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Midnight Rider: Chapters 24–33

In colonial Massachusetts, a fourteen-year-old girl joins the fight for American independence.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–14, Chapters 15–23, Chapters 24–33, Chapters 34–48
40 words 4 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. hull
    the frame or body of a ship
    The Royal Navy’s ships, with cannon pointed from their hulls, encircled the town with silent threats.
  2. galling
    causing irritation or annoyance
    Let tyrants shake their iron rods,
    And Slav'ry clank her galling chains.
    We fear them not, we trust in God.
    New England's God forever reigns.
  3. wager
    stake on the outcome of an issue
    Soldiers wagered with each other as to who would be the one to catch the daring horseman, who was now being blamed for every problem that arose among the troops.
  4. wayward
    difficult to manage or keep in order
    “You haven’t forgotten me, even though you’re having such a good time here with your wayward friends, my sweet boy.”
  5. camaraderie
    the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
    There was a sense of tranquility and camaraderie, even with sentries posted at every gateway.
  6. appease
    cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
    “I don’t know why we are celebrating an American holiday,” Miss Lydia complained as she scurried through the dining room. "We bend over backward to appease these American bumpkins!”
  7. bumpkin
    a person who is awkward, uncultured, or unsophisticated
    “I don’t know why we are celebrating an American holiday,” Miss Lydia complained as she scurried through the dining room. "We bend over backward to appease these American bumpkins!”
  8. prattle
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
    Hannah held back a powerful urge to burst into laughter as Miss Lydia paled and immediately began prattling excuses.
  9. mollify
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    “Please excuse...you misunderstood...” Miss Lydia rambled on, her lips stretched into a mollifying smile.
  10. primp
    dress or groom with elaborate care
    She stood in front of her mirror and primped her hair.
  11. striking
    having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
    Hannah assumed she had inherited her striking coloring; it was rumored that she was of English, Greek, and Portuguese descent.
  12. demure
    shy or modest, often in a playful or provocative way
    One woman sat demurely in a large cushioned chair, sipping wine.
  13. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
    Everyone laughed, and the tension abated.
  14. chemise
    a long, loose, sleeveless undergarment
    Meg climbed into the bed and shivered in her chemise.
  15. drivel
    a worthless message
    “This is a lot of drivel,” Meg exclaimed. “I hope Chester’s heart is broken. I never want to see him again.” She tossed the poem into the fire.
  16. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
    Hannah glanced at Meg, who looked bored as she sipped her tea. Hannah noticed that Miss Meg was not as vivacious and dazzling as she was when young officers were present.
  17. inkling
    a slight suggestion or vague understanding
    Hannah wondered if any of these women had an inkling of the organized preparation of the minutemen, the Committees of Correspondence and Safety, and what was going on at the clandestine meetings at the Green Dragon Tavern.
  18. wan
    lacking vitality as from weariness or illness or unhappiness
    “It’s a difficult time for you, I’m sure,” she said kindly, “being both American and British.” General Gage’s wife gave her a wan smile.
  19. quell
    overcome or allay
    As if to quell Hannah’s curiosity, Mrs. Gage added, “It’s an invitation to tea. I’d like to visit with Miss Phillis on a more intimate basis, without Mrs. Wheatley, to discuss her poetry.”
  20. reticent
    not inclined to talk or provide information
    Why was Mrs. Gage so reticent? Why did she keep that stationery in the secret drawer Hannah had shown her?
  21. emboss
    raise in a relief
    If Mrs. Gage was sending a blank page with an iris embossed on it to say, “I have a message for you,” then where was the message?
  22. dispatch
    an official report, usually sent in haste
    “I sent dispatches to His Majesty and to Parliament,” General Gage stated to the staff who were congregated in his headquarters. “I demanded—I begged—for more troops to be sent to Boston. I promised they would save both blood and treasure if they would heed my needs.”
  23. plunder
    steal goods; take as spoils
    Mr. Revere listened intently as Hannah told him about the plan to secure the fortress and take the arms before the New Hampshire Whigs plundered the munitions.
  24. emphatically
    in a forceful manner; with emphasis
    “I heard it with my own ears,” Hannah stated emphatically.
  25. turncoat
    a disloyal person who betrays or deserts a cause
    “We have long wondered how General Gage is so often one step ahead of the Whigs and the Sons of Liberty. But still...a turncoat? I cannot imagine who it could be.”
  26. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    They were standing under a lamp, and she recognized them as the surly young men who had sung parodies about General Gage when she and Catherine walked home from church that Sunday morning.
  27. gaunt
    very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
    He was tall and gaunt, with graying hair gathered in a pigtail at the back of his neck.
  28. turmoil
    violent agitation
    Hannah overheard talk that Paul Revere had rushed to Portsmouth and set the Whigs into turmoil. Actual fighting had occurred at Fort William and Mary as the few British officers on duty there bravely defended the fort.
  29. garbled
    lacking orderly continuity
    She had only heard the name of the Somerset in garbled conversation.
  30. abscond
    run away, often taking something or somebody along
    To make matters worse, other New England communities had followed suit and absconded with ammunition from their local forts and armories before Gage’s men could secure them.
  31. ermine
    the expensive white fur of a small mammal
    Hannah, in her mother’s red cape, and Meg, in dark-green velvet with an ermine collar, sat side by side, bundled in a rug.
  32. revelry
    unrestrained merrymaking
    Hannah had been taught that the Christmas celebration was a substitute for the ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia, a festival of wild revelry that took place at the winter solstice.
  33. impose
    charge and collect payment
    At one time fines had been imposed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony upon families that celebrated Christmas.
  34. beau
    a man with whom one has a romantic relationship
    Hannah wondered if she had a new beau. If so, she had not said a word about him to Hannah.
  35. distinguished
    standing above others in character or attainment
    Instead of a minister, the distinguished Dr. Warren, one of the Sons of Liberty, was in the pulpit.
  36. pulpit
    a platform raised to give prominence to the person on it
    Instead of a minister, the distinguished Dr. Warren, one of the Sons of Liberty, was in the pulpit.
  37. eloquent
    expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
    Dr. Warren was an eloquent speaker, and he appealed to the citizens to maintain order in the town.
  38. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    As she made her way through the parishioners, she caught sight of Catherine talking intimately to her friend Mr. Greenleaf.
  39. disclose
    make known to the public information previously kept secret
    “In the event that there is a traitor among you, I’ve asked Mr. Revere never to disclose that it was I who warned him about General Gage’s plan to reinforce Fort William and Mary,” Hannah said. “And I pray that you have not revealed me to anyone in the Sons of Liberty either. Mr. Revere says I am in great danger now.”
  40. bleak
    offering little or no hope
    Hannah, who had little to do with the officers who visited the Province House regularly, was spared the illness, as were most of the servants. On this bleak February Thursday, since Meg was gone, Miss Lydia put Hannah to work in other capacities around the house.
Created on Mon Aug 02 14:37:19 EDT 2021 (updated Wed Aug 04 13:39:51 EDT 2021)

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