The Tiger Rising

1. harbored (present tense verb):

kept an idea in one’s mind

2. abiding (adjective):

lasting a long time

3. notion (noun):

an idea or belief

“Rob liked the sign; he harbored a dim but abiding notion that it would bring him good luck.” (Chapter 1, Page 1)

4. sullen (adjective):

gloomy or disagreeable; in a bad mood

“So as he waited for the bus under the Kentucky star sign, and as the first drops of rain fell from the sullen sky, Rob imagined the tiger on top of his suitcase, blinking his golden eyes, sitting proud and strong, unaffected by all the not-thoughts inside straining to come out.” (Chapter 1, Page 4)

5. lurched (past tense verb):

moved abruptly and unevenly

“They were still out in the country, only halfway into town, when the bus lurched to a stop.” (Chapter2, Page 7)

6. gravelly (adjective):

low and rough sounding

Her voice was gravelly and deep, and the words sounded clipped and strange, like she was stamping each one of them out with a cookie cutter.” (Chapter 2, Page 8)

7. Sistine Chapel (noun):

the most famous place of worship in Vatican City, Italy; it’s renowned for its biblical paintings by the Renaissance artist, Michelangelo

“He thought about the Sistine Chapel.” (Chapter 3, Page 9)

8. ignorant (adjective):

uneducated, stupid

“’I’m from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,’ Sistine said, ‘home of the Liberty Bell, and I hate the South because the people in it are ignorant.’” (Chapter 4, Page 11)

9. array (noun):

an impressive range or assortment

“It was covered with an astonishing array of framed pieces of paper—certificates and diplomas and thank-you letters.” (Chapter 5, Page 15)

10. contagious (adjective):

spread from one person to another

“Some of the parents—I won’t mention any names—are worried that what you’ve got there might be contagious, contagious meaning something that the other students could possibly catch.” (Chapter 5, Page 15)

11. buoyed (verb):

kept afloat; kept cheerful or positive

“He went to math class and civics and science, his heart light, buoyed by the knowledge that he would never have to come back.” (Chapter 6, Page 18)

12. frescoes (plural noun):

a method of painting that uses watercolors on wet plaster, so that the color seeps into the plaster and sets as the plaster dries. Michelangelo used this technique on the Sistine Chapel.

“They’re frescoes.” (Chapter 7, Page 23)

13. leprosy (noun):

an infectious disease that causes skin sores and rashes

“We know what you got. It’s called leprosy.” (Chapter 11, Page 39)

14. defiant (adjective):

rebellious, challenging, willing to fight

“It looked so much like her, with her skinny legs and small eyes and defiant stance, that he was certain she would be angry.” (Chapter 12, Page 45)

15. sculpted (past tense noun):

created a representation of something by carving, modeling, or shaping

“’Instead, she said, ‘Michelangelo—the man who painted the Sistine ceiling—he sculpted too.’” (Chapter 12, Page 44)

16. scrub (noun):

forest undergrowth, like small trees and bushes

“They walked together through the scrub.” (Chapter 13, Page 46)

17. constellation (noun):

a collection of stars that seem to form a pattern, or picture of something

“Every night, the house lit up like a constellation, and they were all inside it together, the three of them.” (Chapter 15, Page 56)

18. evaporated (past tense verb):

dried up, disappeared

“His happiness had evaporated” (Chapter 15, Page 56)

19. hobo (noun):

a homeless, usually poor, wanderer

“Sissy, you look like a hobo.” (chapter 16, Page 60)

20. flitting (present participle verb):

moving lightly and quickly

“But sometimes, he comes flying through my dreams, flitting about and singing.” (Chapter 17, Page 65)

21. billowed (past tense verb):

filled with air and puffed out

“Rob took hold of the sheet, and as it billowed out between them, a memory rose up before him: his father standing out in the yard, holding his guy up to the sky, taking aim at a bird.” (Chapter 17, Page 65)

22. fervently (adverb):

passionately; with sincere, intense feeling

“He looked over his shoulder, wishing fervently that Willie May or his father would appear and save him from Beauchamp, knowing at the same time that he could not be saved, that he was on his own.” (Chapter 18, Page 69)

23. pelting (present participle verb):

throwing things quickly and repeatedly

“Norton and Billy Threemonger started pelting Rob with date palms before the bus even came to a complete stop.” (Chapter 20, Page 76)

24. endangered (adjective):

threatened; a species that is likely to become extinct

“’Tigers are an endangered species, you know,’ she said.” (Chapter 20, Page 77)

25. prophetess (noun):

a female prophet; someone who delivers messages from God

“’I think she’s a prophetess,’ said Sistine.” (Chapter 21, Page 84)

26. reproachful (adjective):

critical and disappointed

“She would put her hand on his arm or say his name in a soft and reproachful voice, and that would be enough.” (Chapter 22, Page 86).

27. enormous (adjective):

exceptionally large

“But she smiled and closed her eyes and put out her enormous hand, palm up.” (Chapter 23, Page 91)

28. soothes (present tense verb):

comforts

“But it soothes my heart just the same.” (Chapter 23, Page 92)