Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Chapters 8–11

by J.K. Rowling
On his eleventh birthday, orphan Harry Potter learns the shocking truth: he's a wizard about to begin his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–7, Chapters 8–11, Chapters 12–14, Chapters 15–17

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rickety
    inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
    There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump.
  2. ward off
    repel or turn away
    His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he’d met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days.
  3. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    “You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,” he began.
  4. ensnare
    take or catch as if in a trap
    I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses.
  5. infusion
    a solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance
    “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”
  6. draught
    a dose of liquid medicine
    For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death.
  7. nettle
    plant having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation
    He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like.
  8. galosh
    a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow
    A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.
  9. scrabble
    grope, scratch, or feel searchingly
    When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks.
  10. quaver
    a tremulous sound
    Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell when you were afraid, thought Harry; there was a quaver in Neville’s voice that said only too clearly that he wanted to keep his feet on the ground.
  11. hobble
    walk unevenly due to pain, injury, or weakness
    Neville, his face tear-streaked, clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him.
  12. burly
    muscular and heavily built
    But Wood turned out to be a person, a burly fifth-year boy who came out of Flitwick’s class looking confused.
  13. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    Fred and George had hardly disappeared when someone far less welcome turned up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
  14. size up
    look at closely in order to form an opinion about
    “I’m his second, who’s yours?”
    Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.
  15. beckon
    signal with the hands or nod
    Hermione opened her mouth, perhaps to tell Ron exactly how to use the Curse of the Bogies, but Harry hissed at her to be quiet and beckoned them all forward.
  16. petrify
    cause to become stunned or immobile, as with fear or awe
    “This way!” Harry mouthed to the others and, petrified, they began to creep down a long gallery full of suits of armor.
  17. flush
    turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
    “Where on earth have you all been?” she asked, looking at their bathrobes hanging off their shoulders and their flushed, sweaty faces.
  18. envious
    painfully desirous of another's advantages
    “A Nimbus Two Thousand!” Ron moaned enviously. “I’ve never even touched one.”
  19. spite
    meanness or nastiness
    “That’s a broomstick,” he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face.
  20. flashy
    tastelessly showy
    “Comets look flashy, but they’re not in the same league as the Nimbus.”
  21. offhand
    casually thoughtless or inconsiderate
    “Er—have the Bludgers ever killed anyone?” Harry asked, hoping he sounded offhand.
  22. trudge
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    “That Quidditch Cup’ll have our name on it this year,” said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle.
  23. waft
    be driven or carried along, as by the air
    On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors.
  24. askew
    turned or twisted to one side
    Harry was just helping himself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face.
  25. element
    the situation in which you are happiest and most effective
    Percy was in his element.
    “Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I’m a prefect!”
  26. griffin
    mythical creature with an eagle's head and a lion's body
    “Percy!” hissed Ron, pulling Harry behind a large stone griffin.
  27. lumber
    move heavily or clumsily
    It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had made the noise.
  28. flail
    thrash about
    Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll was going to rip him off or catch him a terrible blow with the club.
  29. racket
    a loud and disturbing noise
    They hadn’t realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll’s roars.
  30. conjure
    summon into action or bring into existence
    The day before Harry’s first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar.
  31. mangle
    destroy or injure severely
    One of his legs was bloody and mangled.
  32. diversion
    an attack that draws an enemy's attention away
    “He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That’s where he was going when we saw him—he’s after whatever it’s guarding! And I’d bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!”
  33. wheedle
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    “You’ve got to eat some breakfast.”
    “I don’t want anything.”
    “Just a bit of toast,” wheedled Hermione.
  34. buck
    move in a jerky or violent manner
    It was as though the broom was trying to buck him off. But Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off.
  35. meddle
    intrude in other people's affairs or business
    Now, listen to me, all three of yeh—yer meddlin’ in things that don’ concern yeh.
Created on Wed Jul 10 10:54:38 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Jun 10 10:59:49 EDT 2022)

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