The Belles: Chapters 10–19

by Dhonielle Clayton
Camellia is a Belle, someone with the power to make the colorless inhabitants of Orléans beautiful. As Camellia jockeys for power in the royal court, she learns dark secrets about both her powers and her world.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–19, Chapters 20–28, Chapters 29–40, Chapters 41–52
45 words 4 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. spendthrift
    someone who spends money freely or wastefully
    The papers say Princess Sophia will make a terrible queen. That she's a spendthrift and loves to gamble and entertain with extravagant parties.
  2. extravagant
    recklessly wasteful
    The papers say Princess Sophia will make a terrible queen. That she's a spendthrift and loves to gamble and entertain with extravagant parties.
  3. homage
    respectful deference
    Her dark hair has a shock of gray in the front, like a vanilla swirl in a crème-cone. The tattlers say she leaves it there to pay homage to the roots of Orléans, the Gris.
  4. wax
    increase, rise, or advance
    I spot my face on one, but the ink waxes and wanes, changing too quickly for me to read it and know my fate.
  5. wane
    grow smaller
    I spot my face on one, but the ink waxes and wanes, changing too quickly for me to read it and know my fate.
  6. spar
    fight verbally
    I sigh, even though I enjoy sparring with him. It's different than arguing with my sisters.
  7. deferential
    showing courteous regard for people's feelings
    Du Barry gives an interview about what she was like as a child: studious, deferential, loving.
  8. lapel
    a fold of fabric below the collar of a coat or jacket
    A travel attendant steps aside to let Edel go, then taps an hourglass hanging from her jacket lapel.
  9. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    I hear Maman's disappointed voice and see her furrowed brow.
  10. aristocratic
    belonging to or characteristic of the nobility
    I peel back the curtains, and diamond-paned city-lanterns illuminate rich limestone mansions and townhouses in the aristocratic Rose Quartier.
  11. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    The foyer looks up into the belly of the house.
  12. gossamer
    a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
    Velvet drapes hang from gilded posts tied with gossamer bows.
  13. emboss
    raise in a relief
    A Belle-book sits on the table, embossed with my portrait and name, and an instruction card from Du Barry demanding that I record everything.
  14. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    "They've had enough strife. They need someone who will do exactly as told."
  15. cameo
    engraving or carving in low relief on a stone
    After they leave, I take out the cameo of my mother and set it on the pillow beside me.
  16. pinafore
    a sleeveless dress resembling an apron
    The girl's jeweled pinafore balloons around her small waist, and the little hat on her head threatens to fall off.
  17. template
    a model or standard for making comparisons
    "Her looks have been a mess lately. Can't you see her eyes and nose? They've always been a problem. Her natural template is flawed."
  18. poultice
    a medical dressing spread on a cloth and applied to the skin
    Four poultice rooms line the wall, holding the promise of healing from red clay, oakwood charcoal, amethyst gem, and blue onyx.
  19. fervor
    feelings of great warmth and intensity
    But my arms and legs buzz with the fervor of the day, and I can't sleep.
  20. calligraphy
    beautiful handwriting
    Beneath the picture, calligraphy script announces my full name—CAMELLIA BEAUREGARD—and my best arcana: AURA.
  21. confound
    be confusing or perplexing to
    I follow Amber in the papers to feel closer to her, but the stories are confounding.
  22. disposition
    your usual mood
    NEED CHARM? THE FAVORITE CAN GIVE YOU ANY DISPOSITION YOU'VE EVER WANTED
  23. monotony
    the quality of wearisome constancy and lack of variety
    The days fill with the monotony of lonely work: breakfast, beauty appointments, lunch, more beauty appointments, dinner, dropping off spintria pouches to Madam Claire's office, a visit from the nurses with the sangsues, and to bed, only to listen to the late-night noises of parties and crying.
  24. amiss
    in an improper or mistaken manner
    "Everyone's saying something's amiss at the palace," she whispers.
  25. bodice
    part of a dress above the waist
    A sweetheart neckline scoops low above my bodice, and she decorates my neck with layers of diamonds.
  26. finicky
    fussy, especially about details
    "I hope you don't mind me calling you back to court. Though the king says I'm behaving like a finicky cat, and I should be embarrassed."
  27. seamless
    perfectly consistent and coherent
    I want to ensure that Princess Sophia's marriage starts off properly, and that her eventual reign falls seamlessly into our legacy.
  28. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
    According to Du Barry, it should be elegant yet regal, memorable but not eccentric, and most of all, fit for royalty.
  29. unprecedented
    novel; having no earlier occurrence
    "I am going to do something unprecedented in the history of our kingdom, and I hope you'll prove that it's the right decision."
  30. shroud
    form a cover like a burial garment
    Ivy's veil reveals nothing. Not even an outline of her nose or mouth. The fabric completely hides her from view. I wonder how she can see through the shrouded layers.
  31. imposition
    an uncalled-for burden
    She sighs like I'm bothering her and it's an imposition for her to tell me, but I know she covets the attention.
  32. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
    She leans close to my ear and whispers, "Now that Ambrosia has put us in a precarious position, you must fix it. You have to do what you're told. You have to be perfect."
  33. sentry
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    We pass through a series of imperial guard checkpoints. Ivy salutes one of the sentries.
  34. emblazon
    decorate, adorn, or inscribe with a design
    We pass by thousands of plaques, each emblazoned with ornate script.
  35. flourish
    a short lively tune played on brass instruments
    A trumpet flourish sounds. The princess saunters into the hall.
  36. complement
    make perfect or supply what is wanting
    Her day dress is buttercup yellow and perfectly complements her new skin color—a dusky light brown, like warmed milk with cinnamon and nutmeg stirred into it.
  37. arcade
    a structure composed of arches supported by columns
    The garden arcades and grounds are abuzz with movement as the palace prepares for the royal birthday party.
  38. bode
    indicate by signs
    "Sounds like she's in a good mood. This bodes well for the day."
  39. boudoir
    a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
    The boudoir is a jeweled caisse: all pink, cream, and gold, with the scent of roses wafting through the air, and three crystal chandeliers.
  40. brocade
    thick expensive material with a raised pattern
    They arrange items on beautiful brocade cloths under the careful watch of a trio of well-dressed ladies.
  41. magnanimous
    noble and generous in spirit
    "Your Highness is too kind," one says.
    "So magnanimous," says another.
  42. plait
    a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
    Gabrielle orders the servants around, telling them how the princess will wear her hair for the evening—three single plaits twisted into a low bun—and she tells the other ladies-of-honor how to drape her with jewelry.
  43. atomize
    spray very finely
    Even the little one lingers at the edge, holding swansdown puffs, ready to spray Sophia with a perfume atomizer.
  44. diadem
    an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty
    A diadem is placed in her hair.
  45. garish
    tastelessly showy
    The sun bleeds across the sky, leaving a garish trail of reds and oranges and yellows.
Created on Thu Jun 21 10:47:21 EDT 2018 (updated Mon Jun 25 14:27:51 EDT 2018)

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