With the Fire on High: List 3

by Elizabeth Acevedo
Emoni Santiago pursues her dream of becoming a chef while finishing high school and raising her daughter.

This list covers pages 139–229 of the 2019 HarperTeen edition ("Emoni's Recipe"–"Hook, Line, and Sinker").

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

Here is a link to our lists for The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.
40 words 298 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. extract
    a solution obtained by steeping or soaking a substance
    Three drops of Caribbean vanilla extract infused with mint
  2. meme
    an amusing image that spreads rapidly through social media
    He keeps asking me if I’m coming back to class, and if I’m okay, and honestly, I don’t know the answer to either of those questions, so it’s easier to keep it light and simple with memes and song lyrics.
  3. allude
    make an indirect reference to
    I can’t tell if the ice-cream thing is real or if she’s trying to allude to Malachi’s and my ice-cream date.
  4. fraternize
    be on friendly terms with someone, as if with a brother
    “Emoni, stop fraternizing with the customers. Even if they are your friends from school,” Steve says from behind me.
  5. conceited
    having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
    Maybe because people thought I was conceited since I mostly kept to myself.
  6. snide
    expressive of contempt
    The snide comments and behind-my-back chatter was happening before Angelica came out...
  7. suave
    having a sophisticated charm
    The laugh he gives after isn’t his usual suave one and I wonder if he’s nervous.
  8. neutral
    possessing no distinctive quality or characteristics
    I swallow and keep my voice soft and neutral when I say, “I’m not ‘bringing more boys around.’"
  9. maneuver
    direct the course of or determine the direction of traveling
    Angelica opens the door wide, and Malachi and I maneuver our large bags full of plastic containers and décor into the living room.
  10. incense
    a substance that produces a fragrant odor when burned
    The house smells of Pine-Sol and incense and I know that Angelica cleaned even though the girl is mortal enemies with the broom.
  11. ramification
    a consequence, especially one that causes complications
    Ramifications
    My cell phone rings the next morning just as ’Buela is headed out to church.
  12. procession
    the action of a group moving ahead in regular formation
    “Why don’t you get her dressed?” ’Buela asks. “At this rate I’ll have missed the procession by the time I get to the church—and I don’t like walking in late. We can go get breakfast instead. We’ll do those dishes later.”
  13. excursion
    a journey taken for pleasure
    When ’Buela, Babygirl, and I have an excursion, the getting-ready part is always a production.
  14. embroidery
    decorative needlework
    I trace the delicate embroidery on the edge of the tablecloth.
  15. ethic
    a system of principles governing morality and conduct
    “You have the taste buds, and married with the technique and work ethic you’re learning in class, you’ll acquire the holy trinity to make it in this industry. I need to get back to my kitchen, but don’t worry about today’s bill.”
  16. trinity
    three people or things considered as a unit
    “You have the taste buds, and married with the technique and work ethic you’re learning in class, you’ll acquire the holy trinity to make it in this industry. I need to get back to my kitchen, but don’t worry about today’s bill.”
  17. industry
    the people engaged in a kind of commercial enterprise
    “You have the taste buds, and married with the technique and work ethic you’re learning in class, you’ll acquire the holy trinity to make it in this industry. I need to get back to my kitchen, but don’t worry about today’s bill.”
  18. tinge
    a pale or subdued color
    Her brown skin warms up with a tinge of pink in the cheeks as she snorts on her sandwich.
  19. inscrutable
    difficult or impossible to understand
    I can’t read the look on his face. Inscrutable, Ms. Fuentes would call it.
  20. hone
    refine or make more perfect or effective
    “Lisa is an excellent chef. I’m glad you were able to try her food. As for your absences, we’ve been looking for someone in class to lead the fund-raising campaign for the trip to Spain. One day you might own a restaurant, or be head chef, and honing your leadership skills now will be useful. Would you like to head that committee?”
  21. proceeds
    the income or profit arising from a transaction
    She even suggests reaching out to local rappers and asking them to give proceeds of their record sales for the trip.
  22. optimal
    most desirable possible under a restriction
    When I ask Malachi for his thoughts, he goes in a different direction than Angelica; like the doctor he’s told me he wants to be, he talks about the optimal results and makes a bullet-point list of how to make the most money in the quickest fashion.
  23. template
    a model or standard for making comparisons
    He gives me a letter template to petition our district council member and has a whole game plan outlined for me to knock on doors in the neighborhood with food samples so people will donate directly.
  24. grassroots
    of or involving the common people rather than those in power
    He says the best way to move forward is to keep it grassroots; when you support the community, the community will support you.
  25. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
    “We all need to learn how to serve, and that would be a great opportunity. We can propose it as one of the objectives: on-the-job experience.”
    Chef cocks his head. “You’ve thought about this a lot, Emoni. I’m impressed.
  26. blanch
    cook (vegetables) briefly
    “Emoni, can you blanch the asparagus and season it?” Richard calls from where he’s chopping onions.
  27. smock
    a loose coverall that protects the clothes
    “I think it’d be cute if she was a chef. With a little smock, and a hat, checkered pants, and a spatula. Maybe even some of those little clogs. She could be cooking up a bowl of popcorn.”
  28. behalf
    as the agent of or on someone's part
    Although he never said anything, I know he had to argue with the principal on our behalf to reopen the small training restaurant attached to the downstairs kitchen.
  29. degradation
    a change to a lower state
    Chef temples his fingers together. “What would you do to elevate the mac and cheese?”
    I place a hand on my chest, offended. “Absolutely nothing. Baked mac and cheese doesn’t need elevation, degradation, hateration, or nothing else. It’s perfect in its purest form. Although we could add some gouda.”
  30. brainstorm
    try to solve a problem by thinking intensely about it
    “Today we’re going to come up with some creative solutions to the problem we are having. Emoni has been doing a great job brainstorming ideas to raise money, but I think this last push needs a collective effort. We want to go to Sevilla, yes?
  31. conniption
    a display of bad temper
    The thought of adding anything more to our dinner is probably giving him a conniption, but these ideas are too good to stop now.
  32. swanky
    impressively fashionable and elegant
    It’s not some swanky rooftop affair, but damn if it ain’t good for being a high school gym transformation in less than two weeks.
  33. affair
    a vaguely specified social event
    It’s not some swanky rooftop affair, but damn if it ain’t good for being a high school gym transformation in less than two weeks.
  34. savory
    having an agreeably pungent taste
    Chili aioli would make this bomb. A sweet and savory bite. I almost walk to the spice cabinet, then stop myself.
  35. hearty
    providing abundant nourishment
    These are the skewers of winter veggies and single-serve portions of herbed stuffing with jamón ibérico—the less hearty bites.
  36. diligently
    in a hard-working manner
    “As many of you have been hearing throughout the night, in addition to being our annual Winter Dinner, this meal has also served as a fund-raiser for our Culinary Arts class, which will be traveling to Spain during spring break. They’ve been working diligently throughout the first two quarters to raise money, and this was their culminating fund-raiser.”
  37. culminate
    end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage
    “As many of you have been hearing throughout the night, in addition to being our annual Winter Dinner, this meal has also served as a fund-raiser for our Culinary Arts class, which will be traveling to Spain during spring break. They’ve been working diligently throughout the first two quarters to raise money, and this was their culminating fund-raiser.”
  38. revenue
    the entire amount of income before any deductions are made
    I quickly tally all the amounts from the lunches and auction revenue with tonight’s money.
  39. singe
    burn superficially or lightly
    I wipe my area, making sure not to get too close to my burners or to Malachi—both would probably leave me singed.
  40. sincerity
    the quality of being open and truthful
    I think we are both so used to dissing each other that in this moment of sincerity we feel shy.
Created on Tue Jun 25 09:29:27 EDT 2019 (updated Tue Jul 02 11:10:30 EDT 2019)

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