Dread Nation: Chapters 30–38

by Justina Ireland
The American Civil War ends abruptly when fallen soldiers begin to rise from the dead and attack the living. Like many Native American and African American children, Jane is conscripted into a combat school to learn to fight these so-called "shamblers." But when Jane heads to the West to search for a missing girl, she encounters dangers even more perilous than zombies.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–15, Chapters 16–23, Chapters 24–29, Chapters 30–38
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. burgeon
    grow and flourish
    The voice cuts through my burgeoning terror and sends me springing to my feet.
  2. swain
    a young male suitor
    Jackson moves over to Katherine and bows over her hand like a true swain, murmuring pleasantries.
  3. waylay
    wait in hiding to attack
    “We need to get out and waylay whoever is heading this way so Jackson can get what he needs.”
  4. mincing
    affectedly dainty or refined
    Katherine gives the man a small smile and takes a mincing step back, putting a few additional inches between her and the holy man.
  5. penitent
    feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds
    “My dear, the penitent show understanding to all those beneath them, no matter their flaws. Was she able to find your hairpin?”
  6. farce
    a comedy characterized by broad satire
    Katherine's ability to play the farce rivals my own.
  7. rapt
    feeling great delight and interest
    The preacher is rapt with attention as Katherine begins spinning out a tale of woe and misery so pitiful that it belongs in a weekly serial.
  8. squalor
    sordid dirtiness
    Katherine’s house is downright luxurious, particularly when compared to the squalor I’ve gotten used to.
  9. don
    put on clothes
    I follow her into the back bedroom, hanging the dress up on one of the wooden hangers in the wardrobe as Katherine pulls the lacing to remove her corset, donning the dressing gown, a bright silk garment that features embroidered dragons along the front.
  10. nuance
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
    Nuance is important, that’s what I always say.
  11. doff
    remove
    He startles as he looks at me, adjusting his spectacles before doffing his hat in a lovely display of manners that I’ve seen men lavish on white ladies, but I sure ain’t used to.
  12. indisposed
    somewhat ill or prone to illness
    “Mr. Gideon. I'm sorry, but Miss Katherine is indisposed.”
  13. cadence
    a recurrent rhythmical series
    I put a bit of a drawl in my voice, stressing the natural cadence of my words.
  14. ruse
    a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture
    Now that I know what it costs her emotionally to go along with my ruse I’m even more anxious to put our plan into action.
  15. askance
    with suspicion or disapproval
    “Those are weapons?” she says, looking askance at the blades tucked in the ties at my waist.
  16. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
    Sometimes a little subterfuge and chicanery is in order and the quickest way to achieve one’s goal.
  17. canter
    a smooth three-beat gait
    We keep pace with the horses' canter, following the lanterns the riders carry.
  18. timbre
    the distinctive property of a complex sound
    “Get on line!” the sheriff calls again, alarm clear in the timbre of his voice.
  19. viscera
    internal organs collectively
    I wipe the back of my sleeve across my forehead, smearing viscera across my face.
  20. precocious
    characterized by exceptionally early development
    It was my fault that I'd beamed when Miss Davenport, Momma's loathsome cousin by marriage, had mentioned what a precocious child I was and how familiar my features seemed.
  21. applique
    a decorative design made of one material sewn over another
    I follow behind Katherine, who looks absolutely stunning in a day dress bedecked with applique roses along the hem.
  22. preemptive
    designed to prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence
    Katherine and I had decided this was the best course of action, a preemptive strike on whatever the sheriff had planned in retaliation.
  23. overture
    a tentative suggestion to elicit the reactions of others
    “Yes, and thank you for coming. I’d worried that after last night’s incident my overture came too late, but it looks like we still have a little time.”
  24. brocade
    thick expensive material with a raised pattern
    “Is the rationing really because of the extra families or because the supply line from Baltimore is gone?” I ask, settling into a very comfortable looking brocade wing chair that is completely out of place in the otherwise functional lab.
  25. glean
    gather, as of natural products
    I very quickly fill Mr. Gideon in on the bits and pieces of information we gleaned from our brief reunion with Jackson.
  26. suffuse
    cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
    I stare at Gideon, a warm feeling suffusing my chest.
  27. goad
    provoke as by constant criticism
    Alan scowls at me, not sure if I’m being sincere or goading him.
  28. wistfully
    in a pensively sad manner
    I raise a hand to help Katherine down and he watches her wistfully.
  29. supplication
    the act of communicating with a deity
    “Summerland is a city on the hill,” the pastor says, raising his hands in supplication, as though he’s appealing to a higher power.
  30. proselytize
    convert or try to convert someone to another religion
    “You look like a man who wants to live. Please tell the sheriff that ain’t no amount of proselytizing is going to keep that undead horde from overrunning us.”
  31. traipse
    walk or tramp about
    The last time I felt this way was when Jackson came traipsing through the door.
  32. jaunty
    having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
    I pick it up and put it on, adjusting it so that it sits at a jaunty angle.
  33. inexorable
    impossible to prevent, resist, or stop
    I’m frozen for a few precious moments, taking in this horrible scene, watching the inexorable march of the shamblers, when a strong grip on my arm jolts me out of my shock.
  34. apropos
    of a suitable, fitting, or pertinent nature
    “Oh, I am Fortune’s fool,” I say, knowing Katherine won’t get the reference. But the quote is too apropos.
  35. tribulation
    an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
    After the trials and tribulations of Summerland, I know my life’s path: Stop the Survivalists and all those like them.
Created on Wed May 30 08:33:15 EDT 2018 (updated Wed May 30 13:50:22 EDT 2018)

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