Legendborn: Prologue–Chapter 9

by Tracy Deonn
Sixteen-year-old Bree attempts to infiltrate a secret society of magicians in order to solve the mystery of her mother's death.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Prologue–Chapter 9, Chapters 10–18, Chapters 19–25, Chapters 26–32, Chapters 33–40, Chapters 41–58
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. burgeon
    grow and flourish
    A decade before I was born, my mother was an undergraduate at Carolina. A burgeoning scientist.
  2. interim
    the time between one event, process, or period and another
    After two years of EC, Charlotte had officially enrolled as a Carolina undergraduate this year and, apparently, she’d turned party girl somewhere in the interim.
  3. unfettered
    not bound or restrained, as by shackles and chains
    The jumper’s unfettered laughter crests the cliff before his head does.
  4. crest
    reach a high point
    The jumper’s unfettered laughter crests the cliff before his head does.
  5. scrutinize
    look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail
    She scrutinizes me, torn between taking me at my word or pushing further.
  6. tawny
    having the color of tanned leather
    Then, he levels his tawny gaze in challenge.
  7. asinine
    devoid of intelligence
    “Cliff jumping is asinine.”
  8. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    Bright indignation flares in my chest, but his unusual eyes rake across my face.
  9. prissy
    exaggeratedly proper
    She’s beautiful the way a well-maintained dagger is beautiful: sharp, shiny, and all angles. A bit prissy.
  10. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    Once, I heard her humming down the hall from my bedroom. Something so mundane and simple, so regular and small, that for a moment, the prior weeks were just a nightmare, and I was awake now and she was alive.
  11. eddy
    a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind
    Without warning, through wisps of smoke rising in eddies and waves over the campfire, Selwyn’s eyes find mine.
  12. coalesce
    fuse or cause to come together
    It writhes and coalesces around Selwyn like a living thing, wrapping his arms and chest, blurring his body.
  13. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    He says “isel” with a long “e” on the first syllable—and a derisive sneer.
  14. hackles
    a feeling of anger and animosity
    Alice stiffens, and my hackles raise.
  15. apprehension
    fearful expectation or anticipation
    Alice pivots on a heel and sweeps out the door, her face a mixture of anger and apprehension.
  16. blatant
    without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious
    “However”—something sharp flashes through Dean McKinnon’s eyes—“there are consequences for your blatant disrespect for program policies and the disregard for your own written agreement to follow them.”
  17. ensuing
    following immediately and as a result of what went before
    The dean studies me and drills his fingers on the desk in the ensuing silence.
  18. exemplary
    worthy of imitation
    “Alice Chen is an exemplary student. But you, Ms. Matthews? With your mother’s legacy and your test scores and transcripts, I’d say that you have the potential for brilliance.”
  19. eviscerate
    remove the entrails of
    “We almost got expelled. My parents would eviscerate me if that happened. It’s going to be bad enough after he calls them!”
  20. bereavement
    state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
    I can see the title now: Letting Go: Bereavement, Love, and Loss.
  21. sentinel
    a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
    Towering oaks are sentinels, monitoring our every word.
  22. mirth
    great merriment
    My eyes snap open to find Nick Davis standing right in front of me, eyes twinkling with barely contained mirth.
  23. appraise
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    His scan of my face is quick, appraising.
  24. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Contempt and jealousy intertwine and slice through my stomach like jagged claws.
  25. speculation
    continuous contemplation on a subject of a deep nature
    He narrows his eyes in speculation. “If you know I’m Legendborn, then you must know you’re speaking within the Code. You can answer me freely. How do you know that word?”
  26. ruse
    a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture
    “Christ, you’re either incredibly stubborn and committed to this ruse or you’re so brand-new they rushed you out here right after your damn Oath.”
  27. incorporeal
    without material form or substance
    Most of the Shadowborn that cross are invisible and incorporeal.
  28. condescending
    characteristic of those who treat others with arrogance
    “Well, sorry,” I say, copying his condescending tone, “but that’s what happened, Legendborn.”
  29. prodigal
    recklessly wasteful
    The prodigal son returns.
  30. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    He floods my mind with a crackling, swirling cloud of fear—fear so palpable and alive that it holds me in place like a heavy hand.
  31. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    “I must admit, Briana, I’m curious. What twist of the universe has set you in my path again?” he asks, his voice quiet, wistful.
  32. berate
    censure severely or angrily
    She’d been waiting to berate me until my alarm went off.
  33. iridescent
    varying in color when seen in different lights
    When I reach the brick steps, I touch the iridescent layer with a tentative hand.
  34. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    When I reach the brick steps, I touch the iridescent layer with a tentative hand.
  35. foyer
    a large entrance or reception room or area
    “Sounds great,” I say, and follow her into the foyer.
  36. dour
    harshly uninviting or formidable in manner or appearance
    On either side hang paintings in gold-leaf frames and heavy-looking tapestries in dour browns and blacks.
  37. sconce
    a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights
    There are actual, honest-to-God iron sconces lining the entryway before us, but instead of flames behind their glass coverings, there are vintage Edison bulbs.
  38. affinity
    a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
    Merlins are the Order’s sorcerers. Their affinity for aether is so strong they're essentially supersoldiers.
  39. renounce
    give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors
    I renounced my formal title years ago—very publicly.
  40. sacrosanct
    treated as if holy and kept free from violation or criticism
    The Legendborn title is sacrosanct.
Created on Wed Jan 27 16:48:49 EST 2021 (updated Wed Feb 03 15:48:35 EST 2021)

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