Hattie Big Sky: Chapters 7–11

by Kirby Larson
Following the death of her uncle, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks travels to Montana to prove she can take care of her inherited land while dealing with anti-German sentiment during World War I.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–11, Chapters 12–16, Chapters 17–23
40 words 8 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. discern
    perceive, recognize, or detect
    When the censor slices out the offending phrases on one side of the page, it creates a challenge on the opposite side as well. I was able to discern that you are now sleeping in barracks at your new camp instead of tents.
  2. sedition
    an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
    Every day there are notices of folks being charged with sedition; it seems anything can be interpreted as treasonous.
  3. liberal
    given or giving freely
    The second night, I applied a liberal dose of white liniment—Uncle Holt’s own concoction of hartshorn, arnica, witch hazel, camphor gum, eggs, and cider vinegar.
  4. liniment
    a topical liquid that relieves muscle stiffness and pain
    The second night, I applied a liberal dose of white liniment—Uncle Holt’s own concoction of hartshorn, arnica, witch hazel, camphor gum, eggs, and cider vinegar.
  5. bearing
    (usually plural) a person's awareness of self
    I looked back and took my bearings. This was the right bush, all right.
  6. wistful
    showing pensive sadness
    A wistful expression flickered across her lined face. “He so hoped to show you himself.”
  7. reverberation
    an echo
    The ground rumbled and rolled as I stepped out of the barn. “What on earth?” I glanced around and saw the cause of the reverberations.
  8. squelch
    walk through mud or swampy land
    Before I could say anything in reply, she was across the yard, she and the cow squelching their way through the gumbo toward the sheep camp.
  9. cache
    a secret store of valuables or money
    I dug a little deeper, pushing aside a cache of books.
  10. calico
    coarse cloth with a bright print
    A packet wrapped in brown paper and tied with a bit of calico proved to hold girlish bits of fabric.
  11. sow
    place seeds in or on the ground for future growth
    “Don’t you remember the parable of the sower?” she teased me. “And how the seed died when it was planted on rocky ground?”
  12. desolate
    crushed by grief
    Was I feeling lonely? How could I be? Mattie and Chase stopped by after school most days, and Rooster Jim had deepened the path from his shack to mine. Was there a word in Uncle Chester’s big dictionary to describe what I was feeling? Solitary? Desolate? Forlorn?
  13. forlorn
    marked by or showing hopelessness
    Was I feeling lonely? How could I be? Mattie and Chase stopped by after school most days, and Rooster Jim had deepened the path from his shack to mine. Was there a word in Uncle Chester’s big dictionary to describe what I was feeling? Solitary? Desolate? Forlorn?
  14. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    For a fleeting moment I wished I’d put on my skirt that morning instead of the more practical pair of Chester’s old overalls.
  15. thresh
    beat the seeds out of a grain
    Assuming the crop came on strong, I couldn’t harvest forty acres on my own. Rooster Jim told me most folks hired Wayne Robbins or Mr. Gorley; they had binders and threshing machines.
  16. flush
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
    This land was shy on trees but flush with rocks. I could’ve built a wall to rival that one I heard about in China. Some days I was certain I’d be picking rocks even in heaven.
  17. beau
    a man with whom one has a romantic relationship
    But my heart is already promised—to this 320 acres of mine. Perhaps after November after I prove up, I can think about beaus.
  18. primp
    dress or groom with elaborate care
    After my Saturday night bath, I set my hair on rag rollers. This was the first time I’d gone to such bother since leaving Iowa. But I’d decided that Easter was a good time for such primping.
  19. resplendent
    having great beauty
    Mrs. Martin, resplendent in her yellow silk, silenced Grace’s whispers with a dour look.
  20. dour
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Mrs. Martin, resplendent in her yellow silk, silenced Grace’s whispers with a dour look.
  21. stoic
    seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive
    I stoically cast on the requisite number of stitches, recalling the pair of socks I’d finally finished and sent to Charlie.
  22. requisite
    necessary for relief or supply
    I stoically cast on the requisite number of stitches, recalling the pair of socks I’d finally finished and sent to Charlie.
  23. caterwaul
    make a shrill and unpleasant screeching sound
    “My cow sings better than you do.”
    I joined the laughter. “At Aunt Ivy’s church, I was asked to leave the children’s choir because of my caterwauling.”
  24. prowess
    a superior skill learned by study and practice
    What I lack in knitting prowess I am making up for with a quilting needle.
  25. meander
    move or cause to move in a winding or curving course
    A familiar horse meandered its way toward me with a familiar rider.
  26. pommel
    handgrip formed by the raised front part of a saddle
    Traft took off his hat and hung it on the pommel.
  27. conscript
    enroll into service compulsorily
    “You heard about the Verne Hamilton case over in Roundup? Been charged with making seditious comments, saying he wouldn’t go to war, that they’d have to take him feet first if he was conscripted?”
  28. terse
    brief and to the point
    Charlie’s letter was terse.
  29. ailment
    an often persistent bodily disorder or disease
    Men are falling here, but more from various ailments than the war. Our unit's managed to avoid it thus far, but the Spanish influenza is taking its toll.
  30. enlightenment
    education that results in the spread of knowledge
    Your letters have provided me such entertainment and enlightenment that I have shared them with Mr. George Miltenberger, editor of the Arlington News.
  31. concur
    be in agreement
    He concurred that such lively observations about homestead life would be of general interest to his readership.
  32. installment
    a single part of a published serial
    He offered $15 an installment, “preferably monthly,” until my claim was proved up and I was no longer a homesteader.
  33. syntax
    the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
    Just think—Miss Simpson may read my first article to my old classmates. I'm sure she'll find a way to point out my dangling participles and awkward syntax.
  34. flounder
    have difficulties; behave awkwardly
    I would be floundering without Karl's guidance, but Mr. Campbell is a scientist.
  35. coffer
    the funds of a government, institution, or individual
    And with wheat seed going for $2.50 a bushel, his plan means nearly $33 more in Hattie’s coffers.
  36. gingham
    a woven cotton fabric, typically with a checked pattern
    I laid out my clothing choices on the table the night before the dance. “The yellow gingham dress or the navy wool skirt and bodice?”
  37. olfactory
    of or relating to the sense of smell
    Since becoming my chess partner, Rooster Jim had improved in the olfactory department. Or maybe I was getting used to his smell.
  38. hanker
    desire strongly or persistently
    “I’ve been hankering sweets something awful. My gran used to whip up cakes out of nothing. I figured I could do the same.”
  39. bemused
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    “This is ladies’ choice. Would you please dance with me?”
    Traft Martin turned to me with a bemused expression.
  40. substantial
    providing abundant nourishment
    My skin crawled, thinking of that hungry wolf from two months’ back. He’d have long ago digested Violet’s tail and be looking for something more substantial.
Created on Tue Apr 12 12:29:44 EDT 2022 (updated Mon Apr 18 09:52:41 EDT 2022)

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