Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind: List 2

by Misa Sugiura
This first book of the series introduces a twelve-year-old Californian who dreads the seventh-grade social scene, until the discovery that she is the daughter of a Shintō goddess who needs her help to fight demons on the Japanese Island of Mysteries.

This list covers "I'm Sure Niko Will Take Great Care of Me"–"This! Is Not! Funny!"

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
40 words 14 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. quaver
    give off unsteady sounds
    “Okay. Um. Niko?” I quavered. “Did you just say the words ‘if you survive’? And ‘sending the demons back to Yomi’? In reference to me?”
  2. sustain
    lengthen or extend in duration or space
    Her voice had real power this time; the air around us seemed to vibrate with it. But it was too much for her to sustain, and I rushed to support her as she sank back down.
  3. talisman
    a trinket thought to be a magical protection against evil
    I don’t suppose your mother has any magical weapons or talismans stashed about the place?
  4. lacquer
    a hard glossy coating
    Suddenly I saw an image of a black lacquer box of origami on a high shelf in the hall closet.
  5. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    “You know what? Maybe you should go home after all.”
    “Will you two stop your surly squabbling!”
  6. squabble
    argue over petty things
    “You know what? Maybe you should go home after all.”
    “Will you two stop your surly squabbling!”
  7. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    I seriously doubted that he would follow through with his threat, but I clamped my mouth shut anyway and glowered at Danny.
  8. wield
    handle effectively
    “Only the greatest heroes, the strongest magical beings, and those with divine blood can wield Dōjigiri,” Niko said.
  9. craven
    lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    And, Momo, the sword has such a reputation that if you walk into battle with it, I’m sure that half of the oni will run away, craven cowards that they are.
  10. loom
    appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    The dark expanse of the Pacific Ocean loomed on the left.
  11. cheeky
    offensively bold
    I heard him mutter to himself, “Thinks my magic isn't good enough, does she? Cheeky little chipmunk.”
  12. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
    There certainly wasn’t anyone in charge of lending it to us, with papers to sign or forms to fill out, or...I didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but for some reason it hadn’t occurred to me that snatching a thousand-year-old legendary sword out of its case and absconding with it into the night was, in fact, theft.
  13. illustrious
    having or conferring glory
    “Uh, Niko? Why is it glowing like that?" asked Danny.
    “The oldest and most illustrious swords have their own kami," Niko explained.
  14. presume
    take liberties or act with too much confidence
    And only a fool would presume that they could be the master of a kami—especially the kami of Dōjigiri, you hubristic hellion.
  15. burly
    muscular and heavily built
    They looked like giant humans with bat wings; one was bigger and burlier than the other, but they were both easily eight feet tall.
  16. fateful
    having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences
    I used to search the skies for tengu all the time when I was little, before that fateful day with Mrs. Evans, and I’d only seen one once (or so I’d thought), zipping behind a cloud.
  17. in earnest
    in a serious manner
    The crane tried to obey, but it was now struggling in earnest as the wind buffeted us back and forth.
  18. buffet
    strike against forcefully
    The crane tried to obey, but it was now struggling in earnest as the wind buffeted us back and forth.
  19. snipe
    attack in speech or writing
    “How should I know? Do I look like I know everything?” Niko sniped.
  20. stingy
    unwilling to spend
    “Because one doesn’t just drop in unannounced on the Seven Lucky Gods and ask for favors. With the exception of New Year’s Day, they are very stingy about granting wishes and giving gifts.”
  21. clamber
    climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
    Danny clambered onto the bench that spanned the middle of the rowboat while I rubbed my back and checked my shins.
  22. gallivant
    wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
    “It wasn’t as if I had time to gallivant around the globe, researching human fashion trends, you know.”
  23. prow
    the front part of a vessel
    “The prow of the Ship of Treasures is carved in the shape of a dragon’s head!”
  24. sprawl
    sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
    I ended up sprawled facedown on a wide wooden deck, blinking dazedly at a pair of huge black army boots.
  25. fatigues
    military uniform worn by personnel when doing menial labor
    The boots were attached to bright yellow-and-green camo fatigues; shading my eyes, I looked farther up to see one of those black bulletproof vests, decorated with a jeweled mosaic of demonic faces that looked ready to leap out and bite anyone who got too close.
  26. imposing
    befitting an important, distinguished, or powerful person
    A tall, imposing woman strode out of the cabin at the far side of the deck.
  27. jaunty
    marked by up-to-dateness in dress and manners
    On her head was a jaunty black fedora with a couple of golden stalks of rice stuck into the hat band.
  28. august
    profoundly honored
    I looked at Niko, who bowed low and nodded at me and Danny to do the same.
    “We humbly beg Your August Magnificences’ favor,” Niko said to the deck.
  29. insolent
    marked by casual disrespect
    “That is a bold move, my friends,” Hotei chuckled. “High five.” He held his palm out, and Danny instantly straightened up and slapped it.
    “Insolent is more like it,” growled Bishamon.
  30. benevolent
    generous in providing aid to others
    “Um, so...if it pleases Your Wonderful Worshipfulnesses, perhaps a token or two of your most benevolent beneficence...?”
  31. beneficence
    the quality of being kind or helpful or generous
    “Um, so...if it pleases Your Wonderful Worshipfulnesses, perhaps a token or two of your most benevolent beneficence...?”
  32. thwart
    hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
    “You came to us because your attempt to, ahem, steal Dōjigiri”—he paused to direct a fiery glare at Niko, who lowered his head and tail—“was thwarted by a pair of tengu who arrived just after you. We now believe that the theft of Dōjigiri was part of a larger operation being carried out by a very dark, very dangerous enemy.”
  33. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    It swirled up and fell over us in a dome, and suddenly we were in a forest, standing in front of a tiny dilapidated shrine no bigger than a closet.
  34. scraggly
    lacking neatness or order
    They were vaguely humanoid, with scrawny limbs, scraggly fur, and pointy ears like cats.
  35. permeate
    spread or diffuse through
    Then it spoke in a voice so full of evil that it seemed to permeate the air and seep into my skin.
  36. dissipate
    go away, scatter, or disappear
    The scenery around us turned back into smoke and dissipated, and we were standing on the deck of the Ship of Treasures once more.
  37. virtually
    slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
    With his head back on his shoulders, and Dōjigiri in his possession, he and his troops will be virtually unstoppable.
  38. incentive
    a positive motivational influence
    Dōjigiri’s world tour created a unique incentive and opportunity for Shuten-dōji to attempt an attack on the portal; unfortunately, it was successful.
  39. shenanigan
    reckless or malicious behavior that causes annoyance
    “Way to ruin a good time.”
    “All right, then, are we finished with the shenanigans?”
  40. reel
    be dizzy, disoriented, or bewildered
    My mind was reeling. “But...but I can’t—”
Created on Sat May 18 10:16:01 EDT 2024 (updated Sun May 19 12:59:12 EDT 2024)

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