Stand Tall: Chapters 20–31

by Joan Bauer
Twelve-year-old Tree tries to come to terms with his parents' divorce by spending time with his grandfather, a war veteran.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–19, Chapters 20–31
25 words 101 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. defiantly
    in a rebellious manner
    Hands on hips, Sophie stepped defiantly past Amber, who was having trouble finding anything.
  2. streamline
    contour economically or efficiently
    We’ve been streamlining the curriculum. I have to do a three-day workshop in a day and a half now.
  3. sheer
    complete and without restriction
    Tree laughed from sheer relief.
  4. embolden
    give encouragement to
    The Pit Bulls, emboldened by this declaration of courage, said yeah, that was right.
  5. cower
    show submission or fear
    Tree ran out the door; Bradley was cowering near the fireman’s feet.
  6. pension
    regular payment to allow a person to subsist without working
    “Do you know what a pension is?” Mr. Cosgrove snapped.
    “Sort of.” Tree knew it involved money.
    “You know what this could do to my pension?”
  7. sporadically
    in an irregular or unpredictable manner
    News of the flood came sporadically. Radio signals went in and out.
  8. horde
    a vast multitude
    She took her slicker off, looked at the horde of people in the gym.
  9. ministry
    the work of a person authorized to conduct religious worship
    Mayor Diner nodded at Inez, the ministry intern at Ripley Presbyterian Church. “Would you lead us in prayer?”
  10. makeshift
    done or made using whatever is available
    She didn’t much like the makeshift cage, but she knew her cat was safe.
  11. sow
    place seeds in or on the ground for future growth
    One man sows, another reaps.
  12. reap
    gather, as of natural products
    One man sows, another reaps.
  13. rank
    very offensive in smell or taste
    It made up for the smell, which was rank and persistent and hung over Ripley like foul gas.
  14. infiltrate
    pass into or through by filtering or permeating
    It rose from the streets, infiltrated the nostrils.
  15. ghastly
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    A flooded-out house is a ghastly sight.
  16. murky
    cloudy, dirty, and difficult to see through
    Five feet of murky water sat in the basement with dirty clothes, empty paint cans, basketballs, and footballs floating on the surface.
  17. vane
    mechanical device attached to an elevated structure
    He walked over piles of rusted metal, lifted an old weather vane from the heap. Stuck it in the ground; the vane pointed north.
  18. shrill
    being sharply insistent on being heard
    Mom smoothed her skirt, announced shrilly, “I have a date.”
  19. warily
    in a manner marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
    “Are you all right?” Mom asked. “He’s never done that before.”
    Richard Blunt nodded warily.
  20. dank
    unpleasantly cool and humid
    “And due to the flood, I have some houseguests.” Mom glared at Dad, who was dank and damp and looked like he’d slept in the park.
  21. debris
    the remains of something that has been destroyed
    Curtis and Larry walked around the muddy lawn, kicked debris away, looked in the broken basement windows.
  22. suffrage
    a legal right to vote
    The vets were right behind the League of Women Voters float honoring the women’s suffrage movement. Mayor Diner, as Susan B. Anthony, was chained to a post, screaming that women need the right to vote.
  23. rendition
    a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role
    Bagpipe sounds rising in the air, overcoming the Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School marching band a block ahead, struggling through the only known band rendition of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
  24. clergy
    the entire class of religious officials
    Then Inez, the ministry intern from Ripley Presbyterian Church, walked forward carrying a large candle, followed by the town’s clergy.
  25. intern
    someone who works for an expert to learn about a job
    She was going to have to write this up for her weekly intern report.
Created on Thu Oct 22 10:48:54 EDT 2020 (updated Tue Apr 25 16:28:56 EDT 2023)

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