Dactyl Hill Squad: Chapters 4–6

by Daniel José Older
In this historical fantasy novel set during the Civil War, orphan Magdalys Roca attempts to rescue her friends from a slave trader — with the help of some domesticated dinosaurs.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–11, Chapters 12–18, Chapters 19–28, Chapters 29–39

Here is a link to our lists for Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. seethe
    be in an agitated emotional state
    Magdalys seethed.
  2. thespian
    a theatrical performer
    Just twenty years old, the young thespian had already made a worldwide name for himself.
  3. infamous
    known widely and usually unfavorably
    The black newspapers said he was the next James Hewlett or Ira Aldridge; white newspapers mocked him for doing Shakespeare “in a Negro styling,” but that just made him more infamous and in demand.
  4. undaunted
    resolutely courageous
    Halsey continued undaunted. “After stealing his magic books! Or perhaps you may drag your dagger across his throat.”
  5. sot
    a chronic drinker
    “Remember first to possess his books, for without them he’s but a sot!” Halsey Crunk declared from the stage.
  6. enrapture
    hold spellbound
    Amaya stood in front of her beside Little Sabeen, both of them enraptured by the ruckus on stage.
  7. ruckus
    the act of making a noisy disturbance
    Amaya stood in front of her beside Little Sabeen, both of them enraptured by the ruckus on stage.
  8. dainty
    delicately beautiful
    With a snarl, Halsey swung at Cymbeline, who dodged daintily out of the way as the audience erupted into cheers and laughter.
  9. jeer
    laugh at with contempt and derision
    The crowd jeered and jostled as the matron launched into it after Magdalys.
  10. jostle
    make one's way by pushing or shoving
    The crowd jeered and jostled as the matron launched into it after Magdalys.
  11. crow
    utter shrill sounds like a rooster
    “You are three men of sin, whom destiny has belched up ’pon this island,” Cymbeline crowed, rolling her eyes at the disturbance.
  12. shaft
    a column of light
    Back by the entranceway, a little shaft of light cut through the shadowy theater.
  13. convey
    transmit or serve as the medium for transmission
    I am dictating this letter to Doc Billings as I myself am illiterate, but I trust he will convey my words to you adequately.
  14. regiment
    army unit smaller than a division
    A regiment of Reb raptor riders assaulted our post and your brother was struck in the head by a rifle butt.
  15. emanate
    proceed or issue forth, as from a source
    Up on stage, the actors stood frozen, staring at a flickering light that emanated from a far corner of the theater as the feathered microraptors shrieked and scattered.
  16. billowing
    characterized by great swelling waves or surges
    Magdalys blinked through the billowing smoke, trying to make out the rooftop of the theater.
  17. ramshackle
    in poor or broken-down condition
    A few dark figures darted along ramshackle storefronts and dilapidated tenements; theatergoers fled down darkened alleys.
  18. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    A few dark figures darted along ramshackle storefronts and dilapidated tenements; theatergoers fled down darkened alleys.
  19. tenement
    a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
    A few dark figures darted along ramshackle storefronts and dilapidated tenements; theatergoers fled down darkened alleys.
  20. flit
    move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
    Up above, microdactyls flitted across the sky.
  21. plume
    anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
    She glanced at the sky, where a long dark plume of smoke rose above the rooftops and long graceful necks of sauropods.
  22. draft
    compulsory military service
    “The draft offices started drawing names out of a tumbler today,” Cymbeline said.
  23. conscript
    enroll into service compulsorily
    “White folks are being conscripted for the war against the slaver states and they don’t want to go. There was word there could be some backlash against black New Yorkers, but this...” She shook her head.
  24. backlash
    an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence
    “White folks are being conscripted for the war against the slaver states and they don’t want to go. There was word there could be some backlash against black New Yorkers, but this...” She shook her head.
  25. carnage
    the savage and excessive killing of many people
    She looked at the carnage around her.
  26. gait
    an animal's manner of moving
    A policeman rode into the square, his knuckleskull stumbling in an awkward, rhythmless gait.
  27. inferno
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
    “There’s a disturbance in the Claw, I’m afraid. All civilians must clear out. Full curfew in effect.” He readied to leave, apparently oblivious to the inferno that had once been a theater crackling just a few feet away.
  28. frail
    physically weak
    Von Marsh pushed past her. “And Mother Brimworth has inhaled a terrible amount of smoke, Officer! She’s already quite frail and needs medical treatment immediately!”
  29. corral
    collect or gather
    Off to the side, the Crunks and Marietta tried to corral all the children away from the flames.
  30. burly
    muscular and heavily built
    It sent up a triumphant hoot as it skidded to a halt and a team of burly fellows with ash-stained faces leapt off.
  31. emaciated
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    A purple-and-brown raptor stepped out in front of the burning theater. It was emaciated and bedraggled, with a few shredded orange feathers along its arms.
  32. bedraggled
    limp, untidy, and soiled
    A purple-and-brown raptor stepped out in front of the burning theater. It was emaciated and bedraggled, with a few shredded orange feathers along its arms.
  33. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    On its back, a grim-looking mustached man in a cowboy hat brandished an old-fashioned blunderbuss, its wide metal mouth extending back over a wooden handle.
  34. blunderbuss
    a short musket of wide bore with a flared muzzle
    On its back, a grim-looking mustached man in a cowboy hat brandished an old-fashioned blunderbuss, its wide metal mouth extending back over a wooden handle.
  35. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    The raptor rider released a surly smile. “That’s not how this works. We didn’t authorize anyone to put out any fires.”
  36. maw
    the mouth, jaws, or throat
    A raptor had already grabbed one of the firemen in its maw and hurled him across the plaza.
  37. flank
    the side between ribs and hipbone
    She needed this brachy to help Two Step and get everyone out of there, since no one else would do it. She made her way along its flank to where a rope ladder hung down from the worn leather saddle beside one of the water basins.
  38. encompass
    include in scope
    As terrifying as the world had suddenly become, a tiny part of Magdalys thrilled at the touch of the brachy’s hide, the sting of the rope ladder in her hands, the way this huge, magnificent creature encompassed the whole world when she was this close to it, even the dank reek of it filling her nostrils.
  39. dank
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    As terrifying as the world had suddenly become, a tiny part of Magdalys thrilled at the touch of the brachy’s hide, the sting of the rope ladder in her hands, the way this huge, magnificent creature encompassed the whole world when she was this close to it, even the dank reek of it filling her nostrils.
  40. careen
    move at high speed and in an uncontrolled way
    “AAAAAAAAH!!” Two Step yelled as he careened into her and they both tumbled backward in the saddle.
Created on Tue May 07 09:25:02 EDT 2019 (updated Tue May 07 13:34:07 EDT 2019)

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