Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapters 14–17

by J.K. Rowling
As he begins his third year at Hogwarts, Harry learns that the notorious Sirius Black has escaped from prison — and might be after Harry. Learn these words from the third novel in J.K. Rowling's wildly popular fantasy series.

Here are links to our other lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–17, Chapters 18–22

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. recognize
    perceive to be something or something you can identify
    Throughout the day, everywhere they went they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius Black; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes.
  2. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her.
  3. menacing
    threatening evil or danger
    They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs.
  4. scamper
    run or move about quickly or lightly
    I saw him standing over me...like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair...holding this great long knife, must’ve been twelve inches...and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered.
  5. proceed
    move ahead; travel onward in time or space
    Why had Black, having got the wrong bed, not silenced Ron and proceeded to Harry?
  6. consequence
    the outcome of an event
    “Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! Famous Harry Potter goes where he wants to, with no thought for the consequences.”
  7. effect
    an impression, especially one that is contrived
    I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you.
  8. impose
    inflict something unpleasant
    The safety measures imposed on the students since Black’s second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings.
  9. portent
    a sign of something about to happen
    “Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?” she murmured over the clinking of her bangles.
  10. stalk
    recur constantly and spontaneously to
    “It is here, plainer than ever before...my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer...the Gr—”
  11. burden
    a serious or difficult concern
    It also meant that the burden of winning fell largely on Harry, because capturing the Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points.
  12. vast
    unusually great in size or amount or extent or scope
    Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere he went, in case the Slytherins tried to put him out of action. The whole of Gryffindor House took up the challenge enthusiastically, so that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering crowd.
  13. execution
    putting a condemned person to death
    “I’m here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in.”
  14. tethered
    confined or restricted with or as if with a rope or chain
    “He’s tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an’—an’ smell fresh air—before—”
  15. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    The three of them stood transfixed with horror under the Invisibility Cloak.
  16. writhing
    moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
    Scabbers was plainly terrified. He was writhing with all his might, trying to break free of Ron’s grip.
  17. brute
    a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
    Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of the brute’s hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though he were a rag doll
  18. lethal
    of an instrument of certain death
    “Ron!” Harry shouted, trying to follow, but a heavy branch whipped lethally through the air and he was forced backward again.
  19. hoarse
    deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness
    “I thought you’d come and help your friend,” he said hoarsely. His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using it.
  20. taunt
    a cruel or scornful remark
    The taunt about his father rang in Harry’s ears as though Black had bellowed it.
  21. fierce
    marked by extreme intensity of emotions or convictions
    “If you want to kill Harry, you’ll have to kill us too!” he said fiercely, though the effort of standing upright was draining him of still more color, and he swayed slightly as he spoke.
  22. slaughter
    kill a large number of people indiscriminately
    “There’ll be only one murder here tonight,” said Black, and his grin widened.
    “Why’s that?” Harry spat, trying to wrench himself free of Ron and Hermione. “Didn’t care last time, did you? Didn’t mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew...What’s the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?”
  23. restraint
    the act of controlling by holding someone or something back
    “HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!” Harry roared, and with a huge effort he broke free of Hermione’s and Ron’s restraint and lunged forward
  24. collide
    crash together with violent impact
    Perhaps it was the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Black didn’t raise the wands in time—one of Harry’s hands fastened over his wasted wrist, forcing the wand tips away; the knuckles of Harry’s other hand collided with the side of Black’s head and they fell, backward, into the wall
  25. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
    The fingers tightened, Harry choked, his glasses askew.
  26. fray
    a noisy fight
    Crookshanks had joined the fray; both sets of front claws had sunk themselves deep into Harry’s arm; Harry threw him off, but Crookshanks now darted toward Harry’s wand
  27. sprawl
    sit or lie with one's limbs spread out
    Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His thin chest rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walking slowly nearer, his wand pointing straight at Black’s heart.
  28. regret
    feel sorry for; be contrite about
    “You’ve got to listen to me,” Black said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice now. “You’ll regret it if you don’t...You don’t understand...”
  29. avenge
    take action in return for a perceived wrong
    Harry raised the wand. Now was the moment to do it. Now was the moment to avenge his mother and father. He was going to kill Black. He had to kill Black.
  30. poised
    marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
    The seconds lengthened. And still Harry stood frozen there, wand poised, Black staring up at him, Crookshanks on his chest.
  31. embrace
    squeeze tightly in your arms, usually with fondness
    The Professor walked to Black’s side, seized his hand, pulled him to his feet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and embraced Black like a brother.
  32. furious
    marked by extreme anger
    “If you haven’t been helping him,” he said, with a furious glance at Black, “how did you know he was here?”
  33. malfunction
    fail to work properly
    “I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?”
  34. emerge
    come out into view, as from concealment
    Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately; Ron had to seize his long bald tail to stop him escaping.
  35. intently
    with strained or eager attention
    He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at Scabbers.
Created on Fri Aug 04 11:16:49 EDT 2017 (updated Tue Aug 01 14:41:01 EDT 2023)

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