The Westing Game: Chapters 8–14

by Ellen Raskin
Where there's a will, there's a motive to solve a murder. When eccentric millionaire Sam Westing dies, he leaves instructions for sixteen people to come to the reading of his will. With a fortune on the line, Westing's death becomes a puzzle they'll race to solve.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–22, Chapters 23–30
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rite
    an established ceremony prescribed by a religion
    The slow procession looked like some ancient, mysterious rite as partner sought out partner on the windowless stairs, and silent pairs threaded through the corridors in the flickering light of crooked, color-striped candles (the product of Turtle's stint at summer camp).
  2. bigot
    a prejudiced person who is intolerant of differing opinions
    He had enough problems with the empty restaurant, a lazy son, and his nagging ulcer; now he had to put up with this bigot.
  3. pretentious
    creating an appearance of importance or distinction
    Gracie Windkloppel Wexler, heir pretender, pretentious heir.
  4. incriminating
    charging or suggestive of guilt or blame
    His father's comment about awarding a medal to the murderer might be incriminating.
  5. wreak
    cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
    From his grave Westing would stalk his enemy, and through his heirs he would wreak his revenge.
  6. transcribe
    write out, as from speech or notes
    The secretary had not yet transcribed the shorthand, but she had read it through several times before hiding the notebook in a safe place.
  7. impeccable
    without error or flaw
    In spite of the impeccable logic, Angela looked back over her shoulder several times on the way to 3c.
  8. hors d'oeuvre
    a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal
    "When I saw the invitation in the elevator I suggested to Mr. Hoo that he call the judge to see if she needed hors d'oeuvres; and sure enough, he got an order for six dozen."
  9. humiliation
    state of disgrace or loss of self-respect
    It wasn't even the humiliation of her mother chiding her about the "twin" costume (in front of everybody) and sending her back to their apartment to change clothes.
  10. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    He held up a tea bag with contempt, then groaned on seeing his sweat-suited son jog in with a sweet roll between his teeth and vault over his hands onto a stool.
  11. alibi
    proof that someone accused of a crime could not have done it
    And if anyone here suspects us of murder, forget it, we both have airtight alibis.
  12. wary
    marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    Wary of giving away game plans, the heirs decided the questions would be written out, but no names were to be signed.
  13. paraphernalia
    equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles
    Angela carefully dug through the embroidery, personal items, and other paraphernalia in her tapestry bag and pulled out the newspaper folded to the Westing obituary.
  14. memento
    a reminder of past events
    He found Madame Hoo in their rear fourth-floor apartment kneeling before her bamboo trunk, fingering mementos from her childhood in China.
  15. amends
    something done or paid to make up for a wrong
    J. J. Ford pocketed the bill and, to make amends for her thoughtless gesture, asked the doorman about his family.
Created on Mon Dec 29 16:45:37 EST 2014 (updated Wed Aug 06 12:27:50 EDT 2025)

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