The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, Vocabulary List Chapters 7-9

used to express unhappiness, pity, disappointment or worry

He was, alas, a mouse deeply in love.

to give certainty, confidence, or comfort to

He was reading from the beginning so that he could get to the end, where the reader was assured that the knight and the fair maiden lived together happily ever after.

to spend time with as a companion : ASSOCIATE

A mouse who consorts with humans, a mouse who would sit right at the foot of a man.

to declare not to be true

He will hear of his sins; he will be given a chance to deny them.

very gloomy

When Lester, finished there was a silence dismal and deep.

a strong feeling of being worried, disappointed, or upset

They listened in dismay and outrage and fear.

felt very strongly

"Fellow mice, it is my most fervent hope that Despereaux has not spoken to these humans."

to pay attention to

The thirteen honored mice and one Most Very Honored Head Mouse, heeded the call of Lester's drum.

impossible to question or doubt

We know this to be an indisputable fact.

to say (something) in a slow and even voice

"Something," intoned the Most Very High Honored Head Mouse, "is wrong with your son."

forgiveness for wrong or rude behavior

"Pardon?" said Despereaux.

the act of betraying someone or something : the state of not being loyal

Reader do you know what "perfidy" means?

a brief expression that is commonly used

Despereaux had muttered the phrase often to himself.

to complain strongly about : object to

"But why?" protested the Pea.

the beat resulting from the regular widening of an artery in the body as blood flows through it

He felt the princess's pulse, the pounding of her heart, and his own heart immediately took up the rhythm of hers.

to be usual or widespread

Silence reigned the room.

to give up, abandon, or resign usually by a public declaration

If he does not deny them, he will be allowed to renounce them so that he may go to the dungeon with a pure heart.