Hoot: Chapter 15–Epilogue

by Carl Hiaasen
Twelve-year-old Roy Ebehardt takes an unexpected interest in the plight of a group of owls endangered by a local pancake house.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapter 15–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. qualm
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
    In addition to a fear of getting caught, Roy had serious qualms about trying anything illegal — and there was no dodging the fact that vandalism was a crime, however noble the cause.
  2. culminate
    end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
    It had been a hectic week, culminating in that weird scene at the emergency room.
  3. gait
    a person's manner of walking
    In the distance, a bulky figure appeared in the middle of the road. It was advancing in an odd halting gait.
  4. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    In his version of the story, for instance, the surly young intruder disabled him with an expertly aimed karate chop (which sounded more serious than having dirt thrown in your face).
  5. accomplice
    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
    Either the kid they’d caught last night had a hidden accomplice, or someone else had sneaked onto the property after Curly had departed.
  6. scrutiny
    the act of examining something closely, as for mistakes
    He gulped as the beam illuminated something shiny and black in the water, but upon closer scrutiny he saw that it wasn’t an alligator.
  7. stifle
    smother or suppress
    Roy stifled a laugh.
  8. alight
    settle or come to rest
    Even after the two owls alighted, even after he watched them disappear like feathered ghosts into the ground, Officer Delinko continued moving away, backing up step by step until...
  9. pilfer
    make off with belongings of others
    Lonna had pilfered the stone from Leon Leep’s sock drawer and had gotten it made into a snazzy toe ring for herself.
  10. allegation
    a formal accusation against somebody
    “Hold on, Roy, what do you mean it’s ‘not legal’? You need to be careful when you’re making those kinds of serious allegations."
  11. dignitary
    an important or influential person
    Gold-painted shovels were handed out, and on Mr. Muckle’s signal all the dignitaries smiled, leaned over, and dug up a scoopful of sand.
  12. flamboyant
    tending to attract attention; marked by ostentatious display
    The situation remained fairly stable until the flamboyant arrival of Lonna Leep, who’d spotted her son on the TV news. She was all dressed up like she’d been invited to a party, and she wasn’t the least bit shy about sticking her nose in front of the cameras.
  13. impromptu
    with little or no preparation or forethought
    Roy and Beatrice had left before the impromptu press conference was over.
  14. exultant
    joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
    Roy was exultant but also puzzled.
  15. futile
    producing no result or effect
    Later came the white heron, gliding low in futile search of a shallow edge to wade.
Created on Thu Sep 22 19:06:32 EDT 2016 (updated Thu Jul 31 11:47:42 EDT 2025)

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