The Henna Wars: Chapters 25–34

by Adiba Jaigirdar
Set in Dublin, Ireland, Nishat and her childhood friend Flávia contend one another in a high school contest to create the best henna business.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–11, Chapters 12–17, Chapters 18–24, Chapters 25–34
30 words 6 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. stricken
    affected by something overwhelming
    The look on Ammu’s face, stricken and sad, makes me instantly regret saying anything.
  2. furl
    form into a cylinder by rolling
    A furled white poster paper sticks out of the top of the bag. I pull it out and unroll it—and almost gasp aloud.
  3. trill
    a note that alternates with another note a semitone above it
    Silence hangs between us for a moment too long. It’s thick with everything that’s already been said and done, everything we can’t change. It’s broken by the loud trill of the bell.
  4. chide
    scold or reprimand severely or angrily
    “Your Ammu said you were worried about me.”
    “Because Priti told me you’re sick,” I say, my voice taking on a chiding tone.
  5. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    Priti crosses her arms over her chest, and begrudgingly takes the banner in.
  6. gusto
    vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
    “There. We’re open for business,” she says, tapping at her phone with more gusto and flourish than necessary.
  7. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
    “Chyna is...she’s so adamant about winning this thing. She’s been getting carried away.”
  8. conform
    be similar, be in line with
    It feels like they want me to be something else altogether, and it’s just easier to conform. I want them to like me. To accept me.
  9. chaste
    morally pure
    She kisses me again, but it’s barely more than a chaste peck.
  10. abstract
    dealing with a subject without a practical purpose
    I was confused because I couldn’t see the appeal of all the men that everybody else considered attractive. I could see it in an abstract, distant way I guess.
  11. conservative
    unimaginatively conventional
    It’s just that...my mom brought me back here because she thought it would be good for me to get to know my dad and his side of the family. Even if they’re a little conservative. A little different from us.
  12. inhibition
    the quality of being held back
    Flávia might not understand it, but I think I do. After seeing the way they were together, with no inhibitions; that’s the way you are with people you love.
  13. aesthetic
    a philosophical theory as to what is beautiful
    At school, I hang Flávia’s banner up on my stall, admiring the way it fits the whole aesthetic of my business perfectly. The colors are exactly the ones that set into your skin after henna dries off.
  14. straggler
    someone who strays or falls behind
    Even though almost every other booth gets more attention than mine, a few stragglers stop over and let me paint their hands with my henna.
  15. stuffy
    excessively conventional or narrow-minded and hence dull
    Once I bend over to work on the henna design, it’s like I’ve left the loud, stuffy hallway of St. Catherine’s and entered a world of my own.
  16. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    As soon as we get there, Chaewon begins to sort through things, ensuring everything is perfect. Jess watches her, a bemused expression on her face.
  17. reconcile
    come to terms
    I don’t want to be having this conversation with anyone, least of all Ammu when it finally seems like we’re reconciling our relationship in some way.
  18. dwindle
    become smaller or lose substance
    Considering the way my customers had swiftly dwindled from few to none, I seriously doubt I’m in the running to win.
  19. threshold
    the entrance for passing through a room or building
    We stand at the threshold, taking each other in like maybe this is the last time we’ll be able to.
  20. innovative
    introducing new ideas or creative methods
    It’s not just the business with the most profit that’ll win, they’ll also be looking for the most innovative, the most eye-catching ideas.
  21. semblance
    the outward or apparent appearance or form of something
    Maybe some semblance of normalcy will return to my life after today.
  22. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
    It’s an effort to get out the words in a remotely calm and collected way. The way Flávia is looking back and forth from Chyna to me makes me think maybe I’m not as composed as I think I am.
  23. gall
    the trait of being rude and impertinent
    Chyna has the gall to sigh, like this conversation is boring her.
  24. strew
    spread by scattering
    My bag and all of my henna supplies are still strewn across my table; I’m hoping Chaewon or Jess will grab them.
  25. slander
    words falsely spoken that damage the reputation of another
    “I guess it’s easier to stand up for someone else. Plus...Chaewon and Jess don’t deserve that kind of slander. They worked hard. They didn’t play any games. They won fair and square.”
  26. traipse
    walk or tramp about
    “She has to,” Abbu decides at the same time that Ammu shakes her head and traipses into the kitchen, clearly distraught about what she’s going to feed Flávia.
  27. misshapen
    so badly formed or distorted as to be ugly
    “Ow. Um, hi.” I pick up the book, trying to massage my toes through my shoes and definitely looking like a misshapen pretzel or something.
  28. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
    Chyna doesn’t seem very sympathetic to my plight, unsurprisingly.
  29. inconspicuous
    not prominent or readily noticeable
    Out of the corner of my eyes, I can see their attempts at inconspicuously eavesdropping.
  30. reverie
    an abstracted state of absorption
    Flávia’s voice startles me out of my reverie.
Created on Tue Apr 05 10:04:16 EDT 2022 (updated Mon Apr 11 08:58:41 EDT 2022)

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