The Castle in the Attic

No Word Context English meaning English Synonyms

1 handsprings Before I even get through the handsprings, my legs feel an acrobatic feat handspring
like jelly. in which a person
goes from a
standing position
to a handstand
and back again
2 dripping “The meet is still six weeks away,” he said as he hung his a liquid (as dribble, drip, drop, soaking,
dripping poncho on the hook by the door. water) that flows sopping
in drops (as from
the eaves of
house)
3 poncho “The meet is still six weeks away,” he said as he hung his a blanket-like poncho
dripping poncho on the hook by the door. cloak with a hole
in the center for
the head
4 distant Her voice was formal, distant. separated in aloof, remote, removed, upstage
space or coming
from or going to
a distance
5 absorb He couldn't seem to absorb it. become imbued assimilate, draw, engage, engross,
engulf, imbibe, immerse, ingest,
occupy, plunge, soak up, sop up,
steep, suck, suck up, take in, take
over, take up
6 shoved He shoved his chair away from the table. come into rough jostle, shove, squeeze, stuff, thrust
contact with
while moving
7 portcullis “Then this chain raises the portcullis, that metal grating gate consisting of portcullis
just beyond the double wooden doors. an iron or
 wooden grating
that hangs in the
entry to a castle
or fortified town;
can be lowered
to prevent
passage
8 grating “Then this chain raises the portcullis, that metal grating a barrier that has diffraction eat into, fret, grate,
just beyond the double wooden doors. parallel or gravelly, grind, rankle, rasping,
crossed bars raspy, rough, scrape, scratchy
blocking a
passage but
admitting air
9 grille The metal grille disappeared into the wall above. small opening grill, grillwork, lattice, radiator
(like a window in wicket
a door) through
which business
can be
transacted
10 buttery To the left is the buttery, where food and drink are kept a small fulsome, larder, oily, oleaginous,
cold, and to the right is the scullery where the dishes are storeroom for pantry, smarmy, soapy, unctuous
washed up. storing foods or
wines
11 scullery To the left is the buttery, where food and drink are kept a small room (in scullery
cold, and to the right is the scullery where the dishes are large old British
washed up. houses) next to
the kitchen;
where kitchen
utensils are
cleaned and kept
and other rough
household jobs
are done
12 minstrel Up above, William could just see the minstrels' gallery, a professional clown employed to entertain a king or
where troubadours and jesters sang to entertain the lords nobleman in the Middle Ages
and ladies dining below.
13 jester Up above, William could just see the minstrels' gallery, a professional fool, jester, motley fool
where troubadours and jesters sang to entertain the lords clown employed
and ladies dining below. to entertain a
king or nobleman
in the Middle
Ages
14 allure You enter them through the master chamber or through the power to allurement, tempt, temptingness
the door from the allure, which is the correct name for entice or attract
the wall walk. through personal
charm
15 checkered The checkered curtains, the yeasty smell of Mrs. Mouse. mark into check, checked, checker, chequer,
squares or draw chequered
squares on; draw
crossed lines on
16 tapioca The tapioca pudding is in the icebox. granular tapioca
preparation of
cassava starch
used to thicken
especially
puddings
17 to gnaw But something about it gnawed at him. bite or chew on eat at, erode, gnaw, gnaw at, wear
with the teeth away
18 leaned She leaned over and kissed him on the right temple. to incline or bend angle, be given, incline, lean, list,
from a vertical run, slant, tend, tilt, tip
position
19 trunk He propped Bear up against an old trunk and knelt down. the main stem of automobile body, bole, luggage
a tree; usually compartment, proboscis, torso,
covered with tree trunk
bark; the bole is
usually the part
that is
 commercially
useful for lumber
20 crumpled In a soft bed of crumpled tissue paper lay the Silver fall apart bent, break down, buckle, cockle,
Knight. collapse, crease, crinkle, crumble,
crumple, dented, knit, pucker,
rumple, tumble, wrinkle
21 scabbard William noticed the sword was missing from the knight's a sheath for a scabbard
scabbard, although his dagger was in place on his right sword or dagger
hip. or bayonet
22 dagger William noticed the sword was missing from the knight's a short knife with obelisk, sticker
scabbard, although his dagger was in place on his right a pointed blade
hip. used for piercing
or stabbing
23 to clench His right hand was raised with a clenched fist, as if he hold in a tight clench, clinch, clinched
were challenging some unseen enemy. grasp
24 clanking With a tiny clanking noise, the knight fell back down into make a clank clank, clanking
the courtyard.
25 plume He pulled the metal helmet off his head and set it down anything that congratulate, dress, feather, fleece,
carefully beside him, smoothing the red plume with his resembles a gazump, hook, overcharge, pluck,
fingers. feather in shape plumage, preen, pride, primp, rob,
or lightness soak, surcharge
26 stifled William stifled a giggle. conceal or hide asphyxiate, choke, dampen, muffle,
repress, smother, smothered, stifle,
strangle, strangled, suffocate,
suppressed
27 parakeet The knight did not let go immediately, so William held any of numerous paraquet, paroquet, parrakeet,
himself very still, the way he had once when Jason's small slender parroket, parroquet
parakeet had landed on his outstretched palm. long-tailed
parrots
28 kinks Then he worked out the kinks in his arms. a painful muscle crape, crick, crimp, curl, curve,
spasm especially frizz, frizzle, kink, kink up, rick,
in the neck or twirl, twist, wrick
back (`rick' and
 `wrick' are
British)
29 skidded Suddenly, he hit something that skidded across the space slide without skid, slew, slide, slip, slue
toward the knight. control
30 pouch Sir Simon took it off the end of William's outstretched a small or bulge, pocket, protrude, sac, sack
finger and put it carefully away in a pouch that hung from medium size
his belt. container for
holding or
carrying things
31 pinprick William fell asleep with his thumb rubbing the small a minor pinprick
pinprick the dagger had made in his palm. annoyance
32 adobe I have to write a paper on how to build an adobe house. the clay from adobe brick
which adobe
bricks are made
33 soggy William pushed his soggy cereal around in the bowl. (of soil) soft and boggy, doughy, inert, marshy, miry,
watery mucky, muddy, sloppy, sloughy,
sluggish, squashy, swampy, torpid,
waterlogged
34 scrounge He had to get the spotlight off himself so he could collect or look cadge, forage
scrounge some food for the Silver Knight. around for (food)
35 brunt William was the shortest kid in the class and Jason wore main force of a brunt
thick glasses, so they were usually the brunt of blow etc.
everybody's jokes.
36 handsprings “But I thought we had to practice the back handsprings. an acrobatic feat handspring
in which a person
goes from a
standing position
to a handstand
and back again
37 reckoned “In your world, sir, I may be small, but in my own, I am expect, believe, bet, calculate, cipher, compute,
known as a man to be reckoned with. or suppose consider, count, count on, cypher,
depend, estimate, figure, forecast,
guess, imagine, look, opine, reckon,
 regard, see, suppose, think, view,
work out
38 battlements Working his penknife out of his front pocket, he chopped a rampart built battlement, crenellation
a slice of apple into tiny chunks and put them down on around the top of
the battlements of the wall. a castle with
regular gaps for
firing arrows or
guns
39 conferring It cost us dearly to board their servants and stable their have a bestow, confab, confabulate,
horses while they took their time considering the matter conference in confer, consult
of the disease and conferring with one another. order to talk
something over
40 salves He was given a room down near the kitchen where he semisolid balm, ointment, relieve, salvage,
sometimes invited me to help him mix up potions and preparation salve, save, unction, unguent
salves that were supposed to straighten crooked bones (usually
and settle upset stomachs. containing a
medicine)
applied
externally as a
remedy or for
soothing an
irritation
41 crooked He was given a room down near the kitchen where he bend or cause to asymmetrical, corrupt, crook,
sometimes invited me to help him mix up potions and bend curve, hunched, round-backed,
salves that were supposed to straighten crooked bones round-shouldered, stooped,
and settle upset stomachs. stooping
42 garbled The stories were garbled and I didn't pay much attention make false by confused, disconnected, disjointed,
to the details, but I sensed even then his desperate need mutilation or disordered, distort, falsify, garble,
to control people, to have power. addition; as of a illogical, scattered, unconnected,
message or story warp
43 woven “Around his neck, the wizard wore a length of woven interlace by or as interweave, meander, thread,
ribbon from which dangled three medals or tokens. if by weaving tissue, wander, waver, weave,
wind, woven
44 dangled “Around his neck, the wizard wore a length of woven hang freely dangle, drop, swing
ribbon from which dangled three medals or tokens.
45 hinges They had hinges, and Alastor told me that they could be a joint that holds flexible joint, hinge
fitted together when necessary but he preferred to use two parts
them separately. together so that
one can swing
relative to the
other
46 palsy The palsy seemed less violent, and my father had long loss of the ability paralysis
periods of peace when he could rest. to move a body
part
47 pallet Alastor had moved his pallet into my father's room, and the range of palette, pallet
he even ate his meals there. colour
characteristic of
a particular artist
or painting or
school of art
48 ripped I ripped the paper to shreds, and the two of us attacked tear or be torn pull, rend, rip, rive
the wizard. violently
49 shreds I ripped the paper to shreds, and the two of us attacked a tiny or scarcely iota, rag, rip up, scintilla, shred,
the wizard. detectable smidge, smidgen, smidgeon, tag,
amount tag end, tatter, tear up, tittle, whit
50 squirming He could feel Sir Simon squirming inside his hand, so he to move in a squirm, twist, worm, wrestle,
loosened his hold enough to give the little man some air. twisting or wriggle, writhe
contorted
motion,
(especially when
struggling)
51 wiry It was the only part of his life where having a small, wiry lean and sinewy stringy, wiry
body really paid off.
52 plodded William plodded wearily back to the corner. walk heavily and footslog, pad, plod, slog, tramp,
firmly, as when trudge
weary, or
through mud
53 crooked “I was crooked. bend or cause to asymmetrical, corrupt, crook,
bend curve, hunched, round-backed,
round-shouldered, stooped,
stooping
54 grating “You pull this chain here to raise the metal grating,” he a barrier that has diffraction eat into, fret, grate,
said. parallel or gravelly, grind, rankle, rasping,
crossed bars raspy, rough, scrape, scratchy
blocking a
passage but
admitting air
55 rummaged “You can come out now,” William called to Sir Simon as search rummage
he rummaged around in a trunk for a small cardboard haphazardly
box.
56 trowel She handed him the trowel. a small hand tool trowel
with a handle
and flat metal
blade; used for
scooping or
spreading plaster
or similar
materials
57 sow William found two sow bugs and put them in the an adult female inseminate, seed, sow in
cardboard box with some dirt and a couple of leaves. hog
58 propped William put his hand through the doors of the kitchen propped
and propped the container on its side against the back
wall of the room.
59 granola Sir Simon picked through the small bits of dried fruits, cereal made of granola
granola, cracker crumbs, and crumbled potato chips. especially rolled
oats with dried
fruits and nuts
and honey or
brown sugar
60 fancied “I have always fancied eating in the open air, and it imagine; envision, fabricated, fancy,
would mean you and I could talk while I dine. conceive of; see fictional, fictitious, figure, go for,
in one's mind image, picture, project, see, take
to, visualize, visualize
61 tankard “I do not mean to be critical, my lord, but I do long for a large drinking tankard
good slice of venison and a tankard of dark ale. vessel with one
handle
62 pouch The little knight produced the token from his pouch and a small or bulge, pocket, protrude, sac, sack
handed it over. medium size
container for
holding or
carrying things
63 leer The head of Janus was clearly carved in the metal, and a facial sneer
the leer on his face looked evil under the magnifying expression of
glass. contempt or
scorn; the upper
lip curls
64 sluggishly They moved away sluggishly at first, unused to their new in a sluggish sluggishly
freedom. manner
65 specks The knight pointed at the floor where two specks of a very small spot atom, corpuscle, hint, jot, mite,
black pepper seemed to be moving about by the table molecule, mote, particle, pinch,
legs. pinpoint, soupcon, speck, tinge,
touch
66 thoughtfully The knight popped them in his mouth and chewed in a thoughtful thoughtfully
thoughtfully. manner
67 wagged He wagged his finger at William. move from side wag, waggle
to side
68 squeamish You are too squeamish for your own good, young excessively dainty, nice, overnice, prissy,
William. fastidious and squeamish
easily disgusted
69 armory “The armory is well equipped in this castle. a collection of armory, arsenal, inventory
resources
70 arched William lay down on the floor so that his eyes were level form an arch or arc, arced, arch, arching, arciform,
with the arched double doors of the entrance. curve arcuate, bowed, curve
71 Peering Peering through his magnifying glass, he read the words look searchingly peer
with the lamp tipped toward them.
72 tipped Peering through his magnifying glass, he read the words cause to tilt angle, atilt, bung, canted, fee, lean,
with the lamp tipped toward them. leaning, slant, tap, tilt, tilted, tip,
tip off, tippytoe, tiptoe, topple,
tumble
73 ply When the lady doth ply her needle And the lord his one of the cater, provide, run, supply
sword doth test, Then the squire shall cross the strands twisted
drawbridge And the time will be right for a quest. together to make
yarn or rope or
thread; often
used in
combination
74 squire When the lady doth ply her needle And the lord his young nobleman gallant, squire
sword doth test, Then the squire shall cross the attendant on a
drawbridge And the time will be right for a quest. knight
75 quest When the lady doth ply her needle And the lord his a search for an bay, bespeak, call for, pursuance,
sword doth test, Then the squire shall cross the alternative that pursuit, re seeking
drawbridge And the time will be right for a quest. meets cognitive
criteria
76 shrugged The knight shrugged. raise one's shrug
shoulders to
indicate
indifference or
resignation
77 thrust With a roar, he made a thrust, first to the left and then to the force used in drive, driving force, force, hurl,
the right, ducking and weaving all the time to avoid the pushing hurtle, jab, jabbing, knife lunge,
blows of his adversary. pierce, poke, poking, push, push
up, shove, squeeze, stab, stuff,
throw, thrusting
78 weaving With a roar, he made a thrust, first to the left and then to creating fabric interweave, meander, thread,
the right, ducking and weaving all the time to avoid the tissue, wander, waver, weave,
blows of his adversary. wind
79 portcullis William showed him the drawbridge and the portcullis gate consisting of portcullis
and then took him on a tour of the bedroom wing, an iron or
staying as far away as possible from the stable. wooden grating
that hangs in the
entry to a castle
or fortified town;
can be lowered
to prevent
passage
80 roasting It even has a roasting spit. cooking (meat) blackguard, guy, jest at, laugh at,
by dry heat in an make fun, poke fun, rib, ridicule,
oven (usually roast, roasting
with fat added)
81 spit It even has a roasting spit. a narrow strip of expectoration, patter, pitter-patter,
land that juts out ptyalise, ptyalize, saliva, skewer,
into the sea spatter, spew, spit out, spitting,
spittle, sprinkle, spue, tongue
82 moat “The moat. ditch dug as a fosse, moat
fortification and
usually filled with
water
83 zapped On Friday afternoon when he went up to the attic, he strike suddenly atomise, atomize, micro-cook,
found Sir Simon had zapped a mouse with it. and with force microwave, nuke, vaporize, zap
84 hearth Could you bring me a fire stick from your hearth when an open recess in fireplace, fireside, open fireplace
you next come? a wall at the base
of a chimney
where a fire can
be built
85 skinned When William returned with a box of matches, a small climb awkwardly, bark, clamber, pare, peel,
quantity of wood shavings from the fireplace box, and as if by scramble, scrape, shin, shinny, skin,
some other supplies, the knight had cleaned and skinned scrambling sputter, struggle
the mouse.
86 humming The knight nodded absent-mindedly, and William left a humming noise buzz, hum, seethe, thrum
him humming cheerily as he turned the spit.
87 snap It might snap or something. the act of break down, breeze, bust, catch,
catching an centering, "child’s play", cinch,
object with the click, crack, cracking, duck soup,
hands elasticity, flick, ginger nut, ginger
ginger grab, lose it, photograph,
picnic, piece of cake, press stud,
pushover, rupture, shoot, shot,
snap bean, snap fastener,
snapshot, snarl, snatch, snatch up,
tear, walkover
88 round-off “I remember how terrified I was of doing a round-off. round-off
89 unobstructed Phillips to a chair where she had an unobstructed view. free from unobstructed
impediment or
obstruction or
hindrance
90 straddle The team warmed up and started out with straddle a noncommittal range, span, straddle
presses on the parallel bars. or equivocal
position
91 routine “William, we will start with your routine,” Robert said. an unvarying or act, bit, everyday, function, modus
habitual method operandi, mundane, number,
or procedure procedure, quotidian, subprogram,
sub turn, unremarkable, workaday
92 whip-back The start was slow, with a round-off followed by a whip- whip-back
back and a layout somersault.
93 flip-flops Two flip-flops and both shoulders touched the mat a decision to alternate, change of mind, flip, flip-
evenly for the dive roll. reverse an earlier flop, interchange, reversal, switch,
decision tack, thong, turnabout, turnaround
94 charm I'm not your good-luck charm. attractiveness appeal, appealingness, be beguile,
that interests or bewitch, captivate, capture, catch,
pleases or enamor, enamour, enchant,
stimulates entrance, fascinate, good luck
influence, magic spell, magical
spell, spell, tempt, trance
95 glaring “Silly bishops,” she muttered, glaring at the board. look at with a blazing, blinding, crying, dazzling,
fixed gaze egregious, flagrant, fulgent, glare,
glary, glower, gross, rank
96 stableyard The day before she was supposed to leave, he went up stable yard
to see the Silver Knight, who was in the stableyard
thrusting his dagger into an imaginary enemy.
97 thrusting The day before she was supposed to leave, he went up a sharp hand force, hurl, hurtle, jab, jabbing,
to see the Silver Knight, who was in the stableyard gesture lunge, pierce, poke, poking, push
thrusting his dagger into an imaginary enemy. (resembling a up, shove, squeeze, stuff, throw,
blow) thrust, thrusting
98 gleefully “Exactly what I've been thinking,” William replied in a joyous and joyfully, joyously
gleefully. gleeful manner
99 rough “I should not like to share my castle with a rough the part of a golf approximate, approximative,
barmaid or a servant girl. course bordering boisterous, bumpy, crude, fierce,
the fairway grating, gravelly, harsh, jolting,
where the grass jolty, jumpy, pugnacious, rasping,
is not cut short raspy, rocky, rough in, rough out,
roughly, scratchy, uncut, unsmooth
100 barmaid “I should not like to share my castle with a rough a female barmaid
barmaid or a servant girl. bartender
101 meddle “As Alastor once told me, there is a price to be paid intrude in other tamper
when you meddle with a person's allotted time,” the people's affairs
knight said. or business;
interfere
unwantedly
102 allotted “As Alastor once told me, there is a price to be paid give out accord, administer, allot, assign,
when you meddle with a person's allotted time,” the deal, deal out, dish out, dispense,
knight said. distribute, dole out, grant, lot,
mete out, parcel out, portion, shell
out
103 willingly If she should do that willingly, she may reenter her own in a willing volitionally, willingly
world at the exact moment she left. manner
104 whirling William's head was whirling. the act of birl, eddy, gyrate, gyration, purl,
rotating in a reel, spin, spin around, swirl,
circle or spiral tumble, twiddle, twirl, whirl, whirl
around, whirlpool
105 earshot “This school of yours takes up entirely too much of your the range within earreach, hearing
time,” the knight exploded as soon as William was in which a voice can
earshot. be heard
106 muffled “It will do,” came the muffled reply. conceal or hide damp, dampen, dull, muffle, mute,
muted, repress, smother, softened,
stifle, strangle, tone down
107 spotter Believe in yourself, be your own spotter. a worker discoverer, finder, lookout, lookout
employed at a man, picket, scout, sentinel, sentry,
dry-cleaning watch
establishment to
remove spots
108 flagstone It didn't take him long to find her, marching stalwartly stratified stone flag, flagstone
forward across what was now the great gray expanse of that splits into
one flagstone, suitcase in hand. pieces suitable as
paving stones
109 rumpled Looking down, William saw her emerge slowly, first the disturb the cockle, crease, crinkle, crumple,
top of her head, the straight white hair rumpled from the smoothness of disheveled, dishevelled, frowzled,
trip, then her small arms, still holding her blue raincoat, knit, mess up, pucker, ruffle, ruffle
and finally her small feet in their practical brown walking up, rumple, tousled, wrinkle
shoes.
110 tickling While the small knight fished around for her case, his the act of tickling thrill, tickle, tingling, titillate,
legs tickling William's palm, she stood without moving or titillating, titillation, vellicate,
turning around. vibrate
111 waffles William pressed out the waffles with the old black iron, pancake batter hesitate, waffle, waver
and his father stirred chopped green peppers and baked in a waffle
Tabasco sauce into an omelet. iron
112 currant “Well, we still have our pot roast with currant jelly,” any of several currant bush
William reminded him. tart red or black
berries used
 primarily for
jellies and jams
113 wok It's a wok. pan with a wok
convex bottom;
used for frying in
Chinese cooking
114 lump Finally, he fell asleep with the solid lump of his old bear a compact mass ball, chunk, clod, c collocate, gawk,
pushed comfortingly against the lump in his stomach. glob, goon, hunk, lout, lubber,
lummox, oaf, puffiness,
stumblebum, swelling
115 inevitable “The same,” was his inevitable reply. an unavoidable inevitable
event
116 Marmite In the early morning, he brought her breakfast, small bits soup cooked in a marmite
of toast sprinkled with butter and Marmite. large pot
117 flank We've got the flank steak at home. the side of wing
military or naval
formation
118 floated His father's voice floated back to him from the top of the be in motion due be adrift, blow, drift, float, swim
cellar steps. to some air or
water current
119 tramp This thing is heavy,” he shouted back, and before William a disreputable bum, cast, drift, footslog, hike,
could say anything more, he heard the tramp of his vagrant hiker, hiking, hobo, pad, plod,
father's shoes on the attic steps. ramble, range, roam, roll, rove,
slog, stray, swan, swinger, tramp
steamer, tramper, trudge,
vagabond, wander
120 pacing William was trying desperately to lure his father back (music) the pace, step, tempo
down the steps, but he was pacing around the castle, speed at which a
sniffing the air. composition is to
be played
121 kennel And the dog kennel? outbuilding that dog house, doghouse, kennel
serves as a
shelter for a dog
122 sheepishly “And the bookshelves in the cellar,” his father added a in a sheepish sheepishly
bit sheepishly. manner
123 kindling “Imagine how you would feel, my boy, if you were sitting material for arouse, conflagrate, elicit, enkindle,
down to a nice meal of roasted mouse legs and your starting a fire evoke, fire, firing, ignition, inflame,
entire castle were lifted up and banged about like a mere inflammation, kindle, lighting,
piece of kindling. provoke, punk, raise, spunk, tinder,
touchwood
124 contraption “A useful contraption, I daresay. a device or appliance, contrivance,
control that is convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo,
very useful for a widget
particular job
125 hiking Phillips), one box of tea bags, four loaves of bread, two a long walk boost, hike, hike up, tramp
bottles of water, one pair of hiking boots, one large box usually for
of matches, one pair of binoculars, and a change of exercise or
clothing. pleasure
126 contraption “I hear your father gave you the contraption he made for a device or appliance, contrivance,
your castle. control that is convenience, gadget, gismo, gizmo,
very useful for a widget
particular job
127 hoisted William hoisted his backpack higher up on his shoulders raise or haul up hoist, lift, run up, wind
and walked slowly across the rough wooden planks of the with or as if with
drawbridge. mechanical help
128 squire You are a courageous person, a squire with the heart and young nobleman gallant, squire
soul of a knight. attendant on a
knight
129 banquet The walls of the large banquet hall were hung with a ceremonial feast, junket, spread
intricately woven tapestries. dinner party for
many people
130 intricately The walls of the large banquet hall were hung with with elaboration elaborately, in an elaborate way,
intricately woven tapestries. intricately
131 woven The walls of the large banquet hall were hung with interlace by or as interweave, meander, thread,
intricately woven tapestries. if by weaving tissue, wander, waver, weave,
wind, woven
132 minstrels Up above, gaily decorated banners were draped over the a singer of folk folk singer, jongleur, minstrel,
balcony rail of the minstrels' gallery, but William didn't songs poet-singer, troubadour
have time to stop and study them.
133 tunic She was seated in front of the fire with her back to the an enveloping or adventitia, tunica
door, wearing a long blue robe, covered by some sort of covering
tunic. membrane or
layer of body
tissue
134 surcoat “It's actually called a surcoat, and this is a tunic. a loose outer surcoat
coat usually of
rich material
135 hunk “And good bread,” said the knight, tearing off another a well-built lump
hunk. sexually
attractive man
136 earnest “Tomorrow, my boy, your training begins in earnest. something of businesslike, dear, devout,
value given by heartfelt, sincere, solemn
one person to
another to bind a
contract
137 scabbard Then he fastened a belt around his middle, complete a sheath for a scabbard
with a soft leather bag and a small, sharp dagger in its sword or dagger
scabbard. or bayonet
138 squander Neither squander wealth nor hoard it. spend blow, consume, ware, waste
thoughtlessly;
throw away
139 crossbow Sir Simon taught him how to use his dagger, how to a bow fixed crossbow
improve the speed of his footwork, how to keep his transversely on a
weapons in good order, how to load and fire a crossbow, wooden stock
how to dress and arm his lord, Sir Simon. grooved to direct
the arrow
(quarrel)
140 drilled Phillips drilled him in the afternoon. make a hole, bore, drill, exercise, practice,
especially with a practise
 pointed power or
hand tool
141 trestle They had moved the trestle table to the side of the a supporting trestle
courtyard to make room for his tumbling. tower used to
support a bridge
142 steely He knew she would fix him with that steely glare of hers resembling steel steely
and refuse to answer. as in hardness
143 pallet That night he slept in her room, on a straw pallet in front the range of palette, pallet
of the fire. colour
characteristic of
a particular artist
or painting or
school of art
144 lumpy “It seems heavier,” he said, exploring its lumpy exterior like or containing chunky, lumpy
with his fingers. small sticky
lumps
145 drafty Anyway, I'll need some company in this drafty old castle. not airtight draughty
146 flickering He stood at the back, accustoming his eyes to the move back and aflicker, flick, flicker, flitter, flutter,
flickering light from the altar candles and his nose to the forth very rapidly quiver, waver
sweet smell of incense.
147 clambered After what seemed like hours, the body moved and Sir climb awkwardly, clamber, scramble, shin, shinny,
Simon clambered slowly to his feet. as if by skin, sputter, struggle
scrambling
148 quilted First the quilted vest and cap to protect the knight from stitch or sew quilt, quilted
the hard edges and weight of his own armor. together
149 strapped Next he strapped on the chest protector and the arm and tie with a strap flog, lash, lather, slash, strap,
shoulder guards. trounce, welt, whip
150 leggings On top of the chain-mail leggings, he fastened shin a garment leg covering, legging, leging
guards to protect the knight's legs from the blow of a covering the leg
misdirected lance. (usually
extending from
the knee to the
ankle)
151 strapping Phillips appeared at the side door as Sir Simon was tie with a strap beefy, buirdly, burly, flog, husky,
strapping on his scabbard. lash, lather, slash, strap, trounce,
welt, whip
152 scabbard Phillips appeared at the side door as Sir Simon was a sheath for a scabbard
strapping on his scabbard. sword or dagger
or bayonet
153 hilt She stepped forward and touched the carved hilt with the handle of a hilt
her finger. sword or dagger
154 sheath Sir Simon bowed and slipped the weapon into its sheath. a protective case, cocktail dress, sheath
covering (as for a
knife or sword)
155 keepsake “I would ask of you a keepsake, my lady. something of relic, souvenir, token
sentimental
value
156 forearm She took a long silk scarf from her neck and tied it the part of the forearm
around his forearm. superior limb
between the
elbow and the
wrist
157 pouch Guard it well,” he said as he pressed the leather pouch a small or bulge, pocket, protrude, sac, sack
into her hand. medium size
container for
holding or
carrying things
158 muddy As they walked out under the massive stone arch and dirty with mud boggy, cloudy, dingy, dirty, marshy,
over the drawbridge, William looked down and saw the mirky, miry, mucky, muddied,
muddy waters of a real moat. muddy up, murky, quaggy, sloppy,
sloughy, soggy, squashy, swampy,
turbid, waterlogged
159 moat As they walked out under the massive stone arch and ditch dug as a fosse, moat
over the drawbridge, William looked down and saw the fortification and
muddy waters of a real moat. usually filled with
water
160 stately The dirt road out of the castle wound around a corner impressive in baronial, courtly, formal, imposing,
between two rows of stately trees. appearance noble, statuesque
161 clanking William leaped forward and pulled the knight up with make a clank clank, clanking
both hands, to the clanking of his shin guards.
162 shin William leaped forward and pulled the knight up with the front part of clamber, scramble, shin bone,
both hands, to the clanking of his shin guards. the human leg shinbone, shiny, skin, sputter,
between the struggle, tibia
knee and the
ankle
163 plumed That would lighten my load considerably,” he said, rip off; ask an congratulate, crested, dress, fleece,
handing over the plumed object, which William tucked unreasonable hook, overcharge, pluck, plume,
under his arm. price plumose, plumy, preen, pride,
primp, rob, soak, surcharge
164 raucous The song of sparrows had been replaced by the raucous unpleasantly rowdy, strident
call of the rooks that sat, black and motionless, in the loud and harsh
thick trees above them.
165 rooks The song of sparrows had been replaced by the raucous (chess) the piece Corvus frugilegus, bunco, castle,
call of the rooks that sat, black and motionless, in the that can move con, defraud, diddle, gip, goldbrick,
thick trees above them. any number of gyp, hornswoggle, mulct, nobble,
unoccupied rook, scam, short-change, swindle,
squares in a victimize
direction parallel
to the sides of
the chessboard
166 eerie William had the eerie feeling that the birds were passing suggestive of the eery
word of their progress along to someone ahead. supernatural;
mysterious
167 slapped He tried to duck away from the branches that slapped hit with slap
back in Sir Simon's wake, but often they caught him full in something flat,
the face, raking his cheeks with their claws and poking like a paddle or
him in the eyes. the open hand
168 raking He tried to duck away from the branches that slapped move through crease, glance over, graze, rake,
back in Sir Simon's wake, but often they caught him full in with or as if with run down, scan, skim
a rake
 the face, raking his cheeks with their claws and poking
him in the eyes.
169 snarls The cry of the rooks mingled with strange growls and a vicious angry embrangle, entangle, mat, maze,
snarls on all sides, so that the noises around them growl snap, snarl, snarl up, tangle
became as thick as the forest itself.
170 gurgling Suddenly, above the animal noises, he could distinguish flow in an babble, bubble, burble, guggle,
the gurgling of a stream off to his left. irregular current gurgle, ripple
with a bubbling
noise
171 dim After hopping up and down a bit to get the blood moving switch (a car's black, bleak, blind, blur, dense,
through his legs, he set off, watching carefully for the dim headlights) from dimmed, dip, dull, dumb, faint,
outlines of the path. a higher to a obtuse, shadowy, slow, slur,
lower beam subdued, vague, wispy
172 grunts The cacklings mingled with roars, grunts, groans, moans, the short low grunt, oink
the scream of a hyena, the far-off whistle of a bird. gruff noise of the
kind made by
hogs
173 whittling His head was topped with a circle of blond hair, and he cut small bits or pare, whittle
was whittling a stick with lazy strokes. pare shavings
from
174 cocked He cocked his head to the right. tilt or slant to cock, prance, ruffle, sashay, strut,
one side swagger, tittup
175 stomped CHAPTER 12 William stomped rapidly over the next two walk heavily stamp, stomp, stump
hills, eager to put as much distance as possible between
himself and the forest.
176 stunted Although it was full summer, only a few ears of corn and check the growth scrawny, scrubby, stunt, stunted
some stunted grain grew in the dry brown fields. or development
of
177 streambed The water had dried up in all but the deepest pools, but a channel creek bed, streambed
William was so thirsty, he lay down in the dry streambed occupied (or
and put his face in a puddle. formerly
occupied) by a
stream
178 brackish The water tasted brackish, and he took only enough to distasteful and briny
wet his mouth. unpleasant;
spoiled by
mixture
179 puny And if a well-trained knight with a sword and a helmet inferior in runty, shrimpy
could be turned to lead, what would happen to a mere strength or
squire with a puny dagger and a quaking heart? significance
180 quaking And if a well-trained knight with a sword and a helmet shake with fast, palpitate, quake, quiver, tremor
could be turned to lead, what would happen to a mere tremulous
squire with a puny dagger and a quaking heart? movements
181 squirm William began to squirm under his gaze. the act of twist, wiggle, worm, wrestle,
wiggling wriggle, writhe
182 haggard On that last trip out of the castle, Calendar looked British writer Haggard, Rider Haggard, Sir Henry
haggard and worn. noted for Rider Haggard, bony, cadaverous,
romantic careworn, drawn, emaciated,
adventure novels gaunt, pinched, raddled, skeletal,
(1856-1925) wasted, worn
183 plodded For the rest of the afternoon, William plodded steadily up walk heavily and footslog, pad, plod, slog, tramp,
the road against a constant stream of people going the firmly, as when trudge
other way. weary, or
through mud
184 assent This last remark was greeted with low murmurs of agreement with a accede, acquiesce, acquiescence,
assent. statement or assent
proposal to do
something
185 parched Even before he reached the castle itself, he knew he was cause to wither adust, baked, parch, scorched,
getting close because the land was becoming more and or parch from sear, sunbaked
more parched. exposure to heat
186 scrawny The houses looked abandoned, and the last people he being very thin boney, scraggy, scrubby, skinny,
passed were driving their small herds of scrawny goats stunted, underweight, weedy
and pigs along ahead of them.
187 pennant A single black pennant flew from the corner of one the award given crown, pennon, streamer, waft
tower. to the champion
188 prowled The dragon, a brownish-green, scaly creature, prowled in move about in or lurch, prowl
front of the double wooden doors, endlessly turning on as if in a
himself so that the occasional bursts of flame from his predatory
mouth barely missed his tail. manner
189 potholder He stood without moving, remembering the time he had an insulated pad potholder
picked up the waffle iron without a potholder. for holding hot
pots
190 prowling No bird sang, no night-prowling animal called out. move about in or lurch, prowl
as if in a
predatory
manner
191 jabbering When he stopped to look through the binoculars, he rapid and gabble, jabber, mouth off, rabbit
could see the soldiers jabbering to one another and indistinct speech on, rant, rave, spout
pointing down at him, but no arrows were sent his way,
no jars of boiling oil were tipped over the walls.
192 leggings He longed to strip off his tunic, but it didn't seem wise to a garment leg covering, legging, leging
approach a dragon in a shirt and leggings. covering the leg
(usually
extending from
the knee to the
ankle)
193 clammy The palms of his hands were wet and clammy from unpleasantly cool dank
nerves, not the dragon's heat. and humid
194 furled Out rolled his tongue, an immense carpet of red that form into a furl, roll up, rolled
furled into the sky and back into the black hole of his cylinder by
mouth. rolling
195 pouch He put his hand into his pouch and ran his fingers over a small or bulge, pocket, protrude, sac, sack
the binoculars, a last bit of bread, the recorder. medium size
container for
holding or
carrying things
196 falter William began to falter. the act of bumble, faltering, hesitation,
pausing stammer, stumble, stutter, waver
uncertainly
197 staggered The noise of the dragon's roar was deafening, and walk as if unable careen, distribute, flounder, keel,
William staggered back. to control one's lurch, reel, stagger, swag
movements
198 scrabbling The dragon began to struggle, moving his legs about feel searchingly grope for, scrabble, scribble
under him in useless, scrabbling circles.
199 ramparts William glanced at the ramparts. an embankment bulwark, rampart, wall
built around a
space for
defensive
purposes
200 crank William heard the crank of the windlass as the portcullis a bad-tempered Methedrine, chalk, chicken feed,
was raised. person churl, crackpot, crank up, cranky,
crosspatch, deoxyephedrine,
fruitcake, glass, grouch, grump, ice,
meth, methamphetamine,
methamphetamine hydrochloride,
nut, nut case, screwball, shabu,
starter, tender, tippy, trash, zigzag
201 windlass William heard the crank of the windlass as the portcullis lifting device winch, windlass
was raised. consisting of a
horizontal
cylinder turned
by a crank on
which a cable or
rope winds
202 portcullis William heard the crank of the windlass as the portcullis gate consisting of portcullis
was raised. an iron or
wooden grating
that hangs in the
entry to a castle
or fortified town;
can be lowered
to prevent
passage
203 acrid At last, when William began to grow dizzy from the strong and sharp acerb, acerbic, acid, bitter,
downward twisting and the acrid smell of the torches, blistering, caustic, pungent,
they came out into a small room. sulfurous, sulphurous, virulent,
vitriolic
204 beckoned A bony hand reached out and beckoned him inside. signal with the beckon, wave
hands or nod
205 hood He found himself face to face with an old man, dressed an aggressive bonnet, cap, cowl, cowling, exhaust
in a silver robe with a hood. and violent goon, hoodlum, lens punk, strong-
young criminal armer, thug, tough, toughie
206 matted Lines creased the man's forehead, and his gray hair lay twist together or entangle, felt, felt up, flat, mat, mat
across the shiny skin of his head in thin, matted strands. entwine into a up, matt, matt-up, matte, matte
confusing mass up, snarl, tangle
207 strands Lines creased the man's forehead, and his gray hair lay a pattern forming Strand, chain, fibril, filament,
across the shiny skin of his head in thin, matted strands. a unity within a ground, maroon, run aground,
larger structural strand, string
whole
208 jerking His right shoulder twitched constantly as if it were an abrupt arrhythmic, buck, flick, hitch, jerk,
jerking up to swat a fly off his ear. spasmodic jerky, jolt, saccade, twitch, yank
movement
209 swat His right shoulder twitched constantly as if it were a sharp blow swat
jerking up to swat a fly off his ear.
210 snatched The guard leaped forward and snatched it from the floor to grasp hastily abduct, kidnap, nobble, snap,
before William could retrieve it himself. or eagerly snatch, snatch up
211 warily “No, sir,” William ventured warily. in a wary manner warily
212 scuttled Calendar scuttled along behind them, sniffing at him to move about or scamper, scurry, scuttle, skitter
occasionally like a curious dog. proceed
hurriedly
213 plea He saw old men and children, fearful faces and kind a humble request supplication
ones, wide, staring eyes, arrested in the middle of a plea for help from
or a protest or a prayer. someone in
authority
214 wily The wizard was talking to him, boasting about some of marked by skill in crafty, cunning, dodgy, foxy,
his best prizes, a visiting prince and a wily priest. deception guileful, knavish, slick, sly, tricksy,
tricky, wily
215 stifle When William came to the last two figures, he put his joint between asphyxiate, choke, dampen, knee,
hand over his mouth to stifle his scream of horror. the femur and muffle, repress, smother, strangle,
tibia in a suffocate
quadruped;
corresponds to
the human knee
216 crowed But neither one of them shall bother me again,” Alastor dwell on with crow, gloat, triumph
crowed. satisfaction
217 crone This old crone annoys me, though I've gotten used to her an ugly evil- beldam, beldame, hag, witch
company,” he said, pushing Calendar out of the way. looking old
woman
218 pallet His bed, a straw pallet on the floor, was shoved into one the range of palette, pallet
corner, and a rough table and stool stood in the other. colour
characteristic of
a particular artist
or painting or
school of art
219 relish The old man seemed to relish the hours when he could vigorous and bask, enjoy, flavor, flavour, gusto,
trap William and tell him tales of the particularly evil enthusiastic nip, sapidity, savor, savour, smack,
spells he'd cast, of the bad children he'd turned into enjoyment tang, zest, zestfulness
toads, and the young women he'd changed into crones.
220 crone “And the old crone too. an ugly evil- beldam, beldame, hag, witch
looking old
woman
221 churlish “How dare you speak, you churlish scoundrel. rude and boorish churlish
222 slunk He turned, and to his horror he saw that Calendar had walk stealthily slink
slunk up behind him.
223 raspy William listened to her raspy whisper without moving. unpleasantly grating, gravelly, rasping, rough,
harsh or grating scratchy
in sound
224 swiveled Her head swiveled back to the boy, and she stared into turn on a pivot pivot, swivel
his blank, gray eyes.
225 clank In the distance, they could hear the clank of an a loud resonant clang, clangor, clangoring,
approaching guard. repeating noise clangour, clash, crash
226 crouch Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Calendar roll the act of bend, bow, hunker, hunker down,
over to crouch in her usual position in the corner. bending low with scrunch, scrunch up, squat, stoop
the limbs close to
the body
227 leaden He bowed first to the wizard and then to the leaden darkened with dull, heavy, plodding, weighted
audience along the walls. overcast
228 hurtled From his first position in the corner, he hurtled toward move with or as cast, hurl, hurtle, lunge, thrust
the wizard with two round-offs. if with a rushing
sound
229 cackle Then a low, horrible cackle bubbled up from deep inside the sound made chatter, yack, yak, yakety-yak
the wizard's throat. by a hen after
laying an egg
230 etched Hatred was etched in every line on her face. make an etching engrave, engraved, etch, graven,
of incised, inscribed
231 mumbled She pointed the lead disk at the wizard and mumbled the talk indistinctly; gum, maunder, mumble, mussitate,
word “Saturn. usually in a low mutter
voice
232 wizened “I cannot bear to have them see me like this, a wizened lean and shriveled, shriveled, shrunken,
old lady with a black heart. wrinkled by withered, wizen, wizened
shrinkage as
from age or
illness
233 tankard Then he raised his tankard. large drinking tankard
vessel with one
handle
234 revelry William ate a quick breakfast with Sir Simon, who was unrestrained revel, revelry
quiet after the revelry of the night before. merrymaking
235 pennant The black pennant had been replaced with a silver flag, the award given crown, pennon, streamer, waft
which curled lazily in the early morning breeze. to the champion
236 cocking “Perhaps a little wiser,” she said, cocking her head to one tilt or slant to cock, prance, ruffle, sashay, strut,
side. one side swagger, tittup
237 butting He would attack one problem over and over again like a lie adjacent to abut, adjoin, border, bunt, butt,
baby butting its head against the side of its crib. another or share butt against, butt on, edge, march
a boundary
238 tapestry “Didn't the tapestry show you? something that arras, tapis
resembles a
tapestry in its
complex pictorial
designs
239 glossing William told her the whole story, dragging out the scary give a shine or annotate, color, colour, comment,
parts and glossing over the moments when he'd made a gloss to, usually gloss
mistake or his courage had failed him. by rubbing
240 booty “Come with me to view your booty. goods or money dirty money, loot, pillage, plunder,
obtained illegally prize, swag
241 stitching I looked up from my stitching and there he was. joining or run up, sew, sew together, sewing,
attaching by stitch, stitching
stitches
242 punch He dodged away from the punch that she aimed at his (boxing) a blow biff, clout, lick, perforate, plug,
shoulder. with the fist poke, puncher, slug
243 sheepishly “I know it will be clumsy, but I want a record of our in a sheepish sheepishly
adventures,” she said a bit sheepishly. manner
244 pouch After a moment, she pulled open the leather pouch and a small or bulge, pocket, protrude, sac, sack
he produced the necklace. medium size
container for
holding or
carrying things
245 gruff Her voice sounded gruff. brusque and crusty, curmudgeonly, hoarse,
surly and husky, ill-humored, ill-humoured
forbidding
246 spotter Your spotter. a worker discoverer, finder, lookout, lookout
employed at a man, picket, scout, sentinel, sentry,
dry-cleaning watch
establishment to
remove spots
247 rumpled “Goodbye,” he said into her rumpled dress. disturb the cockle, crease, crinkle, crumple,
smoothness of disheveled, dishevelled, frowzled,
knit, mess up, pucker, ruffle, ruffle
up, rumple, tousled, wrinkle
248 cashew “William, Chicken with cashew nuts tonight. tropical Anacardium occidentale, cashew
American nut, cashew tree
evergreen tree
bearing kidney-
shaped nuts that
are edible only
when roasted
249 grit He starts from what I call a grit. a hard coarse- backbone, gritstone, gumption,
grained siliceous guts, moxie, sand
sandstone
250 bulbs I left the room, and when I came back she had planted a modified bud bulb, electric-light bulb, electric
bulbs in my shoes. consisting of a light, incandescent lamp, light bulb,
thickened lightbulb, medulla, medulla
globular oblongata
underground
stem serving as a
reproductive
structure