Catherine, Called Birdy: November

by Karen Cushman
In medieval England, an unconventional teenage girl records events in her daily life, including her attempts to thwart her father's plans to marry her off.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: September, October, November, December–January, February, March–April, May–July, August–September
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bough
    any of the larger branches of a tree
    Another All Souls Day, as we stood at her window singing, “Soul, a soul, a soul cake, please good mistress, a soul cake,” she wished us a Holy Christmas and sang back, “Here we come a-wassailing among the boughs so green.”
  2. foster
    raise in place of a child's biological parents
    When I was a child, I ofttimes thought I was a foundling or, even better, the beloved daughter of our good king Edward Longshanks, left here with this beast and his wife for fostering.
  3. draft
    a dose of liquid medicine
    I have made myself another draft of wormwood and mint.
  4. baron
    a British peer of the lowest rank
    I must doubt that her father the baron will let her be given to a younger son with no land and no title, but she says she always gets her way, so I am greatly afeared.
  5. skein
    coils of worsted yarn
    They found the remains of several spindles, many skeins of wool, and an unfinished tapestry in the muck from the privy.
  6. tapestry
    a wall hanging of heavy fabric with pictorial designs
    They found the remains of several spindles, many skeins of wool, and an unfinished tapestry in the muck from the privy.
  7. ward
    a person who is under the protection of another
    She said, “I was the ward of the baron Fulk Longsword, my father having died some years before, and was living at the time with his family in their castle near York..."
  8. renown
    the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
    One day appeared a young knight of no great fortune or renown, with great strong arms and shoulders, and eyes like a raven’s.
  9. grievance
    a complaint about a wrong that causes resentment
    But all night we could hear the knight banging on the gatehouse door with the hilt of his sword, calling out his grievances.
  10. plait
    a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
    She pulled one of my plaits and said, “Song maker, Birdy? Don’t stretch your legs longer than your stockings or your toes will stick out.”
  11. feign
    make believe with the intent to deceive
    “What,” I asked, “is a spell against warts? Against sickness in sheep? Oh, ah,” I asked, feigning innocence, “what would one use for a spell to come between lovers if one has no dragon dung?”
  12. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
    “Facing the lovers by moonlight,” she said, “throw dirt from a new-made grave and say ‘Love abate. Disintegrate. Turn love to hate,’ and what are you up to now, Little Bird?”
  13. heretic
    a person whose religious beliefs conflict with church dogma
    26TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, Feast of Saint Marcellus, a prince seized by heretics and hurled to his death from a high rock
  14. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    I relished it all but the birds, which I never eat.
  15. marzipan
    confection made of sugar, almond paste, and egg whites
    During the feast, the cook and the kitchen boys paraded around the hall with a giant pastry they had made to honor me of Saint Catherine dying on her wheel, with marzipan spikes and spun sugar soldiers.
  16. conceive
    have the idea for
    Finally I conceived a small amusement to pass the time.
  17. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    It was not really from a grave, but from the edge of the churchyard, yet it must suffice, for I am not venturing deep into any graveyard with this jealous evil in my heart.
  18. vexed
    troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
    George and Aelis looked dusty, puzzled, and sore vexed.
  19. apostle
    an ardent early supporter of a cause or reform
    30TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, Feast of Saint Andrew, fisherman, apostle, and martyr, missionary to Greece, Turkey, and Poland
  20. missionary
    someone who attempts to convert others to a doctrine
    30TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, Feast of Saint Andrew, fisherman, apostle, and martyr, missionary to Greece, Turkey, and Poland
Created on Wed Aug 14 14:29:43 EDT 2019 (updated Wed Aug 14 15:27:04 EDT 2019)

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