Akata Witch: Chapter 13–Epilogue

by Nnedi Okorafor
Growing up in Nigeria, twelve-year-old Sunny feels like an outsider — but when she learns that she has magical powers, she must work with other magical children to defeat a powerful witch.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 3, Chapters 4–7, Chapters 8–12, Chapter 13–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. skeptical
    marked by or given to doubt
    “These fools passed the fourth level?” Sasha looked skeptical.
  2. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Madame Koto looked down at the four of them and haughtily said, “It’s good to meet you.”
  3. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    Today Sugar Cream wore a long, silky, European-style cream-colored dress and several cream-colored bangles that clacked whenever she moved her arms.
  4. brawn
    the trait of possessing muscular strength
    “This is the final test of brains and brawn, so let them show and prove!”
  5. manipulation
    exerting shrewd or devious influence for one's own advantage
    This is hand-to-hand. Whatever your ability, the fight must remain so. No mental or spiritual manipulation is to be used against your opponent.
  6. gesticulate
    show, express, or direct through movement
    Nor did he spit on Sayé, gesticulate, taunt, beat his chest, or laugh, as they did in pro wrestling.
  7. lumber
    move heavily or clumsily
    Miknikstic lumbered forward, and Sayé leaped.
  8. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    He gazed up at the sky as brown feathered wings unfurled from his back.
  9. venture
    put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation
    “I—I met your husband just before the match,” she ventured.
  10. brooding
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    The four of them sat in brooding silence and sipped their drinks.
  11. impromptu
    with little or no preparation or forethought
    “The guys you’ll be playing will be older. I’ve seen the football match. They’re impromptu, but brutal.”
  12. whim
    a sudden desire
    Agaja’s feet were lightning fast, whirling and juggling the ball, making it obey his every whim, and then POW!—he blasted it dead into the right side of the goal.
  13. hunker down
    hold stubbornly to a position
    Godwin only shook his head, hunkering down into position.
  14. peripheral
    on or near an edge or constituting an outer boundary
    She dribbled the ball with speed, zigzagging around the other team and checking her peripheral vision for flashes of green.
  15. ecstasy
    a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion
    By the second half, Sunny could barely think straight, she was in such ecstasy.
  16. heady
    extremely exciting as if by alcohol or a narcotic
    The air inside the tent was humid, and smelled like rich soil, headily scented flowers, and leaves.
  17. glom
    latch or seize upon; take hold of
    “Girls always glom on to the athletes,” Chichi said as Sasha blabbed with Godwin.
  18. lofty
    having or displaying great dignity or nobility
    “Why don’t you sit down and fill your stomach first,” Chichi said loftily.
  19. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    Yao and Ibou’s smiles faltered.
  20. ululation
    a long, loud, emotional howl or cry
    Only friendship kept Sunny from running—especially after the wailing started. It was a high-pitched wavery sort of ghostly noise, like the ululations of women from the Middle East.
  21. bulbous
    rounded and bulging
    The creature’s body was large and bulbous, covered with beautiful blue shiny cloth.
  22. frond
    compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
    It wasn’t raffia and palm fronds that stuffed the masquerade’s blue cloth-covered body—it was stinging insects.
  23. amok
    wildly; without self-control
    But people were too panicked. They were running amok.
  24. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    “Go home,” he coaxed in Igbo.
  25. substantial
    real; having a material or factual existence
    It weighed about a pound, and she had to use both hands. Its body felt substantial, despite its ghostly appearance.
  26. debauch
    corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
    She braced herself for news of his latest act of debauchery.
  27. fringe
    an ornamental border of short lengths of hanging threads
    She held a white umbrella and wore white pants and a long top with fringe.
  28. foliage
    the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants
    But this jungle was more controlled—the foliage grew only around the edges of the room.
  29. ensue
    take place or happen afterward or as a result
    As the heated conversation ensued, the toucan whistled and flew a circle over the table.
  30. willful
    habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition
    “People say it was a combination of lightning, an angry willful girl, a rotten mango, and perfect timing.”
  31. loophole
    a small hole in a fortified wall
    “He has protection, but we have watched for loopholes. The children that returned maimed but alive were all rescued by Oha covens.”
  32. tangible
    perceptible by the senses, especially the sense of touch
    “She is what Satan is to the Christians,” Chichi said. “But more real, more tangible. She’s not a metaphor or symbol. She’s one of the most powerful masquerades in the wilderness..."
  33. guttural
    relating to or articulated in the throat
    Sasha took one look at the children, pulled something out of his pocket, and blew into it. It was the conch shell he’d bought from Junk Man. Its deep guttural sound made Sunny’s head vibrate.
  34. deluge
    a heavy rain
    The rain was now a deluge.
  35. monstrosity
    something hideous or frightful
    A monstrosity was growing before her eyes.
  36. flay
    strip the skin off
    In that moment, her fear of everything left her—her fear of Ekwensu’s evil, of being flayed alive by the monster’s fronds, of her family learning of her death, of the world’s end.
  37. resilient
    recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like
    “Right as the right kinda rain,” the driver said. “Pickney dem resilient likle tings.”
  38. encrust
    cover or coat with some material
    Her sandals, the ones she’d left home in, were encrusted with mud, as was her hair.
  39. tripe
    lining of the stomach of a cow (used as food)
    The soup was hot and there were large chunks of chicken and tripe in it.
  40. recuperate
    restore to good health or strength
    “He’ll probably give us two or three weeks to recuperate,” he said.
Created on Sat Aug 31 14:17:09 EDT 2019 (updated Wed Sep 04 11:56:45 EDT 2019)

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