Chronically Dolores: Chapters 16–18

by Maya Van Wagenen
This novel, inspired by the author's real life, follows Dolores Mendoza as she struggles with a chronic illness and discovers the power of unexpected friendship.

Here are links to our lists for the book:
Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12, Chapters 13–15, Chapters 16–18, Chapters 19–21, Chapters 22–24, Chapter 25–Epilogue
25 words 15 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. hovel
    small crude shelter used as a dwelling
    He pulled his phone into his hovel.
  2. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    “Try not to look quite so smug, Dolores,” my mother cautioned.
  3. limerick
    a humorous rhymed verse form of five lines
    That I’m a person, not the punchline of a joke, not a freaking limerick.
  4. opulent
    rich and superior in quality
    The camera takes us through the opulent textures of the Ludens’ world: marble floors, wrought-iron railings, silk curtains.
  5. gilded
    made from or covered with gold
    Shae and Dolores are sitting side by side, propped up against the many decorative pillows, eating bonbons from a gilded box.
  6. unrequited
    not returned in kind
    My brother’s love for him is unrequited and yet unyielding.
  7. unyielding
    stubbornly unwilling to give in
    My brother’s love for him is unrequited and yet unyielding.
  8. inherently
    in an essential manner
    What if there was something inherently bad about me that had made Shae stop—
    That was enough spiraling, I decided.
  9. encapsulate
    enclose in or as if in a small container
    “It doesn’t seem possible that one person could encapsulate all the worst sensory experiences, but he does. He really does.”
  10. unwavering
    not showing abrupt variations
    Her piercing, unwavering gaze was reserved now for her hands, or her feet, or the top of her knees.
  11. unreasonable
    not showing good judgment
    I couldn’t believe how unreasonable Terpsichore’s mother was.
  12. exploit
    use or manipulate to one's advantage
    “I’m sorry if that disappoints you, but I’m not going to change my mind just because you want to exploit her gifts for the school’s theater club.”
  13. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    I put on a haughty voice.
  14. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
    “I hate using public restrooms, because I never know what to expect. And I abhor automatic flush toilets.”
  15. subpar
    not up to a standard or average level
    “The combination of your subpar bladder and your research-oriented mind places you in a rare position to chronicle your experiences for the betterment of countless neurodivergent people or people with mobility issues or even people like you who urinate frequently.”
  16. fowl
    a domesticated bird
    Taking advantage of the chaos, Casimir, now half-naked, ran through the house, leaving the poor disgruntled fowl abandoned at the base of the dress form.
  17. changeling
    a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy
    “Impish little changeling!”
  18. nerve
    a bundle of fibers running to organs and tissues of the body
    It was possible to live without one, to upgrade to an external urostomy bag without nerve endings.
  19. holistic
    emphasizing the organic relation between parts and the whole
    “All I have to do now is find someone who wants to pursue a vocation selling holistic skincare. It’s all natural ingredients, you can put it anywhere on your body, you can even use it on dogs, cats—”
    “Oh my God,” I muttered. 
  20. purist
    someone who insists on great precision and correctness
    “You’re a purist. I respect that. And our vanilla is the best out of all those other ice cream shops. Maybe the best vanilla out there. A lot of work went into making it perfect.”
  21. livelihood
    the financial means whereby one supports oneself
    “Paper thickness. And decals. What with that being your livelihood.”
  22. salacious
    suggestive of or tending to moral looseness
    Manipulating Terpsichore didn’t feel sexy or salacious.
  23. malaise
    a feeling of mild sickness or depression
    Between hourly bathroom trips and a lingering spiritual malaise, I got about as much sleep as Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve, but without the preachy specters and redemption arc.
  24. thoroughfare
    a public road from one place to another
    “We are on a major thoroughfare. Do not be taking your pants off.”
  25. bumpkin
    a person who is awkward, uncultured, or unsophisticated
    Obviously, I don’t have the budget for such a smooth transition from ‘plain country bumpkin'.
Created on Fri Mar 14 05:54:53 EDT 2025 (updated Mon Mar 17 09:16:33 EDT 2025)

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