Charlotte's Web

Here are 20 words from Charlotte's Web.  Become familiar with them before you read the book.
(Note: These and many other words are in the Kid Crosswords Illustrated Online Dictionary)

anxious (adjective) -- uneasy and worried ch. 15

  pronounced: ANK shus

Example: Alice was so anxious
about her test the next day
she almost could not sleep.

anxious man

blunder (adjective) -- an avoidable, clumsy mistake ch. 5

  pronounced: BLUN der

Example: Jessica learned the hard way
what a blunder it was to copy
someone's else homework.  The
teacher found out and she failed.

blunder at a restaurant

dagger (noun) -- knife used as a weapon in battle ch. 1

  pronounced: DA ger

Example: In the Middle Ages,
knights often carried daggers
by their sides, next to their
long swords.

sharp dagger

dazed (adjective) -- confused; unsure of surroundings ch. 3

  pronounced: DAY zd

Example: Edward was dazed
after his car accident and
had to sit down for a few
minutes to collect himself.

dazed and dizzy bird

examine (verb) -- to look at very closely, usually looking for something ch. 5

  pronounced: ecks AM in

Example: After the car accident, Martha
examined her car carefully to see just
what had been damaged.

doctor examining a patient

exertion (noun) -- action; something physical that is tiring ch. 10

  pronounced: ecks ER shun

Example: Paulo helped his friend move
from one apartment to another, and
got a free dinner for his exertions.

exertions on a bicycle

glutton (noun) --  one that eats too much ch. 4

  pronounced: GLUT in

Example: Los of people are gluttons
around Christmas, eating far too
many sweets and sometimes
even getting stomach aches.

penguin being a glutton with fish

hastily (adverb) -- to do something in a rushed way ch. 9

  pronounced: HAY sti lee

Example: Because Martin did not
write his essay until the day before
it was due, he had to finish it hastily,
and did not do a good job.

man hastily running to a meeting

holler (verb) -- to yell loudly ch. 2

  pronounced: HAH ler

Example: When the kids are outside
playing, mom hollers for them to come
home when it's time for dinner.

hollering to a friend?

humble (adjective) -- simple and not too proud ch. 19

  pronounced: HUM bull

Example: Being in a big European
cathedral from the Middle Ages makes
a person feel humble and kind of small.

humble monk

manure (noun) -- waste from farm animals ch. 2

  pronounced: muh NEW er

Example: Barns are known for the
strong smell of manure, from the
cows or horses that live inside.

farmer standing next to manure

orchard (noun) -- place where fruit or nut trees are grown, usually in large numbers ch. 3

  pronounced: OR cherd

Example: Mario loved the apple
orchard in his town, where
the trees were planted in
neat long rows and the smell
of the fruit was so strong.

apples from an orchard

refreshed (adjective) -- renewed and revived ch. 18

  pronounced: re FRESHT

Example: Ice cream on a hot day makes
you feel refreshed and good.

doggie refreshed by a fan

romp (verb) -- to play actively and noisily ch. 13

  pronounced: RAHMP

Example: Puppies and children get
along well, because they
both like to romp
and play for hours.

romping puppy

sedentary (adjective) -- inactive; characterized by a lot of sitting ch. 9

  pronounced: SEH den terry

Example: Many people today do jobs
that are sedentary and
don't force them to lift things
or do hard physical work.

sedentary "couch potato"

sopping (adjective) -- very wet ch. 1

  pronounced: SAHP ing

Example: Mary forget her umbrella,
so she was sopping wet
by the time she got from
her car to the supermarket.

sopping wet and unhappy kitty

thrash (verb) -- to move around violently or hit violently ch. 13

  pronounced: THRASH

Example: Peter was so angry at his little
sister he wanted to thrash her!

thrashing fish

troupe (noun) -- group of people, usually performers on stage ch. 9

  pronounced: TROOP

Example: Darlene's dream for when
she grew up was to start an acting
troupe for children, and travel
around putting on plays for them.

musical troupe

unique (adjective) -- one of a kind; unlike any other ch. 20

  pronounced: yoo NEEK

Example: Every person on earth is unique, and has something
different to offer.

a unique monument--the Eiffel tower

vanish (verb) -- to disappear ch. 2

  pronounced: VA nish

Example: Gloria was so embarrassed
when she gave the wrong answer
in class she wished
she could just vanish
and not be seen again.

scientist with vanishing head

Join the mailing list