Sold: List 2

by Patricia McCormick
Lakshmi's stepfather tells her she must leave their impoverished Nepalese village and work in the city — but when Lakshmi arrives, she discovers that she is a victim of trafficking.

This list covers "Making Do"–"An Inauspicious Start."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
30 words 432 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ration
    restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity
    Today the village headmen announced that they will ration water.
  2. dowry
    money brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
    She would have said, “Those are for Lakshmi. They are her dowry.”
  3. gully
    a deep ditch cut by running water
    Then, little by little, a trickle of muddy water came hopping down the gully.
  4. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    Tali lapped and snuffled and snorted and sneezed and drank herself silly, her bony sides billowing with water.
  5. maize
    corn
    She feels around behind that urn for an even smaller one, reaches inside, and pulls out a handful of maize.
  6. monsoon
    rainy season in southern Asia
    We sit together, each savoring our secret treats and dreaming of the days after the monsoon.
  7. listless
    lacking zest or vivacity
    Ama and I can do without food, but the baby is beginning to grow listless.
  8. feisty
    showing spirit and courage
    The baby eats curds and fruit and grows fat and feisty again.
  9. bestow
    give as a gift
    We put out dozens of tiny oil lamps at dusk to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, my namesake, who will circle the earth and bestow wealth and blessings on the humble and the pure.
  10. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    We put out dozens of tiny oil lamps at dusk to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, my namesake, who will circle the earth and bestow wealth and blessings on the humble and the pure.
  11. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
    "This is an auspicious night,” says Ama.
  12. brisk
    quick and energetic
    Her brisk and steady hand flies through my hair as she twines the strands into braids.
  13. bangle
    jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration
    She is wearing a dress of yellow cloud fabric, a hundred silver bangles on her wrists and ankles.
  14. callus
    cause a thick or hard area of skin to form on
    I, too, draw my shawl to my face, see that I have the callused hands of a farm girl, and stuff them in the pockets of my homespun skirt.
  15. homespun
    made of cloth woven in one's household
    I, too, draw my shawl to my face, see that I have the callused hands of a farm girl, and stuff them in the pockets of my homespun skirt.
  16. bauble
    cheap showy jewelry or ornament
    “City girls have pretty dresses,” she says from behind her yellow cloud. “And fancy baubles. They eat oranges, dates, and mangoes every day. It is the easy life.”
  17. windfall
    a sudden happening that brings good fortune
    Windfall
    We are awakened in the middle of the night by a thunderous roaring outside our hut. ma and I come down to see my stepfather seated on a machine with two wheels and a pair of metal antlers.
  18. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    Perhaps, I think grudgingly, even enough for a new vest for my stepfather.
  19. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    The beast, however, balks at his suggestion.
  20. coax
    influence or persuade by gentle and persistent urging
    Ama has to be coaxed from bed the next morning with a cup of hot tea.
  21. wan
    lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
    She smiles wanly and strokes my cheek with her work-worn hand.
  22. refined
    cultivated and genteel
    I cringe at his backwardness and pray this refined and lovely city woman does not laugh him out of the store.
  23. unfurl
    unroll, unfold, or spread out
    Bajai Sita unfurls a roll of rupee notes from her waistcloth.
  24. ware
    commodities offered for sale
    But he has his eyes fixed on the wares on Bajai Sita’s shelves. He is taking things and putting them in Ama’s empty basket: a carton of cigarettes, a bag of sweets, chewing gum, a bottle of rice wine, and a new hat.
  25. defiance
    intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
    My stepfather scowls, but he does not say anything. On any other day, he would not tolerate such defiance, especially from a mere girl.
  26. straggler
    someone who strays or falls behind
    He is whistling and coaxing a straggler to join the others by tickling its rump with a long stem of elephant grass.
  27. lurch
    move haltingly and unsteadily
    I squawk just like the chickens, clap a hand over my mouth to try to stop myself, and cry out again as this roaring, lurching cart jounces and bounces in and out of every rut in the road, until finally I am laughing at the sheer madness of it.
  28. jounce
    move up and down repeatedly
    I squawk just like the chickens, clap a hand over my mouth to try to stop myself, and cry out again as this roaring, lurching cart jounces and bounces in and out of every rut in the road, until finally I am laughing at the sheer madness of it.
  29. rut
    a groove or furrow
    I squawk just like the chickens, clap a hand over my mouth to try to stop myself, and cry out again as this roaring, lurching cart jounces and bounces in and out of every rut in the road, until finally I am laughing at the sheer madness of it.
  30. sheer
    complete and without restriction
    I squawk just like the chickens, clap a hand over my mouth to try to stop myself, and cry out again as this roaring, lurching cart jounces and bounces in and out of every rut in the road, until finally I am laughing at the sheer madness of it.
Created on Thu Jul 18 11:08:23 EDT 2019 (updated Thu Jul 18 11:36:40 EDT 2019)

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