The First State of Being: Chapters 29–33

by Erin Entrada Kelly
In this novel, Michael and Elizabeth, ordinary kids living in the year 1999, meet a boy from the future.

Here are our links to the lists for the book: Chapters 1-4, Chapters 5-6, Chapters 7-8, Chapters 9-11, Chapters 12-14, Chapters 15-17, Chapters 18-22, Chapters 23-28, Chapters 29-33, Chapters 34-40

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. purposeful
    serving as or indicating the existence of a goal
    This was angry and purposeful —THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP.
  2. stowaway
    a person who hides on a ship or plane for a free ride
    Beejee pushed his way into the apartment, his head swiveling this way and that, as if he was looking for a stowaway.
  3. loom
    hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    Beejee loomed over him.
  4. blaze
    shine brightly and intensively
    He scooped them out with one oversized hand, then stood at full height, eyes blazing at Michael.
  5. pummel
    strike, usually with the fist
    Pummeling him into the ground, just like he’d done to that guy in the parking lot that time.
  6. cower
    show submission or fear
    When Beejee took an enormous step forward, two things happened simultaneously: Michael took a step back, cowering, and Ridge moved in front of him.
  7. teeter
    move unsteadily, with a rocking motion
    Ridge ran a few steps forward but stopped, teetering on his feet.
  8. clutch
    take hold of; grab
    “I have to—” Ridge stumbled ahead, clutching the wall for balance.
  9. hallucinate
    have illusions; perceive what is not actually there
    “And why did Ridge steal that stuff in the first place? He said he was just curious about antiquated tools, but I don’t know. Maybe the fever is making him hallucinate or something. What do you think?”
  10. identifiable
    capable of being recognized
    MICHAEL ROSARIO, written in Mr. Mosley’s identifiable, all-caps print.
  11. concurrently
    overlapping in duration
    The one was inverted and the two zeros here were running concurrently instead of consecutively.
  12. collective
    done by or characteristic of individuals acting together
    With their collective knowledge, they might see something we can’t see.
  13. recommendation
    something that is suggested as advisable
    SABIO, IAN: What happens if their recommendation is to dismantle the STM and leave Ridge out there?
  14. revoke
    cancel officially
    SABIO, IAN: They’re going to revoke your license.
  15. intend
    have in mind as a purpose
    Michael had intended to eat the Pop-Tarts himself, but from the looks of things, Ridge needed them more.
  16. register
    enter into someone's consciousness
    Michael’s mind was spinning so fast, the question barely registered.
  17. furrow
    make or become wrinkled or creased
    “I just want to fall asleep and never wake up. I deserve—” Ridge furrowed his eyebrows, staring at the EGG.
  18. dash
    run or move very quickly
    Michael’s sneakers splashed through the puddles as he dashed across the courtyard.
  19. souvenir
    something of sentimental value
    You need something to take back with you, right? A souvenir or something!
  20. sluggish
    moving slowly
    His movements were slow and sluggish, so the letters wavered a bit, but once he’d finished, there it was.
  21. imperceptibly
    in a manner that is difficult to discern
    Michael nodded, imperceptibly.
  22. hover
    hang in the air; fly or be suspended above
    Ridge’s thumb hovered over the EGG.
  23. quiver
    a shaky motion
    A flicker at first, like before—a faint quiver you’d miss if you blinked.
  24. particle
    (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
    Michael wanted to reach out, touch the moving particles, but he didn’t dare.
  25. diagram
    a drawing intended to explain how something works
    Did she keep a notebook full of complicated diagrams?
Created on Fri Feb 28 03:11:29 EST 2025 (updated Mon Mar 03 03:46:01 EST 2025)

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