"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 20

In a dystopian future a young girl is forced to fight for her life and the life of her family in Suzanne Collins's hugely successful book series.

When you finish this list, move on to the Chapter 21 words.
16 words 135 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Getting the broth into Peeta takes an hour of coaxing, begging, threatening, and yes, kissing, but finally, sip by sip, he empties the pot.
  2. scant
    less than the correct or legal or full amount
    I left the scene of his last hiding place on the bank of the stream untouched -- how could I conceal it? -- and we're a scant fifty yards downstream.
  3. dwell
    think moodily or anxiously about something
    I spend the night half-sitting, half-lying next to Peeta, refreshing the bandage, and trying not to dwell on the fact that by teaming up with him, I've made myself far more vulnerable than when I was alone.
  4. caress
    a gentle affectionate stroking
    Unlike the staged kisses and caresses so far, this gesture seems natural and comforting.
  5. scowl
    a facial expression of dislike or displeasure
    This, of course, brings on a scowl that makes him grin.
  6. potent
    having a strong physiological or chemical effect
    I can't imagine the cost of such potent medicine.
  7. plummet
    drop sharply
    I swear the Gamemakers are progressively ratcheting up the temperature in the daytime and sending it plummeting at night.
  8. wheedle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    But once in a while, Prim wheedles one out of me.
  9. exasperation
    a feeling of annoyance
    Something between a sigh and a huff of exasperation leaves my mouth.
  10. pang
    a sudden sharp feeling
    Momentarily, I'd felt a pang at killing something so fresh and innocent.
  11. intervene
    get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action
    Greasy Sae had intervened and sent us with our deer to the butcher, but not before it'd been badly damaged, hunks of meat taken, the hide riddled with holes.
  12. maul
    injure badly
    Something, probably a dog, had mauled her shoulder and infection had set in.
  13. incompetent
    not qualified or suited for a purpose
    But then I bite my tongue, realizing what that must sound like to Peeta, who is dying, in my incompetent hands.
  14. stalemate
    a situation in which no progress can be made
    We're at something of a stalemate.
  15. vial
    a small bottle that contains liquid medicine
    I uncork the vial and take a deep sniff.
  16. hysterical
    marked by excessive or uncontrollable emotion
    My mother gives it to hysterical patients to knock them out to stitch up a bad wound or quiet their minds or just to help someone in pain get through the night.
Created on Wed Apr 18 13:54:30 EDT 2012 (updated Mon Aug 04 12:10:27 EDT 2014)

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