Crenshaw: Chapters 41–52

by Katherine Applegate
As his family struggles financially, Jackson deals with hardship with the help of his imaginary friend, a giant cat named Crenshaw.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–12, Chapters 13–17, Chapters 18–40, Chapters 41–52

Here are links to our lists for other works by Katherine Applegate: Home of the Brave, Wishtree, The One and Only Ivan
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ajar
    slightly open
    I’d left the window ajar.
  2. velvety
    having a smooth soft surface
    He pulled one of Aretha’s velvety ears over his eyes to block out the sun.
  3. conscience
    motivation deriving from ethical or moral principles
    “Are you my conscience?” I asked.
  4. lurk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    I checked my closet, just in case there was a giant invisible possum or gopher or something lurking there.
  5. abominable
    unequivocally detestable
    “No,” I said. “I’m managing just fine on my own.”
    “Oh, really?” said Crenshaw. “What’s that abominable dog treat lying on the floor?”
  6. mystified
    totally perplexed and mixed up
    He’d made me feel mystified and annoyed and more than a little crazy.
  7. bargain
    negotiate the terms of an exchange
    My dad walked around while people bargained with him and said how about two dollars instead of three.
  8. sleek
    having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
    Together, my dad and the man headed toward a sleek black car.
  9. eviction
    the removal of someone occupying a home or land
    I knew what the paper was because I could see the words at the top.
    It said final eviction notice.
  10. commit
    cause to be admitted, as a person to an institution
    I groaned. “Look, it’s okay. Go ahead and call a psychiatrist. Have me committed.”
  11. pucker
    gather something into small wrinkles or folds
    Marisol puckered her lips like she’d just chewed a lemon.
  12. poseur
    a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
    “I hate moths,” he said. “They’re butterfly poseurs.”
  13. disdainful
    expressing extreme contempt
    Aretha dropped her ball in front of Crenshaw. He sniffed it disdainfully.
  14. frolic
    play boisterously
    “Cats do not play,” Crenshaw told her. “We do not frolic. We do not gambol. We nap, we kill, and we eat.”
  15. gambol
    play or run boisterously
    “Cats do not play,” Crenshaw told her. “We do not frolic. We do not gambol. We nap, we kill, and we eat.”
  16. shudder
    tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
    “I fear you may have made me with a hint of dog thrown in.” Crenshaw shuddered.
  17. specimen
    an example regarded as typical of its class
    “Dogs do that because—”
    “I know why. Because they’re idiots. I also know you will never, ever catch this fine feline specimen stooping so low.”
  18. stoop
    debase oneself morally
    “Dogs do that because—”
    “I know why. Because they’re idiots. I also know you will never, ever catch this fine feline specimen stooping so low.”
  19. solitary
    preferring to be alone
    “Of course. Cats are solitary, but we're not completely antisocial.”
  20. antisocial
    shunning contact with others
    “Of course. Cats are solitary, but we're not completely antisocial.”
  21. exasperating
    extremely annoying or displeasing
    Lots of people waiting and snoozing and telling stories about exasperating, amazing children.
  22. loom
    hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    I couldn’t fall asleep that night. Sounds echoed off the walls of our empty apartment. Shadows loomed and shrank.
  23. infinite
    having no limits or boundaries in time or space
    I looked at Crenshaw. He held up his paws. “Don’t ask me. Human children are infinitely more complicated than kittens.”
  24. soundly
    completely and absolutely
    Everyone else was sleeping soundly.
  25. billow
    rise up as if in waves
    Bubbles floated and danced. Steam billowed. But through the mist I could make out Crenshaw in the shower, fashioning a bubble beard.
Created on Fri Aug 31 19:05:10 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Sep 06 14:55:18 EDT 2018)

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