Sugar: List 4

by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ten-year-old Sugar endures grueling work on a sugar plantation, but her friendships with the plantation owner's son and new Chinese laborers offer her hope and community.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
20 words 61 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bluster
    act in an arrogant, overly self-assured, or conceited manner
    “They just don’t,” blusters Mister Wills.
  2. blunt
    make less intense
    The rag will blunt some of the pain.
  3. yak
    talk profusely
    “Tom, stop yakking,” shouts Mister Wills.
  4. paddy
    an irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown
    “Rice paddies drown. Too much water. Everybody starve. Farmers hungry. Cows, pigs—”
  5. sallow
    unhealthy looking
    “Your pa stole a decent man’s wage. He doesn’t own me. I don’t take orders from him.” His face is sallow, sweaty-ugly.
  6. rake
    scrape gently
    The barrel rakes against Beau’s chest; Mister Tom is pushing hard, bruising skin.
  7. whittle
    cut small bits or pare shavings from
    Misters Zheng and Petey play checkers; Mister Chin slices vegetables; across the yard, Reverend and Master Liu whittle fishing poles.
  8. gumbo
    a soup or stew thickened with okra pods
    They work hard over the community fire, making gumbo, red beans, and rice.
  9. loom
    hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    Ahead, the mill looms, even bigger than the plantation house.
  10. lament
    express grief verbally
    More meows. Screeching, lamenting like Billy’s violin. Jade sounds as scared as I feel.
  11. sear
    make very hot and dry
    I exhale. My next breath hurts. Smoke burns my nose and throat. Heat sears my insides. I drop to my knees, coughing.
  12. cinder
    a fragment of incombustible matter left after a fire
    Cinders burn. I’m moving nearer and nearer the flames.
  13. salve
    a preparation applied externally as a soothing remedy
    My leg and feet are wrapped in bandages. Honey salve soaks my fingers.
  14. rekindle
    inflame anew, as of a fire
    Someone has rekindled the fire.
  15. smolder
    burn slowly and without a flame
    The smoldering mill smells bitter.
  16. disheveled
    in disarray; extremely disorderly
    Missus Elbe looks disheveled, like she’s woken from a nap.
  17. bittersweet
    tinged with sadness
    It’s bittersweet, seeing the miles of cleared fields.
  18. churn
    be agitated
    My stomach churns.
  19. jut
    extend out or project in space
    “Here, Peanut. Here.” A chicken juts its head. I think it’s Peanut, but it’s hard to tell.
  20. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    Mister Beale looks wistful. I know they want to leave, find their children. But they’re scared to try.
Created on Mon Feb 03 17:00:08 EST 2020 (updated Tue Feb 04 10:27:40 EST 2020)

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