The Golden Goblet: Chapters 7–9

by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
An orphan living in ancient Egypt, twelve-year-old Ranofer dreams of becoming a master goldsmith — but instead he must work at menial jobs for his cruel half-brother. When Ranofer discovers a stolen goblet in his brother's possession, he believes he may have a chance at a new life.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–16
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. desiccated
    thoroughly dried out
    In the wake of the reapers’ scythes the black land showed again through the stubble, no longer moist and rich but bone-hard, desiccated, and beginning to crack in all directions under the burning sun.
  2. menial
    relating to unskilled work, especially domestic work
    No longer was he the budding craftsman who in spite of a menial position in the goldhouse could teach apprentices their tasks.
  3. lithe
    moving and bending with ease
    Ranofer stood for some moments among the great nets spread out to dry on the dock before he saw the familiar lithe figure, so much better fleshed than his own, squirming through the crowd about the ferry landing and running toward him.
  4. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    Ranofer flashed him a belligerent look.
  5. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    “I am learning, I think. As the hare said when he tried to fly,” Heqet added wryly.
  6. resolutely
    showing firm determination or purpose
    I will dig a lotus root on my way to meet him, Ranofer thought, resolutely ignoring the fact that he had no knife to pare the root, and that the strong anise flavor of lotus root had always made him feel slightly nauseated.
  7. pare
    cut small bits from
    I will dig a lotus root on my way to meet him, Ranofer thought, resolutely ignoring the fact that he had no knife to pare the root, and that the strong anise flavor of lotus root had always made him feel slightly nauseated.
  8. amiable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    Heqet stood up too, an impatient scowl on his usually amiable face.
  9. placid
    not easily irritated
    Beyond him was the placid, soft-eyed face of the donkey, Lotus.
  10. philosophical
    meeting trouble with level-headed detachment
    He shrugged and sighed so philosophically that Heqet burst out laughing, and even Ranofer smiled sheepishly.
  11. sheepish
    showing a sense of shame
    He shrugged and sighed so philosophically that Heqet burst out laughing, and even Ranofer smiled sheepishly.
  12. dismally
    in a cheerless manner
    “Someday I will,” Ranofer said, but he looked at his gritty hands, rough from a day’s sandstoning, adorned with one of the ever-present bandages, and wondered dismally if the day would ever come.
  13. earnest
    not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal
    Besides, it was not long before Ranofer realized he could never increase his skill merely by listening to Heqet’s earnest explanations.
  14. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
    There was no dust, much quiet, and a pervading fragrance of flowers and wealth.
  15. diffident
    lacking self-confidence
    Diffidently Ranofer raised the latch, opened the gate just wide enough for them both to squeeze through, and closed it carefully behind them.
  16. austere
    of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
    The familiar and well loved details receded into the background, however, as they approached the austere old man leaning with one elbow on the workbench, a little copper hammer dangling from his long-fingered, supple, corded hand.
  17. wrought
    shaped to fit by altering the contours of a pliable mass
    It was half finished, a wide gold collar formed of tiny chains strung with innumerable golden bees, each one delicately and imaginatively conceived, superbly wrought.
  18. flounder
    have difficulties; behave awkwardly
    “Master, I would ask nothing better than to spend every moment of my life at it. It was nothing to do with me, I did not want to leave, I did not want to! But Gebu—” Again Ranofer floundered and fell silent.
  19. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    Placing both long, strong hands on his knees, he scrutinized Ranofer.
  20. composedly
    in a self-collected or self-possessed manner
    Over the ring of its tappings he spoke composedly.
  21. admonish
    scold or reprimand; take to task
    His admonishing eye held Ranofer’s a moment, then he resumed his work.
  22. faithless
    having the character of a traitor; disloyal
    “I would be faithless if I looked the other way when his son has fallen upon evil days. Still—” Zau’s ragged eyebrows lifted arrogantly.
  23. smolder
    burn slowly and without a flame
    After a moment Zau rose from his knees and carried the gold collar to a fire smoldering in a small hooded furnace.
  24. moor
    secure in or as if in a berth or dock
    It was not until he reached the ferry docks—now rising high and queer-looking above the shrunken river, with the ferries moored far out in a basin of mud—that he began to realize, first, how tired he was, second, how late it had grown while he stood talking to Zau.
  25. trivial
    of little substance or significance
    He had dashed out of the stonecutting shop this evening thinking of nothing but Zau, so afraid that Pai would detain him for some trivial task that he had not even waited for the daily ritual of wage paying, had not even thought of it until this moment.
  26. superficial
    only concerned with what is apparent or obvious
    From being ordered often to bring some particular scroll to Pai, he had become superficially familiar with these drawings, which at first had looked like meaningless bird tracks to him.
  27. rivet
    hold someone's attention
    Heqet and the Ancient mechanically performed the usual ritual of dividing what food there was, but their attention was riveted on Ranofer.
  28. skulk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    His companions, we must discover his companions. That skulking Wenamon is surely part of the scheme.
  29. ragamuffin
    a dirty shabbily clothed urchin
    “It is the same with us,” Heqet argued eagerly. “Who takes notice of boys? Especially ragamuffins?”
  30. hauteur
    overbearing pride with a superior manner toward inferiors
    Heqet snatched up a bunch of grapes and held them across his throat like a necklace, meanwhile assuming an expression of such conceited hauteur that both Ranofer and the Ancient burst out laughing.
  31. emphatic
    spoken with particular stress
    “Now that is a good plan,” the Ancient said emphatically.
  32. antic
    a playful, attention-getting act done for fun and amusement
    “Spy all you like, young one. You are probably right, no one will notice your antics. You might even find out something.”
  33. salve
    a preparation applied externally as a soothing remedy
    He looked wonderingly at the old man, whose gentle touch seemed as great a magic as his salve.
  34. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
    As soon as the gate closed, Ranofer scrambled to his feet, wincing as the abrupt movement reminded him of his soreness, and ran to the corner of the wall where cracks in the mud bricks and a straggling vine provided a precarious ladder for climbing to the top.
  35. prow
    the front part of a vessel
    Its sharp-pointed prow lifted it at an angle from the stone floor of the docks, and though its shelter concealed him he could still watch the doorway easily.
Created on Tue Oct 09 14:29:14 EDT 2018 (updated Wed Oct 10 08:52:36 EDT 2018)

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