Vocabulary for The City of Ember

endeavor - A conscientious  effort toward an end; an earnest attempt; try; effort

Page 2 - Nothing about this endeavor is certain. There may be no one left in the city by then or no safe place for them to come back to."

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plummet - To fall straight down; plunge; nose-dive; crash down; tumble

Page 20 - He pulled himself upward, pushed again-he was higher now than Lina had been-but suddenly his hands slid and he came plummeting down.

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hoist - To raise or haul up with or as if with the help of a mechanical apparatus; heave; lift

Page 23 - Lina laughed, hoisted her up, and danced with her around the shop.

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methodically - Characterized by ordered and systematic habits or behavior; logically; carefully; precisely; meticulously

page 58 - Every day a team of people methodically sorted through the trash heaps in search of anything that might be at all useful.

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flank - The right or left side of a military formation

Page 86 - The door of the Gathering Hall opened, and the mayor came out, flanked by two guards.

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vague - Indistinctly felt, perceived, understood, or recalled; hazy; unclear; fuzzy

Page 112 - She vaguely recalled the incident of the light pole.

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strewn - To spread here and there; scatter

Page 122 - On the wall, clothes hung from hooks, and more clothes were strewn untidily on the floor.

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lurk -  To move furtively; sneak; lie in wait; hang about; creep around

Page 132 - She had frightening dreams in which something dangerous was lurking in the darkness.

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egress - A path or opening for going out; an exit; door; outlet

Page170 - 171

     "I don't think so," said Clary. "If you add an s to this word, right where this tear in the paper is, you get 'Egress'. Do you know what that means?"

     "No," said Lina.

     "It means 'the way out'. It means 'the exit'. The title of this document is 'Instruction for Egress'."

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convoluted - Having numerous overlapping coils or folds; complex; elaborate; intricate

Page 181 - He ran a finger over their convoluted surface.

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vicious - Spiteful; malicious; nasty; cruel; mean; spiteful

Page 200 - "Spreading vicious rumors," was the answer.

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        kiosk -

  1. A small structure, often open on one or more sides, used as a newsstand or booth.
  2. A cylindrical structure on which advertisements are posted.

Page 227 - In Selverton Square, he saw a kiosk where the poster with his and Lina's names on it had been pinned up.

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refugees - One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution; person in exile

Page 250 - Welcome, Refugees from Ember!

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catastrophe - A sudden violent change in the earth's surface; a cataclysm; calamity; devastation; ruin; disaster

Page 261 -What kind of place can this be, safe from earthly catastrophes?

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