A Dance with Dragons: Chapters 48–59

by George R.R. Martin
In the fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire, the fate of the seven kingdoms of Westeros hangs in the balance after a devastating battle.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 11, Chapters 12–23, Chapters 24–35, Chapters 36–47, Chapters 48–59, Chapter 60–Epilogue

Here are links to our lists for other volumes inA Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    This siege was a more intimate affair, the latest step in a dance that went back many centuries.
  2. abjure
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
    Lord Blackwood shall be required to confess his treason and abjure his allegiance to the Starks and Tullys.
  3. recompense
    payment or reward, as for service rendered
    “The Mountain’s dead, as is my father,” Jaime told him, “and some might say your head was recompense enough.
  4. asunder
    widely separated especially in space
    “What fire joins, none may put asunder.”
  5. oaf
    an awkward, foolish person
    When Owen the Oaf began to dance with Patchface the fool, laughter echoed off the vaulted ceiling.
  6. intercession
    the act of intervening, as to mediate a dispute
    When Prince Quentyn told them that the other Westerosi had come over to the Stormcrows at the command of the Tattered Prince, only the intercession of Grey Worm and his Unsullied prevented Daario from killing them all.
  7. confine
    to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement
    She took Prince Quentyn by the hand and led him to the pit where two of her dragons were confined.
  8. awry
    away from the correct or expected course
    If Abel’s scheme went awry, Ramsay would make their dying long and hard.
  9. staunch
    stop the flow of a liquid
    Four White Harbor knights had formed a ring around Lord Wyman, as Maester Medrick labored over him to staunch his bleeding.
  10. giddy
    lacking seriousness; given to frivolity
    For a moment Theon felt almost giddy. They never looked. They never saw. We walked the girl right by them!
  11. auspicious
    indicating favorable circumstances and good luck
    “Have you ever seen such an auspicious day, my love?” Hizdahr zo Loraq commented when she rejoined him.
  12. gorge
    overeat or eat immodestly
    I am not your mother, she might have shouted back, I am the mother of your slaves, of every boy who ever died upon these sands whilst you gorged on honeyed locusts.
  13. abattoir
    a building where animals are butchered
    “It was my floppy ears they cheered, not me. Take me from this abattoir, husband.”
  14. smoldering
    showing scarcely suppressed anger
    In the smoldering red pits of Drogon’s eyes, Dany saw her own reflection.
  15. purchase
    the advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever
    Her other hand clutched at his scales, her fingers scrabbling for purchase.
  16. parley
    a negotiation between enemies
    He and Leathers were the only men Jon had brought with him to the parley; any more might have been seen as a sign of fear, and twenty men would have been of no more use than two if Tormund had been intent on blood.
  17. nubile
    (of young women) attractive and eligible to marry
    What had that oaf Axell Florent said of Val? “A nubile girl, not hard to look upon. Good hips, good breasts, well made for whelping children."
  18. willowy
    slender and graceful
    A warrior princess, he decided, not some willowy creature who sits up in a tower, brushing her hair and waiting for some knight to rescue her.
  19. malice
    the desire to see others suffer
    She had a warrior’s heart, but the gods in their blind malice had given her the feeble body of a woman.
  20. fornication
    sexual intercourse between persons not married to each other
    She stood accused of adultery, fornication, high treason, even murder, for Osney Kettleblack had confessed to smothering the last High Septon at her command.
  21. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
    He did not wish to be conspicuous, so when he was finished with his supper he changed out of his court clothes, trading the white cloak of the Queensguard for a hooded brown traveler’s cloak such as any common man might wear.
  22. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    When the Shavepate had commanded the Brazen Beasts, he had favored a serpent’s-head mask, imperious and frightening.
  23. conspire
    act in agreement and in secret towards a deceitful purpose
    If Hizdahr conspired at my queen's death, I will see to him myself, but his death will be swift and clean.
  24. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    “Dance?" Victarion bristled. “Your nightfires lie. I was not made for dancing, and I am no man’s puppet.”
  25. evince
    give expression to
    “This particular dragon has already evinced a fondness for roast pork. And roast dwarf is twice as tasty.”
  26. vulnerable
    capable of being wounded or hurt
    The eyes were where a dragon was most vulnerable.
  27. insidious
    working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
    The most insidious thing about bondage was how easy it was to grow accustomed to it.
  28. tenacious
    stubbornly unyielding
    Brown Ben is shrewd, tenacious, not unintelligent... but wary.
  29. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    Not a single hostage balked or tried to slink away when his turn came to enter that gloomy tunnel.
  30. jostle
    make one's way by pushing or shoving
    There was more shoving at the gate, as men and goats and bullocks jostled each other out of the way.
  31. imposing
    impressive in appearance
    King Hizdahr had replaced the bench with two imposing thrones of gilded wood, their tall backs carved into the shape of dragons.
  32. reprisal
    a retaliatory action against an enemy
    Did they draw straws, or did they think Groleo the least valuable to us, the least likely to provoke reprisal?
  33. magnificence
    the quality of being splendid or grand
    “All kneel for His Magnificence Hizdahr zo Loraq, Fourteenth of That Ancient Name, King of Meereen, Scion of Ghis, Octarch of the Old Empire, Master of the Skahazadhan, Consort to Dragons and Blood of the Harpy,” the herald shouted.
  34. pact
    a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
    If the queen had known of this pact in Qarth, she might never have turned aside for Slaver’s Bay, but you came too late.
  35. craven
    an abject coward
    “What name do you think they will give me, should I return to Dorne without Daenerys?” Prince Quentyn asked. “Quentyn the Cautious? Quentyn the Craven? Quentyn the Quail?”
Created on Sat Apr 11 15:31:16 EDT 2015 (updated Mon Oct 01 17:04:10 EDT 2018)

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