The Adoration of Jenna Fox: List 1

by Mary E. Pearson
Jenna wakes up from a coma with no memory of her previous life. As her strangely secretive parents try to rebuild her identity, she becomes more and more determined to discover the truth about who she really is.

This list covers California–A Glimpse.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
40 words 318 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. articulate
    express or state clearly
    One day my tongue lay like a lump of meat in my mouth, the next day it was articulating words that hadn’t been spoken in over a year.
  2. veranda
    a porch along the outside of a building
    On the fifth day, when I walked out onto the veranda without stumbling, Mother cried and said, “It’s a miracle. An absolute miracle.”
  3. gait
    a person's manner of walking
    “Her gait is still not natural. Can’t you see that?” Lily said.
  4. obscure
    marked by difficulty of style or expression
    There are words.
    Words I don’t remember.
    Not obscure words that I wouldn’t be expected to know. But simple ones.
    Jump. Hot. Apple.
  5. inquisitive
    given to questioning
    Curious adj. 1. Eager to learn or to know, inquisitive.
    2. Prying or meddlesome. 3. Inexplicable, highly unusual, odd, strange.
  6. pry
    be nosey
    Curious adj. 1. Eager to learn or to know, inquisitive.
    2. Prying or meddlesome. 3. Inexplicable, highly unusual, odd, strange.
  7. meddlesome
    intrusive in an offensive manner
    Curious adj. 1. Eager to learn or to know, inquisitive.
    2. Prying or meddlesome. 3. Inexplicable, highly unusual, odd, strange.
  8. nuance
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude
    Movement is crisp, distinct. I hear every nuance.
  9. coma
    a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness
    “I’ve been in a coma for over a year. I guess that makes me highly unusual; odd; and strange. Yes, Lily. I am curious.”
  10. subtlety
    a fine difference in meaning, opinion, or attitude
    The subtleties of expression still escape me.
  11. temperament
    your usual mood
    The polished wood floor reflects the pieces of furniture. It is a cold room. Not in temperature, but in temperament.
  12. lichen
    a plant occurring in crusty patches on tree trunks or rocks
    Bright green lichens creep up the remaining bricks.
  13. haunch
    the upper thigh and back of the hip in human beings
    A few more steps and I see Mr. Bender, sitting on his haunches, like I have seen three-year-old Jenna sit in the video discs.
  14. acclimate
    get used to a certain environment
    “Your hands are like ice, young lady. You still acclimating?”
  15. temporal
    of this earth or world
    That’s the beauty of it and what makes it even more wondrous. At least to me. It’s delicate, temporal, but eternal, too. It will go back into the environment to be used again and again, in nature’s canvas.
  16. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    “Not yet. I need to wait for the sun to get a little lower. And if I get lucky, I’m going to coax a few birds to pose with it. A modern-day lion-and-lamb thing.”
  17. mesmerized
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    I am mesmerized by their perfect tiny beaks, their creamy clawed feet, and their layered gray feathers that fold together like a beautiful silk fan.
  18. skitter
    move about or proceed hurriedly
    I reach out to touch one, and they both skitter away.
  19. ruckus
    the act of making a noisy disturbance
    He stands and throws his few remaining seeds into the boxwood. A ruckus of chirps follows.
  20. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    I walk into the eucalyptus grove to where the pond is dammed with earth and a weave of gnarled tree roots.
  21. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    She tried to get Lily to treat it, but Lily balked, saying she hadn’t practiced medicine in fifteen years and that she had never practiced that kind of medicine.
  22. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    I sit in my bed, in the dark, listening to the midnight creaks of our house, trying to conjure more than their faces, trying to push them into rooms, desks, and voices that will trigger more.
  23. gallivant
    wander aimlessly in search of pleasure
    “I’d rather you stayed home, too. But I have errands to run, and I’m not taking a chance on you gallivanting off again.”
  24. lurch
    move abruptly
    She puts the car in gear and lurches forward, passing the houses on our lane.
  25. sprawling
    spreading out in different directions
    An English Tudor right next door, then a large Old Mission style estate, next a sprawling Craftsman, and last, the white house that Mr. Bender paired with the word careful.
  26. indefinitely
    to an unknown extent
    “He started his own biotech company and sold it four years ago. That’s where he made his money. He developed Bio Gel. It changed everything as far as transplants were concerned. Instead of just a few hours, organs could be shelved indefinitely waiting for the right recipient. He was on the news and made a big splash. Anything else?”
  27. timbre
    the distinctive property of a complex sound
    But the timbre of Lily’s voice calms me just the same.
  28. mustiness
    the quality of smelling old, stale, or moldy
    Lily pulls open yet another large wooden door, and this time we slip into cool blackness and the sweet smell of burning candles, mustiness, and age.
  29. gilded
    made from or covered with gold
    My eyes adjust and I see a domed painted ceiling, and then a gilded crucified figure.
  30. anemic
    lacking vigor or energy
    We have already toured the remnants of the ancient mission garden where the two of them excitedly examined gnarled roots, weeds, and what appear to be anemic orange trees that are bearing the tiniest of pale fruit.
  31. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    I am seething. Outraged. Incensed. The words. They’re finally bubbling up in torrents just when I need them.
  32. incensed
    angered at something unjust or wrong
    I am seething. Outraged. Incensed. The words. They’re finally bubbling up in torrents just when I need them.
  33. torrent
    an overwhelming number or amount
    I am seething. Outraged. Incensed. The words. They’re finally bubbling up in torrents just when I need them.
  34. wane
    grow smaller
    But the will. It is waning.
  35. compel
    force somebody to do something
    Why am I compelled to do as Mother says even when I have a desperate need to do something else?
  36. aversion
    a feeling of intense dislike
    She does hate me. Her aversion is extreme.
  37. rivulet
    a small stream
    Without friends and a packed schedule to keep me busy, keeping track of time and numbers has become a prime source of entertainment. Watching the collecting rivulets of rain on my window has become a close second.
  38. recluse
    one who lives in solitude
    Since he is the only neighbor I know, I learn things about him. He is famous. A recluse.
  39. quirky
    strikingly unconventional
    There are no pictures of him. Few people have ever met him. Quirky artist.
  40. bolster
    support and strengthen
    And then the three of us are laughing again, exhilarated, bolstered together in our defiance.
Created on Mon Dec 10 20:36:06 EST 2018 (updated Fri Jan 11 14:13:03 EST 2019)

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