I Lived on Butterfly Hill: List 4

by Marjorie Agosín
With their country in turmoil, Celeste's parents go into hiding and send Celeste to Maine to keep her safe.

This list covers Part III: "The Refuge Against Oppression" to "The Alphabet in My Hands."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
35 words 93 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bout
    a period of illness
    Others point to the rumors that he suffered from long bouts of colds, until two days ago, when he sneezed so hard that the roof of his bedchamber crashed all around him, trapping him cowering under the covers.
  2. oppression
    the state of being kept down by unjust use of authority
    Either you be the tomb of the free or the refuge against oppression.
  3. listless
    lacking zest or vivacity
    I sit down to face her and reach for her hands. They are cold, and her face suddenly looks pale and listless.
  4. sullen
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Charlie stands close by with a sullen look upon his face and drags a piece of driftwood through the seaweed.
  5. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    I climb the stairs, creakier than ever, and stand at the threshold of my blue room.
  6. ministry
    a government department
    Her father was working for the Dictator, in the Ministry of Justice, and he rose to a really powerful position.
  7. indigenous
    originating where it is found
    I turn a corner and find a concrete wall that used to be like any other old wall. But now it is painted with indigenous faces, baskets filled with fresh bread, even the face of the murdered Presidente Alarcón.
  8. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    A crippled Mapuche lady with an ancient face hobbles close to me and waves a caramel in my face.
  9. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    The couple seems to be about fifty years old, and the woman looks frail in her black dress with her hands constantly writhing a white handkerchief.
  10. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    The fisherman looks at Cristóbal warily, turns to face me, and then turns back to my friend.
  11. pry
    be nosey
    “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just that you told us how you had tried to sail out to the islands where prisoners are kept.”
  12. bewildered
    extremely confused and uncertain what to do
    His words leave me bewildered and frustrated.
  13. gorge
    a deep ravine, usually with a river running through it
    “It is a rocky island cut into pieces by narrow gorges with rushing water that could smash a wooden boat like mine to pieces. It’s always covered with a fog that would choke you. The last time I tried to reach the outer islands was three months ago—the waters rushed wilder than ever.”
  14. coup
    a sudden and decisive change of government by force
    My sons Tomás and Moisés were killed when they were traveling inland to sell fish in the first days of the military coup.
  15. ruddy
    of the color between orange and purple in the color spectrum
    The old fisherman covers his eyes with his thick ruddy hands.
  16. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
    “In fact, I took the liberty to speak to him of your plight, Señorita Celeste.”
  17. unkempt
    not neatly combed
    He has long red hair and a fiery beard as thick and unkempt as the autumn forest on Juliette Cove.
  18. melancholy
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
    “Your color is different, but you have the look of him, missy! It’s that melancholy brow. Unmistakable.”
  19. dinghy
    a small boat of shallow draft
    A wooden dinghy bobs in the water, the top of its slender mast swallowed by fog.
  20. lumber
    move heavily or clumsily
    He turns and lumbers to the shoreline.
  21. provisions
    a stock or supply of foods
    Just came in from Quinchamalí, and the boat’s full of provisions.
  22. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    Fergus Bacon laughs heartily at himself and starts to unfurl the sail.
  23. raucous
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
    His voice turns raucous again.
  24. conscience
    conformity to one's own sense of right conduct
    “But I’d rather have just one of your young lives on my conscience!”
  25. shanty
    a rhythmical work song originally sung by sailors
    But I hear Fergus loud and clear as he starts to sing: “In south Australia I was born! Heave away! Haul away! South Australia ’round Cape Horn! Bound for south Australia! That’s a sea shanty for ya, lass!”
  26. tiller
    lever used to turn the rudder on a boat
    With one swift motion Fergus pushes the tiller and hauls in the sail.
  27. moor
    secure in or as if in a berth or dock
    It was a whaling ship once, but I’ve named her the Pirate Queen. She’s my home, moored in the cove of an island so small that it doesn’t have a name, doesn’t appear on any maps.
  28. wretch
    someone you feel sorry for
    “He had escaped from the prison, some time ago now. I had him stay on with me because he was a help taking care of the other wretches that washed up in my path.”
  29. headlong
    at breakneck speed
    “Papá!” I shout without any hesitation, running headlong into his embrace.
  30. inexplicable
    incapable of being explained or accounted for
    It was all inexplicable, so much cruelty and so much goodness.
  31. dissent
    a difference of opinion
    About six months ago—although I am not completely sure because there was no way but the sun to keep track of time—rumors began making their way into the prison that the Dictator was losing power, that there was dissent among his generals.
  32. galley
    the area for food preparation on a ship
    Fergus made me a hammock out of a fishing net, and I would spend the daylight hours there, resting, or in the galley peeling potatoes.
  33. somber
    serious and gloomy in character
    I think it is too gloomy for you to be stuck in the house here with us somber old folks.
  34. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    I cross my arms and glower. My father rarely says things like that—too young to understand—and I hate hearing it.
  35. incoherent
    without logical or meaningful connection
    “What do I dare write about?” I ask it. The distant cry of a seagull is the only incoherent reply.
Created on Fri Jun 11 14:41:20 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Jun 17 09:03:03 EDT 2021)

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