The Ghost of Tokaido Inn: Chapters 19–25

by Dorothy Hoobler, Thomas Hoobler
In this first book of the Samurai Detective series set in 18th-century Japan, Konoike Seikei, a tea merchant’s son dreaming of becoming a noble warrior-poet, helps a judge solve the mystery of a missing jewel.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Preface–Chapter 6, Chapters 7–12, Chapters 13–18, Chapters 19–25
35 words 12 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cask
    a cylindrical container that holds liquids
    Mother would be opening a cask of rice wine to fill the special cups that were used only on this occasion.
  2. revel
    celebrate noisily or engage in uproarious festivities
    It was crowded with revelers celebrating the bon festival. A line of men and women, accompanied by musicians playing drums and samisens, danced through the street as onlookers clapped and sang.
  3. mannerism
    a behavioral attribute that is distinctive to an individual
    Tomomi—for it was indeed he, though again assuming not only the clothes but the mannerisms of a woman—then bowed delicately to the teahouse woman, holding out the cup, which she promptly refilled.
  4. totter
    walk unsteadily
    As Seikei rushed up to the guardhouse an elderly man tottered out.
  5. patron
    someone who supports or champions something
    A beautiful piece of silk. Must have been a gift from her patron.
  6. benign
    pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence
    Seikei felt the presence of the spirits of the dead all around him. Some, it was said, came back to avenge wrongs that had been committed against them in life. Seikei wished he were home in Osaka now, where the only spirits were the benign ones of his ancestors, welcomed back to the home they had helped to build.
  7. waver
    be unsure or weak
    Oishi had waited for more than a year before taking revenge for his lord’s death, all the while enduring the insults of those who thought he had abandoned the code of the samurai. Yet Oishi never wavered, never.
  8. assailant
    someone who attacks
    Seikei wrenched free, turning to face his assailant.
  9. vanity
    feelings of excessive pride
    “The shogun? How can that be?”
    “Through the generosity—and vanity—of Lord Hakuseki,” Tomomi explained.
  10. elaborate
    marked by complexity and richness of detail
    The play he had written was an elaborate one.
  11. rosary
    a string of beads used in counting prayers
    “Find the rosaries and crucifixes,” Tomomi commanded. Everyone knew that meant there were going to be Kirishitans in the play.
  12. domain
    territory over which rule or control is exercised
    A powerful daimyo named Oda Nobunaga allowed Kirishitan priests to preach their religion within his domains.
  13. don
    put on clothes
    Seikei wished that Tomomi was playing another role, for he had not forgotten how strange the actor became when he donned women’s clothes.
  14. decree
    a legally binding command or decision
    Your husband, who has violated the decree of the shogun, cannot resist me. I will have his head.
  15. renounce
    turn away from; give up
    If you renounce your religion, I will spare you and your son.
  16. treacherously
    in a disloyal and faithless manner
    You have treacherously used our friendship to betray my trust in you.
  17. prune
    cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
    Even in the twilight, Seikei could see that it was planted with gorgeous flowers and trees that were pruned neatly into shapes that dazzled the eye.
  18. contemplate
    think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
    But after a second, Seikei thought of the simple rock garden at Judge Ooka’s house. The judge’s garden invited the viewer to look within himself. The one in Lord Hakuseki’s yashiki forced people to contemplate the greatness of the man who owned it.
  19. accustomed
    in the habit of or adapted to
    The traveling troupe was accustomed to set up their performances in the courtyards of shrines, in Buddhist monastery halls, even in an empty field if that was the only place for an audience to gather.
  20. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    But behind one screen there was an ominous silence.
  21. sustain
    be the physical support of
    As his mother gave him his father’s sword, Genji felt its strength flow into his arm. It would sustain him, help him bear the pain of her loss, for he knew that now she must commit seppuku.
  22. denounce
    accuse or condemn openly as disgraceful
    In his mother’s voice, Tomomi denounced Lord Shakuheki for his treachery and dishonor, hurling insult after insult down onto the sleeping form.
  23. elude
    escape, either physically or mentally
    "Yet in spite of your wealth and power, even though you have prospered from the lands you stole from my family, you still yearn for more. For something still eludes you, doesn’t it?”
  24. relentless
    not willing or able to stop or yield
    Seikei wanted to get up and cry out for Tomomi to stop. He was going too far.
    But the voice went on relentlessly.
  25. rivet
    direct one's attention on something
    Screams and shouts echoed through the hall, but Seikei riveted his eyes on the scene under the lantern.
  26. reverent
    feeling or showing profound respect or veneration
    Now, slowly and reverently, Tomomi drew the shining steel blade from its sheath.
  27. torrent
    a violently fast stream of water or other liquid
    The actor’s head fell to the floor and a torrent of blood gushed from his body.
  28. idleness
    the state of not working or having employment
    “Wake up! You’re not at home now, merchant’s son, where you can spend all day long in idleness!”
  29. spendthrift
    someone who spends money freely or wastefully
    So many customers, and it was often said that the people of the shogun’s capital were spendthrifts, willing to pay far more for goods than those in other cities.
  30. yew
    evergreen tree or shrub having red cup-shaped berries
    One of the paths wound through a high hedge of yew bushes.
  31. thatch
    cover with roofing material made of plant stalks
    They walked around it, heading toward a small hut with a thatched roof at the far end.
  32. jowly
    having sagging folds of flesh beneath the chin or lower jaw
    He was a heavy-set man about forty years old, the same age as Seikei’s father. His face was soft and jowly, and when he smiled, tiny wrinkles appeared under his eyes.
  33. contrive
    make or work out a plan for; devise
    “However,” the shogun went on, “I always find it most enjoyable to hear how my friend Judge Ooka has solved a crime. In this case, I would particularly like to know how he contrived to bring the criminal before me to confess his crime and then demand his execution.”
  34. cunning
    marked by skill in deception
    Seeing Tomomi on stage, I realized what a cunning figure he was, and I sensed that he would be wary of someone pursuing him.
  35. condemn
    pronounce a punishment, as in a court of law
    By forcing Lord Hakuseki to draw his sword in the shogun’s presence, he had condemned him to death.
Created on Fri Apr 21 10:47:50 EDT 2023 (updated Tue Apr 25 11:36:02 EDT 2023)

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