and move with her perfect, successful mom back to the family's southern roots in rural Virginia. There, she not only struggles with her mom's acceptance of her, but also the truth she uncovers about southern plantation life and who is related to whom.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapters 15–19, Chapters 20–25
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. spartan
    marked by simplicity, frugality, or self-denial
    “No, Noni. He’s very neat and spartan. It seems he’s really outdoorsy. It’s great that he’s staying active in his older years.”
  2. testament
    a legal document disposing of property after a death
    Then I noticed Sophronia’s name on a will dated February 1858:
    I, Thomas Dearborn, do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.
  3. apoplexy
    a loss of consciousness from the lack of oxygen in the brain
    Tom Dearborn died of “apoplexy” while his wife, Martha, was done in by “ague.” I didn’t know what those things were, but neither sounded like much fun.
  4. ague
    chills and fever that are symptomatic of malaria
    Tom Dearborn died of “apoplexy” while his wife, Martha, was done in by “ague.” I didn’t know what those things were, but neither sounded like much fun.
  5. docent
    a guide who leads others on a tour
    Still, the ancient docent lent me a few books about the nineteenth century, which I figured couldn’t hurt.
  6. flounce
    a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
    It was Darlie who was meant to be a milkmaid, though in a little fit of revenge, I made her dress aggressively girly: floral-printed cotton with tucks and flounces everywhere, the opposite of what seemed like her blue-jeans and American flag T-shirt style.
  7. crony
    a close friend or associate
    “So Mrs. Chilton and her cronies used to host this weekend-long event every year. It was supposed to celebrate Magnolia as a perfect Southern town by puffing up the ‘founding families.’”
  8. calving
    giving birth to a baby cow, whale, elephant, etc.
    “Bette’s a good gal. I delivered her twins this past spring,” Doctor Mayor said. “Was her first time calving: breached birth, uterine torsion, and she handled it like any good mama would. Let’s hear it for the Bovine Miss M!”
  9. travesty
    a distorted, debased, or absurd imitation of something
    "Our gentlemen upheld the utmost virtue, and it is a travesty to know such falsehoods have been spread about them."
  10. turpitude
    a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
    "When I think of the senator’s forefathers who built Trianon into a great empire, accused of such moral turpitude, it’s enough to make me swoon."
  11. din
    a loud, harsh, or strident noise
    The din of the dining hall overpowered my voice.
  12. contention
    a point asserted as part of an argument
    With Professor Corn’s “Dr. Castine’s contention is this,” and “Dr. Castine posits that,” I was thankful for my different last name.
  13. posit
    put forward, as an idea
    With Professor Corn’s “Dr. Castine’s contention is this,” and “Dr. Castine posits that,” I was thankful for my different last name.
  14. debacle
    a sudden and complete disaster
    “It was a big deal. The statue debate—or debacle, really, made the national news,” Jabari said.
  15. contingent
    a gathering of persons representative of some larger group
    “Lana Jean got a whole contingent of white-rights groups from all over the country to see the senator’s monument installed.”
Created on Mon Sep 07 21:19:13 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Oct 13 11:46:09 EDT 2026)

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