The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon, Vocabulary List Chapters 21-25

to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true

He assumed it would all line up exactly the way we wanted.

to communicate with someone or something in a very personal or spiritual way

"I'm communing." So we left her dangling like a psychedelic squirrel and headed for town.

sad because of failure, loss, etc.

We rode home, dejected.

a feeling of strong dislike or disapproval of someone or something you think does not deserve respect

He glanced at me with clear disdain for my rule-following.

easily taught, led, or controlled

No matter how squirrelly we felt when we burst in the door, by the time we'd chugged it all down we were looking pretty docile.

in a state in which you love, admire, or are very interested in something or someone

Pixie was less enamored with the mermaid than I expected.

to imagine doing things that you are very unlikely to do : to have fantasies

"How great would it be to have no parents?" I fantasized as we got into bed.

happening or likely to happen soon

The impending "talk" was not serious enough for Dad to be involved.

an article in a newspaper about the life of someone who has died recently

In the mornings Dad handed us the comics out of the paper and flipped over to the obituaries just to make sure everyone we knew was still alive and kicking.

very strange or unusual : extremely different from what is normal or expected

Any moment now, Styx would launch into some outlandish tale that could not possibly be true, unless he was some kind of celebrity.

to go from one subject to another without any clear purpose or direction

"Only sometimes," I rambled on.

military activity in which soldiers, airplanes, etc., are sent to find out information about an enemy

We were stealth agents on reconnaissance.

to run or move quickly and often playfully

We scampered past, trying to look at the limo but also stay out of the way.

boring and too slow or long

It was gentle and tedious work.

not confused, worried, or shocked by something that has happened

Styx continued, unfazed.

not feeling or showing thanks for favors, gifts, etc. : not grateful

"Not like my ungrateful son, you mean?" Mr. Davis barked a laugh.