Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen!: List 3

by Sarah Kapit
Eleven-year-old Vivian Jane Cohen exchanges letters with major-league baseball pitcher Vincent James Capello with hopes that his shared initials and professional tips could help her play on a little league team in Lakeview, California.

This list covers May 22–June 28.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3
35 words 13 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. assessment
    the act of judging a person or situation or event
    Now, for my assessment of your pitching:
    I’ve watched the video several times and can say definitively that you are not a terrible pitcher—not even close.
  2. momentum
    an impelling force or strength
    When you pitch, aim your hips right at your target. That will help give you the momentum you need to get the knuckleball just right.
  3. complexity
    the quality of being intricate and compounded
    Heck, with my current lousy season I’m not sure I should be giving anyone else advice on how to tie a cleat. Let alone the complexities of pitching.
  4. platitude
    a trite or obvious remark
    I’d like to help you sort through it, but I don’t want to repeat all the usual platitudes about rising above bullies, blah blah blah.
  5. mutual
    common to or shared by two or more parties
    Instead I’d like to talk about a subject of mutual interest: the knuckleball.
  6. phenomenon
    a remarkable person, thing, or development
    When you really stop and think about it, the knuckleball is a remarkable phenomenon. According to the usual laws of physics, a ball that doesn’t rotate shouldn’t be possible. It’s completely unique among pitches.
  7. trajectory
    the path followed by an object moving through space
    Even the wickedest curveball follows a clear, predictable trajectory. A knuckleball that’s working will zig and zag, confounding the most talented hitters.
  8. inclined
    having a preference, disposition, or tendency
    I’m not very inclined toward science. At Cornell I always preferred classes in literature and philosophy.
  9. objectively
    in a manner not influenced by emotion
    One might as well try to argue that one sunset is objectively the most beautiful out of all the infinite number of sunsets that ever were and ever will be.
  10. fortunate
    having unexpected good luck
    I know things are tough for you right now and all, but I still cannot believe you said I am FORTUNATE. Just to be sure I had it right, I looked up that word in the dictionary. Fortunate means the same thing as LUCKY. I had a line drive hit me in the face, which is one of the most unluckiest things that can happen in baseball.
  11. humiliating
    causing embarrassment or awareness of your shortcomings
    Even if it is completely and totally humiliating, I still want to talk to someone who might understand.
  12. bigot
    a prejudiced person who is intolerant of differing opinions
    They love Rabbi Alyssa and Dad’s friend Jerry, so I’m pretty sure they’re not bigots who just hate all gay people.
  13. wince
    make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    “I’ve tried!” I said, then winced. Maybe I wasn’t quite yelling, but it was close. And I did not want to yell at Alex, even if he was being kind of annoying at the moment.
  14. flounce
    walk in an emphatic or exaggerated way
    That’s when Alex stuck his tongue out at her and she flounced out of the room, whipping her long hair behind.
  15. dismissive
    showing indifference or disregard
    I know I was too harsh and dismissive.
  16. conventional
    in accord with a tradition accepted from the past
    I get that your mom is not a baseball person, but I believe you can communicate the important stuff to her. Even if it’s not quite in a conventional way. Your idea of writing a letter was a good one.
  17. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
    I realize I might be meddling where I’m not wanted, and I apologize if that’s the case. I just want to help you, as you have helped me during these past few months.
  18. fringe
    an ornamental border of short lengths of hanging threads
    I started twirling the fringe on one of the throw pillows. It’s a very thick, plush fringe—exactly what I needed. Halfway through braiding two pieces of fringe together, I drew in a deep breath and tried to find the right words.
  19. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    My cheeks flushed, but I tried to ignore it.
  20. overwhelming
    very intense
    “You can be just a little overwhelming sometimes,” Dad told her.
  21. articulate
    speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
    But people like Vivy and me, we need time to find our words. Like when she was young and the speech therapist worked with her to learn how to form words. That challenge didn’t go away just because she articulates her speech better now.
  22. exemplary
    worthy of imitation
    Vivy, I’m sorry if I don’t say it enough, but I really do believe you are becoming an exemplary young woman and I'm proud to be your mom.
  23. taunt
    harass with persistent criticism or carping
    “Rough game, Viv,” he taunted.
  24. commiserate
    feel or express sympathy or compassion
    I like the word “commiserate.” I wasn’t sure what it meant, so I looked it up. Now I know it means to share misery. And that is definitely what we’ve been doing lately.
  25. steadfast
    firm and dependable especially in loyalty
    He’s proven himself to be not only a steadfast friend, but a skilled catcher too.
  26. sappy
    very sentimental or emotional
    “Not to get too sappy or anything, but I have to say that I am so, so proud of you,” he said.
  27. long-winded
    using or containing too many words
    There is much to write about in this letter, so please forgive me for being long-winded.
  28. exhilarating
    thrilling or invigorating
    What an exhausting, exhilarating game THAT was.
  29. relish
    derive or receive pleasure from
    For the first time since last October, I really felt like maybe I did have a team behind me. Supporting me.
    There wasn’t much time to relish the feeling.
  30. unscathed
    not injured
    By some minor miracle, I got out of the second inning unscathed. Then I pitched another scoreless inning, and then I did it again, and again, until at last I was finishing up the seventh inning.
  31. forthcoming
    easygoing and open when speaking or sharing information
    For all this time you’ve been forthcoming with me, but I’ve given you only small pieces of myself.
  32. dole out
    distribute or dispense, as in small portions
    I’ve doled out pitching advice like some kind of knuckleball sage, but I haven’t really been honest about me.
  33. mediocre
    lacking exceptional quality or ability
    The batter—an utterly mediocre player with a career .273 batting average—pounded it over the fence for a home run.
  34. insomnia
    an inability to sleep
    You want to tell me what has you in the Cohen family insomnia club tonight?
  35. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    And when I got in line for it Kyle was just standing there, leaning up against the brick wall all smug-like. Ugh ugh ugh.
    I hoped maybe he’d just be happy with the win and yummy pizza.
Created on Fri Sep 16 20:00:09 EDT 2022 (updated Thu Sep 21 12:49:26 EDT 2023)

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