Elf Dog and Owl Head: Chapters 4–9

by M.T. Anderson
With a virus shutting down most of his world aboveground, young Clay O'Brian decides to play in the woods, where he meets an elf-hound that belongs to the People Under the Mountain and an owl-head boy who lives in a hidden village.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–9, Chapters 10–14, Chapters 15–21
35 words 12 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. culvert
    a transverse and enclosed drain under a road or railway
    Mrs. Haverson keeps calling him saying there’s a giant blue lizard in one of the culverts over on Alder Street.
  2. practical
    guided by experience and observation rather than theory
    He was a very practical man, and he was never surprised by anything.
  3. delicate
    easily broken or damaged or destroyed
    And then, as they watched, the oak table began to grow a branch. It was a small branch, with delicate little leaves on it.
  4. petroleum
    a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
    “What’s polyester made from?” asked Juniper.
    “It’s like plastic,” Clay explained.
    Mr. O’Brian said, “I guess it’s made from petroleum, you could say.”
    “What’s petroleum made from?” asked Juniper.
    “It’s oil,” said Clay.
  5. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    Mr. O’Brian was carrying a fireplace poker. Mrs. O’Brian was brandishing a fire extinguisher.
  6. tuft
    a bunch or cluster of strands, as of grass, hair, etc.
    Mr. O’Brian’s cotton pants had turned into cotton plants. They had bashed open the front of the washer. They had still been spinning as they grew, so the branches and stems stuck out in wild, tangled spirals, covered in cotton tufts.
  7. scrabble
    grope, scratch, or feel searchingly
    Now that the door was open, they could hear something scrabbling in the corner.
  8. rustle
    make a dry crackling sound
    The cotton plants rustled.
  9. bleat
    cry plaintively like a sheep or goat
    Then they heard the sweater-sheep bleat in surprise.
  10. bumble
    walk unsteadily
    She barked and barked at the door, ran to the windows, and stood up on her hind legs, watching the sheep and the dino bumble toward the woods.
  11. kinship
    a close connection marked by common interests or character
    Strange to say, the dinosaur did not eat the sheep. Perhaps they sensed a distant kinship because they both had been clothing once.
  12. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    They would wander through the solemn white woods, one head pointing each way.
  13. flourish
    grow vigorously
    But the plants it touched flourished. They stretched their limbs and yawned. The bean vines corkscrewed their way up the stakes. Down along the ground, green coils shrugged, and zucchinis were born. Tomatoes swelled like water balloons.
  14. eerie
    inspiring a feeling of fear; strange and frightening
    And all around him, there was an eerie hooting; there were stealthy footsteps on the roof.
  15. stealthy
    marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    And all around him, there was an eerie hooting; there were stealthy footsteps on the roof.
  16. tramp
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    Far ahead, they could hear Clay tramping through the woods.
  17. frisk
    play boisterously
    They could hear the dog frisking around him.
    “We’ll play in a minute, but first, lead me to that meadow. Remember? And that town?”
  18. scorn
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    “He’s talking to a dog,” said DiRossi. “That’s what I mean when I say my family’s weird.”
    Juniper looked at her with scorn. “She’s a smart dog,” said Juniper protectively.
  19. apparently
    seemingly; as far as one can tell
    No, she belonged with him. He knew it. But apparently she didn’t. She was waiting for him to perform some kind of magic so she could go home—to her real home.
  20. lope
    run easily
    She loped down the steps and scrambled through the house, looking out all the windows.
  21. flinch
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    Elphinore streaked across the lawn. The owl boy flinched, but held out the back of his hand for Elphinore to sniff.
  22. prance
    move or step in a lively, spirited, or showy way
    She pranced down the steps and snuffled along the floor.
  23. root
    dig around or dig into
    Amos was rooting around over near the gardening tools.
  24. wince
    make a face indicating disgust or dislike
    A small tail twirled in his beak as he swallowed a mouse. He looked toward the ceiling. Clay could see the lump dropping down his throat.
    Clay winced. “Was that a good one?”
  25. rambunctious
    noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
    She was thrilled they were heading out on an adventure. She leaped at his side, snapping at his wrists and his turkey sandwich with rambunctious joy.
  26. formal
    refined or imposing in manner or appearance
    “Hello, Clay Human-Head,” said Amos, in his strange, formal way, with his small, raspy voice.
  27. casually
    in an unconcerned manner
    “You don’t want to go where she wants to lead you,” said the owl boy.
    “It’s a dumb place,” said Clay, casually. “Just a cliff. A dead end.”
  28. hysteria
    excessive or uncontrollable fear
    Also, a stampede of lemmings. They are delicious in pies. They taste tangy, like hysteria.
  29. ravine
    a deep narrow steep-sided valley
    As they walked up and down through dark ravines and golden hollows, Clay asked, “Why are you worried about humans finding your village?”
  30. turret
    a small tower extending above a building
    He was amazed to see the ruins of a turret, like the tower of a castle, sticking up from the rocks in the middle of the forest.
  31. fanfare
    a short lively tune played on brass instruments
    “Once or twice a year, one of them breathes. It is a night for celebration. The people of the wood all gather for a ceremony and play them fanfares and lullabies.”
  32. writhing
    moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
    The elf dog did not want to give up the fight, so she still stood on the giant’s face, barking up the nose, though right behind her, the stone lips were writhing in a yawn.
  33. lament
    express grief verbally
    “I could lie here,” said the giant, “and lament everything that no longer exists.”
  34. dismal
    causing dejection
    Occasionally they would go by the Sleepers and say hello to the dismal giant.
  35. loll
    hang loosely or laxly
    She loved being allowed to share in all their games, running back and forth between them with her tongue lolling out of her mouth, panting with joy.
Created on Sun Apr 21 12:38:45 EDT 2024 (updated Mon Apr 22 10:30:55 EDT 2024)

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