The Thief Lord: Chapters 1-11

by Cornelia Funke
Translated from German by Oliver Latsch, this story follows two brothers who run away to Venice and get mixed up in a plot to steal a piece of a magical merry-go-round.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1-11, Chapters 12-21, Chapters 22-31, Chapters 32-43, Chapters 44-53
40 words 76 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. canal
    long and narrow strip of water for boats or for irrigation
    The house in which Victor lived and worked stood close to a canal; so close, in fact, that the water lapped against its walls.
  2. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    They looked around warily, taking in the cacti, the beard and mustache collection, the coat stand bursting with Victor's caps, hats and wigs, the huge street map of Venice on the wall, and the winged lion that served as a paperweight on Victor's desk.
  3. camouflage
    the act of concealing the identity of something
    "Oh, that's just for camouflage," he explained, pulling the mustache from his lip. "Quite a necessity in my line of work. Well, what can I do for you? Anything lost or stolen, any pet run away?"
  4. concierge
    a caretaker in an apartment complex or hotel
    “Sadly, I have to return home on urgent business. We would therefore like to put you in charge of the search for the boys, Mr. Getz. The concierge at our hotel recommended you.''
  5. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    She wrinkled her nose and cast a contemptuous look through the window at the crumbling plaster of the neighboring houses.
  6. flabbergasted
    as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise
    “For heaven's sake, of course I didn't!" Esther Hartlieb looked flabbergasted. Her husband just shook his head as if it was the strangest thing he'd ever heard.
  7. sullenly
    in a manner showing a brooding ill humor
    It was a pretty bridge, but the couple seemed not to take any notice of it. They rushed across it sullenly, without even a glance at the scrawny dog barking at them from a passing barge.
  8. cranny
    a small opening or crevice
    He had lived in Venice for more than fifteen years and he still didn't know all the city's nooks and crannies—but then again no one did.
  9. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    They had been meandering between all the human feet, completely oblivious to the world.
  10. oblivious
    lacking conscious awareness of
    They had been meandering between all the human feet, completely oblivious to the world. When Victor picked them up they quickly retreated into their shells.
  11. darn
    repair a garment by weaving thread across a hole
    “But his mother should darn his pants and dress him in warmer clothes. The winter is coming. Didn’t you hear the wind in the chimneys today?”
  12. defiantly
    in a rebellious manner
    Bo pushed out his lower lip defiantly, sulkily holding onto Hornet's arm. “I found it! I told you! A big bald man dropped it out of his pocket. He didn't even notice it. And then I found it!"
  13. waft
    be driven or carried along, as by the air
    The smells of coffee and sweet pastries wafted at him from the houses. Their home had smelled very different.
  14. scrawny
    being very thin
    Riccio was a scrawny boy and at least a head shorter than Prosper, although he wasn't much younger than him.
  15. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    “Wake the others,” Scipio commanded in his bossy, condescending voice, which Hornet hated so much.
  16. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    “Did we check out everything properly this time?” Riccio asked humbly, crawling out from underneath his stuffed animals.
  17. dumbfounded
    as if rendered speechless with astonishment and surprise
    “So what do you say? Am I the Thief Lord, or not?”
    Riccio just nodded dumbfoundedly and even Hornet couldn't hide the fact that she was quite impressed.
  18. serpentine
    resembling a snake in form
    “Boy, one day they are going to catch you,” Mosca murmured, staring fascinated at the serpentine magnifying glass.
  19. haggle
    wrangle, as over a price or terms of an agreement
    "Prop can haggle like no one else," Bo suddenly said. “When we used to sell things at the flea market, he always put on this stony face and I..."
  20. scrutinize
    examine carefully for accuracy
    “What’s so different?” Scipio scrutinized Prosper’s face as if he could read there whether Bo had been right or not.
  21. shudder
    tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
    “Yes,” Hornet shuddered. “The redbeard gives me the creeps every time he looks at me with his little piggy eyes. I always think he’s secretly laughing at us or that he’s going to call the police or something. I can’t wait to get out of his shop.”
  22. threadbare
    thin and tattered with age
    In the window itself, there were vases and candlesticks, surrounded by little gondolas and glass insects, laid out on threadbare velvet drapes.
  23. plinth
    an architectural support or base, as for a column or statue
    When Prosper saw the price tag underneath its plinth, he nearly knocked over a large statue in the center of the shop.
  24. disdainfully
    without respect
    “I hope you brought some decent goods this time," the man murmured disdainfully, but the boys noticed how he stared at the bag in Prosper's hands, like a hungry cat eyeing up a fat, juicy mouse.
  25. discreet
    marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint
    Then he nodded discreetly in the direction of the couple of tourists that were still standing by the shelves, whispering to each other.
  26. meticulously
    in a manner marked by extreme care of details
    The windowless room was lit by a neon light and was completely bare, except for a big desk with a massive leather armchair behind it, two guest chairs, and a few high shelves stuffed with meticulously labeled boxes.
  27. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
    "Here I am, making you a generous offer—far too generous—and you go and make outrageous demands. Tell the Thief Lord never again to send such impertinent kids if he wants to continue doing business with Ernesto Barbarossa!"
  28. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    “Excellent.” Barbarossa leaned back in his armchair with a smug smile.
  29. stocky
    having a short and solid form or stature
    The man was small and stocky. A piece of cheese clung to his thick walrus mustache.
  30. teem
    move in large numbers
    Ahead of them lay the Grand Canal. Its banks were crowded with people and its glittering surface teemed with boats.
  31. snoop
    a spy who makes inquiries into the private affairs of others
    “Stop looking like that. We’ve lost the snoop!’’
  32. warren
    a series of underground tunnels occupied by rabbits
    And because it had rained so much the previous winter the city had flooded a dozen times. Still, Venice had lots of nooks and crannies, like an old rabbit warren. There was always some dry place for two children.
  33. wangle
    achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods
    But the long wait was quickly forgotten anyway, when Prosper pulled the money from his jacket that he had wangled out of the redbeard.
  34. absentminded
    lost in thought; showing preoccupation
    Scipio nodded absentmindedly before turning to Prosper and Riccio.
  35. tousle
    disarrange or rumple; dishevel
    Looking pleased, Hornet got up and tousled Prosper's hair. “Tomorrow you'll get a new hairdo," she said, “and now stop worrying about that detective."
  36. distinguished
    standing above others in character or attainment
    Once you meet the Conte in person you will see that there can be no doubt as to his distinguished ancestry.
  37. venerable
    profoundly honored
    Some members of this venerable family have not been blessed by fate. There has even been talk of a curse.
  38. pompous
    puffed up with vanity
    Of course he had heard all the names the redbeard had just so pompously strung out. He knew the palaces and museums that bore their names, but about the people themselves, he knew nothing.
  39. punctual
    acting or arriving exactly at the time appointed
    "Tomorrow afternoon. Three o'clock sharp. The Conte will wait for you in the first confessional on the left. And don't be late. The man is always very punctual."
  40. coy
    affectedly shy especially in a playful or provocative way
    The lady at the table to his right turned around and eyed him suspiciously. Victor gave her a coy smile.
Created on Tue Oct 10 21:56:55 EDT 2017 (updated Mon Oct 23 16:04:25 EDT 2017)

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