Without Refuge: Chapters 5–10

by Jane Mitchell
Refugees from the violent civil war in their homeland of Syria, Ghalib and his family attempt to journey to safety.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–10, Chapters 11–16, Chapters 17–23
40 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. parcel
    a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
    Dapir and Dayah are wrapping food parcels in the front room.
  2. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    He gives five gold necklaces, two rings, and a bracelet to Dayah, a necklace and gold bangle to Bushra.
  3. divert
    send on a course different from the planned or intended one
    “We won’t get into the Old City,” the driver says.
    “As near as you can,” Baba says.
    “They’ll divert us to the highway.”
  4. fare
    the sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
    Baba argues with the driver about the fare.
  5. conservative
    unimaginatively conventional
    Dayah, Dapir and Bushra put on the most conservative headscarves they have.
  6. wraith
    a ghostly figure, especially one seen shortly before death
    They haunt the windows of derelict buildings, appearing like wraiths, disappearing as quickly.
  7. matted
    tangled in a dense mass
    Their faces are yellow, their hair matted and filthy.
  8. horde
    a vast multitude
    The hordes are engrossed by something in their midst.
  9. engrossed
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    The hordes are engrossed by something in their midst.
  10. rapt
    feeling great delight and interest
    It holds their rapt attention.
  11. straggle
    go, come, or spread in a rambling or irregular way
    Ahead and behind, people straggle along the length of the road.
  12. rambling
    spreading out in different directions
    We’re still some distance from Urum al-Kubra when I see blue smoke-haze hanging like cobwebs around the trees rambling up the hills.
  13. wariness
    the trait of being cautious and watchful
    Baba is watchful. His wariness frightens me.
  14. recess
    an enclosure that is set back or indented
    Dayah and Baba sleep in a small recess off the kitchen, while Dapir has a proper bed upstairs.
  15. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    Dapir walks slowly but doesn’t stop. She hasn’t stopped since we started. She carries her own bag and plods on.
  16. snivel
    cry or whine with snuffling
    He snivels and squints into the distance, searching the stony brown hills.
  17. flank
    a subfigure consisting of a side of something
    He points to a cluster of ruins on the flank of the hill rising from the road.
  18. sober
    become or cause to become more serious
    That sobers us up. Now that Alan has put it out there, I can’t relax thinking the sniper might come after us.
  19. lark
    any of numerous birds noted for their singing
    We listen for anyone approaching but the only sounds in the barren countryside are a lark, high overhead, and the soft breeze whispering past the walls of the little house.
  20. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
    Dayah says nothing, which I take as tacit approval, though it could also be that she’s annoyed with Baba.
  21. slew
    move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled way
    I try to stop myself, but I’m at full pelt. I slither and slide over loose shale. I slew to a stop.
  22. mesmerize
    attract strongly, as if with a magnet
    I stare at her, unable to tear my gaze from her face. Her eyes mesmerize me.
  23. tunic
    loose fitting cloak or blouse extending to the hips or knees
    She is dressed in a striped cotton tunic. Long skirts. Beaded waistcoat.
  24. defiant
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    She has a dangerous and defiant stare.
  25. privy
    a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
    From the smell of the place, they haven’t been using the privy.
  26. descent
    a movement downward
    The descent is slower than our climb. Baba moves slowly down the hillside with his bundle.
  27. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    The girl remains at the threshold, crouched among her bags and blankets, gun propped across her lap.
  28. infusion
    the passive introduction of a substance into a vein
    “Doing well. On his third infusion with antibiotics.”
  29. brazen
    not held back by conventional ideas of behavior
    She wears her sniper spirit brazenly.
  30. stark
    complete or extreme
    In stark contrast, she also carries the deep concern and gentleness I first saw yesterday in her anxiety for her little brother.
  31. municipal
    of or relating to the government of a district
    We lower our bags to the steps of a large municipal building and sink to the cool stone to rest and take stock.
  32. trough
    a long narrow shallow receptacle
    Safaa points to the far side of the square, where a carved lion’s head trickles water into a moss-green stone trough.
  33. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    As we gather up our bags to move on, Safaa looks uncertain, in contrast to her earlier demeanor.
  34. bramble
    any of various rough thorny shrubs or vines
    The countryside is scattered with Roman remains from centuries past—blocks of carved stone and broken columns and foundations—overgrown with vines and brambles.
  35. idle
    run disconnected
    Trucks, vans, and buses line the dusty highway winding through the brown hills. Nothing moves. Engines idle, filling the air with fumes.
  36. straddle
    range or extend over; occupy a certain area
    A cluster of low buildings straddles the highway.
  37. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    The sweeping crowd grows thicker and stronger. It seethes and surges.
  38. throng
    a large gathering of people
    We no longer walk the highway among a stream of people. Instead we’re swallowed up by a heaving throng.
  39. gouge
    make a groove in
    A deep trench has been gouged into the soil immediately in front of the double rows of barbed wire.
  40. mill
    move about in a confused manner
    Dayah points through the darkening distance to a white van that’s pulled off the road, hazard lights flashing. Crowds mill around it.
Created on Mon Jul 02 17:23:10 EDT 2018 (updated Mon Jul 09 16:06:08 EDT 2018)

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