Road Home: List 1

by Rex Ogle
In this final chapter of his memoir trilogy, Rex is forced out of his family home by his father and travels to New Orleans, trying to find somewhere he belongs.

This list covers vocabulary from "the beach"–"what I have."

Here are links to our lists for the book: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7, List 8
25 words 335 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. crotchety
    having a difficult and contrary disposition
    “Then why are you acting like a crotchety old man?”
  2. thumb
    look through a book or other written material
    She thumbs through it, then looks at the cover.
  3. adapt
    conform oneself to new or different conditions
    Stepping forward, cold up to my knees, I wait until my body adapts.
  4. momentum
    an impelling force or strength
    I dive under a wave, and let my momentum carry me.
  5. perpetually
    without interruption
    But I’m perpetually single.
  6. crest
    the top line of a hill, mountain, or wave
    Holding myself steady at the crests of the tall waves.
  7. hesitate
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    Feeling my face flush red, I hesitate to speak.
  8. vertigo
    a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall
    The vertigo is too strong with my eyes closed.
  9. crane
    stretch, so as to see better
    Then I remember myself, and crane my neck to look past him, wondering if Jill might be looking for me.
  10. recapture
    experience anew
    Trying to recapture that moment.
  11. waft
    be driven or carried along, as by the air
    The smell of roasting meat wafts through the air.
  12. swig
    a large and hurried swallow
    The brown beer bottle goes sideways as he takes another swig.
  13. defend
    argue or speak in justification of
    I can’t defend myself.
  14. snarl
    utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
    “That isn’t the point,” he snarls.
  15. disgust
    strong feelings of dislike
    The way he looks at me, the disgust in his eyes.
  16. gag
    choke or retch
    The smell of the cooking chicken on the grill makes me gag.
  17. obligation
    the social force that binds you to a course of action
    Girls are striking, and I want to be with them, but...maybe more out of obligation than desire.
  18. excruciating
    extremely painful
    As she sobs, an ache in my body turns to actual physical pain in my stomach. An excruciating stabbing.
  19. armoire
    a large wardrobe or cabinet
    I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, looking around the room. The white shutters on the windows. The white walls with tall ceilings. The queen-sized mattress. The antique armoire.
  20. churn
    be agitated
    My stomach churns.
  21. remorse
    a feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed
    If he feels any remorse, he’s not showing it.
  22. golem
    an artificial human that is given life by supernatural means
    Outside, on the front porch, my dad stands there like a golem made of stone.
  23. ignite
    start to burn or burst into flames
    Piece by piece breaking away, igniting into flame, until there’s nothing left.
  24. yank
    pull with a sudden movement
    That’s when Ms. Forester grabbed me by the arm, and yanked me up.
  25. gnash
    grind together
    When Dad showed up at my school, his face was the color of a fire truck and he was gnashing his teeth.
Created on Thu May 22 08:17:29 EDT 2025 (updated Tue Jun 10 15:12:05 EDT 2025)

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