Vocabulary for Number the Stars

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sabotage    (sb-täzh)

• destruction of property or obstruction of normal operations, as by civilians or enemy agents in time of war.
• a deliberate act of destruction or disruption in which equipment is damaged

From Page 8  --  But Annemarie heard Mama and Papa talk, sometimes at night, about the news they received that way: news of sabotage against the Nazis, bombs hidden and exploded in the factories that produced war materials, and industrial railroad lines damaged so that the goods couldn't be transported.

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rationed  ration    (rshn, rshn)

• A fixed portion, especially an amount of food allotted to persons in military service or to civilians in times of scarcity.

From Page 18 ---Like the other families in their building, the Johnasens had opened the old chimney and installed a little stove to use for heat when they could find cola to burn. Mama used it too, sometimes, for cooking because electricity was rationed now.

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imperious  (m-pîr-s)

• Arrogantly domineering, bossy, or overbearing
• Regal; imperial.

From Page 39 - Ellen stood on tiptoe again, and made an imperious gesture with her arm. "I am the Dark Queen," she intoned dramatically. "I have come to command the night!"

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rueful    (rfl)

1. Inspiring pity or compassion.
2. Causing, feeling, or expressing sorrow or regret.

rueful·ly adv.

From Pages 68-69 - "Don't tell the soldiers try to --- what's the word?  ---  relocate butter, too? She laughed at her own joke.

     But it wasn't a joke at all, though Mama laughed ruefully. "They do," she said. "They relocate all the farmers' butter, right into the stomach of their army."

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deftly  (dft - le)

• quickly and skillfully

From Page 75 -- His strong hands continued, deftly pressing like a pulse against the cow. The steady streams of milk still came.

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protrude   (pr-trd)

• To push or thrust outward.

From Page 91 -- Annemarie could see it protruding from Mr. Rosen's pocket when he returned to the room and sat down again. Ass could see, too, that Mr. Rosen had a puzzled look. He didn't know what the packet contained. He hadn't asked.

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donned - don  (dn)

• To put on (clothing).

From Page 106 - She had watched and helped, earlier, as the others donned sweaters, jackets, and coats; and she had peered into the night, following them with her eyes, as they moved silently off, bulky in their garments, blankets in their arms.

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lunged - lunge (lnj)

• To make a sudden thrust or pass.
• To move with a sudden thrust.

From Page 125 - Annemarie remembered how the dogs had lunged at the handkerchief, smelled it, and then turned away.

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devastating - devastate    (dv-stt)

• To overwhelm; confound; stun

From Page 129 - But Annemarie forced herself to think of her redheaded almost-brother, and how devastating the day was when they received the news that Peter had been captured and executed by the Germans in the public square at Ryvangen, in Copenhagen.