Eragon: List 2

by Christopher Paolini
In the first book of The Inheritance Cycle, a fifteen-year-old boy finds a dragon egg in the woods and becomes a Dragon Rider.

This list covers "Tea for Two"–"Thunder Roar and Lightning Crackle."

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6
40 words 56 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. irascible
    quickly aroused to anger
    The old man was irascible at times, but he never seemed to mind taking time for Eragon.
  2. contrite
    feeling or expressing pain or sorrow
    “Sorry,” said Eragon. He dipped his head and tried to look contrite.
  3. strident
    unpleasantly loud and harsh
    The teakettle whistled stridently.
  4. blustery
    blowing in violent and abrupt bursts
    A blustery wind howled outside, shaking the house.
  5. ruefully
    in a manner expressing pain or sorrow
    He shrugged ruefully.
  6. eclectic
    selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas
    Her personality was eclectic and at times completely alien, yet they understood each other on a profound level.
  7. cajole
    influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
    Despite the young men’s cajoling, he refused to go with them.
  8. bauble
    cheap showy jewelry or ornament
    “I’ve been saving this for you. It isn’t much, but if you wish to buy some bauble or trinket, it will suffice.”
  9. trifle
    something of small importance
    “Thank you, but I won’t be spending my money on trifles,” said Roran.
  10. lathe
    a machine tool for shaping a piece of rotating wood or metal
    From a line of neck-high poles protruding from the walls hung rows of items: giant tongs, pliers, hammers in every shape and weight, chisels, angles, center punches, files, rasps, lathes, bars of iron and steel waiting to be shaped, vises, shears, picks, and shovels.
  11. placate
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    “All right,” said Eragon to placate the smith, “if you think I should.”
  12. sibilant
    of speech sounds forcing air through a constricted passage
    He prowled across Carvahall, avoiding everyone until he heard a sibilant voice from around a house.
  13. derisive
    expressing contempt or ridicule
    “They have been...rather uncooperative.” The words were derisive.
  14. buffet
    strike against forcefully
    Turbulence buffeted him, snatching the breath out of his mouth.
  15. craven
    lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
    I can hear it now, the story of the Rider and his craven dragon! If there will be a fight, let's face it and not shy away.
  16. cloying
    overly sweet
    A cloying, sickening smell hung over him—the odor of rotting fruit.
  17. awry
    turned or twisted to one side
    Brom was running toward him—eyes large, hair awry, and one side of his head caked with dried blood.
  18. suffuse
    cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
    Rows of dried herbs hung from the walls and suffused the air with strong, earthy aromas.
  19. willowy
    slender and graceful
    The door was opened by Elain, Horst’s wife, a small, willowy woman with refined features and silky blond hair pinned into a bun.
  20. demure
    suggestive of modesty or reserve
    Her dress was demure and neat, and her movements graceful.
  21. poultice
    a medical dressing spread on a cloth and applied to the skin
    Gertrude stood beside her, grinding herbs for a poultice.
  22. tincture
    a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution
    “I’ve tried everything: salves, poultices, tinctures, but nothing works. If the wounds closed, he would have a better chance. Still, things may turn for the better. He’s hardy and strong.”
  23. diffident
    showing modest reserve
    When he did not respond, she diffidently left.
  24. furtively
    in a secretive manner
    He stuffed as many of them as he could under his shirt, then hurried back to the street and furtively closed the door.
  25. stripling
    a person who is older than 12 but younger than 20
    “Anyway, I’m not going to stay behind while some stripling gets to run around with a dragon.”
  26. farce
    a comedy characterized by broad satire
    “So...it starts again. But how and where will it end? My sight is veiled; I cannot tell if this be tragedy or farce, for the elements of both are here....However it may be, my station is unchanged, and I...”
  27. burnish
    polish and make shiny
    The hilt was wrapped in silver wire, burnished until it gleamed like starlight.
  28. guile
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
    Don’t make the mistake of underestimating a Ra’zac, for they are cunning and full of guile.
  29. sullenly
    in a manner showing a brooding ill humor
    Eragon glared at him sullenly.
  30. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    Pensive, he rolled a twig between his fingers.
  31. parry
    impede the movement of
    Without thinking, he lunged forward, but Brom easily parried the blow.
  32. pander
    yield to; give satisfaction to
    “Oh? A real enemy wouldn’t soften his blows, and neither will I. Should I pander to your...incompetence so you’ll feel better? I don’t think so.”
  33. exorbitant
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
    Eragon’s temper flared at the exorbitant price, and he started to complain hotly, but Brom silenced him with a quick look.
  34. paraphernalia
    equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles
    The far wall was covered with saddles, harnesses, and other paraphernalia.
  35. monolith
    a single great stone, often in the form of a column
    To the south he saw the hazy outline of Utgard, sitting like a giant monolith at the end of the valley. Its peak pierced the clouds and rose out of sight, towering over the lesser mountains that surrounded it.
  36. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
    There was an unfriendly feel in the air, an animosity that resisted intruders.
  37. bastion
    a stronghold for shelter during a battle
    Edoc’sil, ‘Unconquerable,’ was the name of this bastion, for the mountain is so steep none may reach the top unless they can fly.
  38. hummock
    a small natural mound
    It unnerved Eragon how flat everything was; the plains were unbroken by hummocks or mounds.
  39. balk
    refuse to proceed or comply
    As they neared Saphira, Cadoc balked, so Eragon leapt down and ran toward her.
  40. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
    The wild elements were slow to abate, but as the day passed, they wandered elsewhere.
Created on Mon Apr 26 09:15:18 EDT 2021 (updated Fri May 21 12:19:16 EDT 2021)

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