Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Chapters 7-11

the ability to move quickly and easily

With surprising agility for a woman of four-syllable age, Annabella rose and led Kira to a covered container near the place where a large kettle of dark water, too huge for cooking food, hung above the smoldering remains of an outdoor fire.

to turn away

Kira saw Vandara and averted her eyes.

to wave or shake in a threatening manner

They were admiring him as he brandished the spear.

confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people

Like Matt, beating his chest with bravado and pasting it thick with swamp grass that he called a manly pelt?

to reach the end or the final result of

The entire history of the people, culminating with the horrifying story of the Ruin, was portrayed with immense complexity on the voluminous folds of the robe.

to make confused and a little upset

Kira was disconcerted.

a feeling of dislike for someone or something considered not good enough

"All I need be here," she had told Kira, speaking disdainfully of the village and its noisy life.

a strong feeling of being worried, disappointed, or upset

Kira was dismayed at the thought but she said nothing to her friend.

to break up and scatter

Now that the dangerous fascination of the spear was gone, Matt's group of young admirers dispersed.

not active for the time being

"Fall-start's better, when it lies dormant."

having or showing strong feelings of irritation or annoyance

Exasperated, Kira grabbed the spear shaft just above his hand.

extreme or intense

She knew instantly what she wanted to place in the exquisite box.

a group of people born and living during the same time

But still she had lived to be four syllables and had acquired four generations of wisdom.

being twisted, rugged, or full of knots

The woman's hands were gnarled and stained.

to twist the face

Matt sniffed warily at his own hand and grimaced.

extremely small

The lifeless men dotted with the red knots of blood were still an infinitesimal section of the robe, a blink of an eye, forgotten now except for the once-a-year Song, the time that the Singer reminded them of the past.

to give life and energy to

The long walks to the dyer's cott each day were exhausting, but at the same time the fresh air made her feel cleansed and invigorated.

to confuse or bewilder completely

Mystified still, Kira turned her attention this morning to the long, low tub.

suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future

Kira sipped at the strong hot tea and thought again about the ominous stalking sound in the woods.

having or showing doubt

"How could she know?" Thomas asked skeptically.

present only in small amounts

She knew that her sparse collection, a few leftover colored threads that her mother had allowed her to use for her own, was not adequate at all.

a person's attitude as it affects what he or she says or does

She could see that Matt was trying to look sad for her benefit, but it was difficult for a boy whose temperament was so merry.

likely to cause sickness or disease : dirty or full of germs

It was interesting, Kira decided, that they had found a way for water to enter the building, but impractical and unsanitary, and there was no place to bury waste.

having much material

The entire history of the people, culminating with the horrifying story of the Ruin, was portrayed with immense complexity on the voluminous folds of the robe.