Gregor the Overlander: Chapters 10–13

by Suzanne Collins
In the basement of their New York City apartment building, Gregor and his little sister discover a portal to an underground world populated by giant bats, insects, and rodents.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–27

Here are links to our lists for other books by Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. pry
    move or force in an effort to get something open
    Memories flashed through his mind. His dad fanning out the keys to find the one to open the front door. His dad jingling the keys in front of Lizzie in her stroller. His dad on a picnic blanket in Central Park, using a key to pry open a container of potato salad.
  2. sanity
    normal or sound powers of mind
    “To keep sanity must be a struggle, to keep honor a Herculean feat. I am not judging your father, only seeking to explain why he survives so long.”
  3. herculean
    extremely difficult; requiring great strength
    “To keep sanity must be a struggle, to keep honor a Herculean feat. I am not judging your father, only seeking to explain why he survives so long.”
  4. recourse
    something or someone turned to for assistance or security
    “The rats fight well in close range. But if we attack from afar, they have no recourse but to run. Of all things, they wish a way to kill us at a distance,” said Luxa.
  5. frolic
    play boisterously
    These weren’t the frolicking animals he’d seen elsewhere in Regalia, these were words. Tiny words that must’ve taken forever to chisel out.
  6. chisel
    carve with an edge tool
    These weren’t the frolicking animals he’d seen elsewhere in Regalia, these were words. Tiny words that must’ve taken forever to chisel out.
  7. prophecy
    a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
    “These are the prophecies of Bartholomew of Sandwich,” said Vikus.
  8. fitful
    intermittently stopping and starting
    Gregor awoke from a fitful sleep.
  9. giddy
    lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
    Despite all of his worries, and he had plenty, Gregor couldn’t deny a feeling of giddy happiness that shot through him periodically.
  10. wolf down
    eat quickly
    He wolfed down bread, butter, and a mushroom omelette.
  11. defiant
    boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
    Luxa was also there, looking tired and defiant.
  12. ensue
    take place or happen afterward or as a result
    “I’m ready!” said Gregor eagerly. “Let me just get Boots and we can go.”
    “Ah, yes, the baby,” said Solovet. And another round of arguments ensued.
  13. assent
    agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
    From around the table came a general murmur of assent.
  14. quest
    the act of searching for something
    “Pursuing the quest for your father is our best hope of surviving it,” said Vikus.
  15. delegation
    a group of representatives
    “Take him to the museum, let him choose whatever he thinks may aid him on the journey. Ah, here is the delegation from Troy!” said Vikus.
  16. extravagance
    the quality of exceeding appropriate limits
    He knew it was an extravagance, that he should only take essentials, but he had to have it.
  17. reluctantly
    with a certain degree of unwillingness
    She shot the beam of light around the room before returning it to Gregor reluctantly.
  18. manic
    affected with or marked by frenzy uncontrolled by reason
    As they veered sideways over the city of Regalia, Gregor was reminded of the gravity of their task by the manic activity below.
  19. fortify
    make strong or stronger
    The gates to the stadium were being fortified with huge stone slabs.
  20. harness
    exploit the power of
    “Gregor, we did not leave our minds in the Overland when we fell. We have inventors just as you do, and light is most precious to us. Think you we poor Underlanders might not have stumbled upon some manner of harnessing it ourselves?” said Vikus good-naturedly.
  21. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    Gregor felt sheepish.
  22. scrutinize
    examine carefully for accuracy
    She uncurled a large map on her bat’s back and scrutinized it.
  23. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    “Luxa will ascend the throne when she turns sixteen. Until then Regalia is ruled by the council. I am but a humble diplomat who spends his spare time trying to teach prudence to the royal youth. You see how well I succeed,” Vikus said wryly.
  24. diplomat
    an official engaged in international negotiations
    “Luxa will ascend the throne when she turns sixteen. Until then Regalia is ruled by the council. I am but a humble diplomat who spends his spare time trying to teach prudence to the royal youth. You see how well I succeed,” Vikus said wryly.
  25. prudence
    discretion in practical affairs
    “Luxa will ascend the throne when she turns sixteen. Until then Regalia is ruled by the council. I am but a humble diplomat who spends his spare time trying to teach prudence to the royal youth. You see how well I succeed,” Vikus said wryly.
  26. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    “Luxa will ascend the throne when she turns sixteen. Until then Regalia is ruled by the council. I am but a humble diplomat who spends his spare time trying to teach prudence to the royal youth. You see how well I succeed,” Vikus said wryly.
  27. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    “Do not let Solovet’s gentle demeanor fool you. In the planning of battles, she is more cunning and wily than a rat.”
  28. cunning
    showing inventiveness and skill
    “Do not let Solovet’s gentle demeanor fool you. In the planning of battles, she is more cunning and wily than a rat.”
  29. wily
    marked by skill in deception
    “Do not let Solovet’s gentle demeanor fool you. In the planning of battles, she is more cunning and wily than a rat.”
  30. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
    “Sandwich could never clearly see if in fact you succeed in bringing back light or if you fail. But he most adamantly insisted we attempt the venture or die by the rats’ teeth.”
  31. inspiring
    stimulating or exalting to the spirit
    “Well, that’s not too inspiring,” said Gregor.
  32. plausible
    apparently reasonable, valid, or truthful
    The possibility that Gregor might fail made the whole prophecy more plausible.
  33. descent
    the kinship relation between an individual and progenitors
    ‘Two under’ of royal descent are Luxa and Henry.
  34. spiel
    artful or slick talk used to persuade
    He’d been about to go into his spiel about how he wasn’t the warrior, but then what?
  35. quaver
    a tremulous sound
    Gregor stood up straight and tried to control the quaver that slipped into his voice.
  36. swath
    a path or strip (also figurative)
    The beam was strong and cut a wide swath of light through the blackness.
  37. heave
    lift or elevate
    He stuffed Boots into the pack and heaved her onto his back.
  38. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    So he gave them a look of contempt and walked away.
  39. vexation
    anger produced by some annoying irritation
    Luxa bit her lip in vexation.
  40. compensate
    adjust for
    “He is no good to us dead...yet...and even the bats may not be able to compensate for his clumsiness. Come, I will race you to the pitch pool.”
Created on Thu Jul 19 20:59:52 EDT 2018 (updated Fri Jul 27 11:06:34 EDT 2018)

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