Fablehaven: Chapters 1–5

by Brandon Mull
When Kendra and Seth visit their grandparents, they learn that their grandfather is the caretaker for Fablehaven, a sanctuary for magical creatures.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–15, Chapters 16–19
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cajole
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    Toward the end of the wake, Kendra overheard Mom cajoling Grandpa Sorenson to watch the kids.
  2. tousle
    disarrange or rumple; dishevel
    “We’ll be back before you know it,” Dad said, putting an arm around Kendra and tousling Seth’s hair.
  3. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    Paths of white stones meandered among flower beds, hedgerows, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and flowering plants.
  4. lattice
    framework consisting of an ornamental wood or metal design
    Tangled grapevines curled along suspended lattices.
  5. teem
    be full of or abuzz with
    The garden teemed with life.
  6. alight
    settle or come to rest
    She paused as a large butterfly alighted on the rim of an empty birdbath.
  7. variegated
    having an assortment of colors
    Variegated flagstones paved the poolside area.
  8. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    “Good job,” Kendra said to placate him when he surfaced.
  9. armoire
    a large wardrobe or cabinet
    The armoire in the dollhouse’s master bedroom made Kendra suspicious.
  10. scour
    examine minutely
    Kendra continued scouring the tiny house, investigating every piece of furniture, searching every closet, checking behind every miniature painting on the walls.
  11. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Dale was no longer walking. He regarded Kendra shrewdly. “Can you keep a secret?”
  12. undergrowth
    the brush beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
    Seth pressed through dense undergrowth until he reached a faint, crooked path, the kind made by animals.
  13. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    Nearby stood a squat, gnarled tree with thorny leaves and black bark.
  14. diffuse
    move outward
    The tall trees stood fairly close together, diffusing the sunlight into a greenish glow laced with shadows.
  15. bristly
    having or covered with protective barbs or spines
    It was a round, bristly creature no taller than his knees.
  16. lichen
    a plant occurring in crusty patches on tree trunks or rocks
    Some of the trees had moss and lichen growing on them.
  17. wiry
    lean but strong
    Beside the stump, dressed in crude rags, sat a wiry old woman gnawing at a knot in a bristly rope.
  18. impudent
    improperly forward or bold
    Her voice became stern. “You are an impudent young man.”
  19. mettle
    the courage to carry on
    “Very well, my arrogant young adventurer. Why not test your courage? Every explorer deserves a chance to prove his mettle.”
  20. labored
    requiring or showing effort
    His breathing became labored, but he did not slow down.
  21. deluge
    a heavy rain
    Standing at the window beside the telescope, she watched the deluge.
  22. leaden
    darkened or overcast
    Kendra tilted her umbrella back and gazed heavenward. Leaden skies in all directions.
  23. pristine
    completely free from dirt or contamination
    Before her lay a pristine pond, a couple of hundred yards across, with a small, verdant island at the center.
  24. verdant
    characterized by abundance of vegetation and green foliage
    Before her lay a pristine pond, a couple of hundred yards across, with a small, verdant island at the center.
  25. promenade
    a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
    Flowering vines wound along the latticework of the impressive promenade.
  26. preen
    clean with one's bill
    On the far side of the pond, peacocks strutted and preened.
  27. ubiquitous
    being present everywhere at once
    In some places the ubiquitous vines had been woven into living wreaths and other fanciful patterns.
  28. quay
    wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
    One had a small white quay projecting into the pond.
  29. solicit
    make a petition for something desired
    She had not expected him to solicit her opinion.
  30. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    Tentatively he reached a hand toward it, but it fluttered out of reach.
  31. toll
    ring slowly
    The grandfather clock tolled the hour, chiming three times after the introductory melody.
  32. stewardship
    the position of someone who manages the affairs of others
    “The name the founders gave this preserve centuries ago. A refuge for mystical creatures, a stewardship passed down from caretaker to caretaker over the years.”
  33. consecrated
    made, declared, or believed to be holy
    This entire sanctuary is consecrated ground, governed by laws that cannot be broken by the creatures who dwell here.
  34. hallowed
    worthy of religious veneration
    Only on this hallowed soil could mortals interact with these beings with any measure of safety.
  35. condescend
    treat patronizingly
    Most never condescend to use human speech. They consider everything beneath them.
  36. amuck
    wildly; without self-control
    Of course, there are a few nights a year when all the creatures run amuck, and one of those is coming up.
  37. personify
    attribute human qualities to something
    She personifies the reasons why exploring the woods is unwise.
  38. consort
    keep company with
    She was an intelligent, lovely woman. But she became a frequent visitor to some of the darker portions of the forest, where she consorted with unsavory beings.
  39. enamored
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
    Before long, she became enamored with the power of witchcraft, and they acquired considerable influence over her.
  40. denizen
    a person who inhabits a particular place
    When she tried to aid some of the foul denizens of the woods in a treacherous act of rebellion, her husband called in assistance and had her imprisoned.
Created on Sun Nov 25 19:24:59 EST 2018 (updated Thu Nov 29 14:39:59 EST 2018)

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