A Wrinkle in Time/Paddington
Nobly
[...] for from the magnificently modeled back sprang a nobly formed torso, arms, and a head [...]
splendidly; superbly; magnificently
Artesian well
Then there was the pumping plant for the artesian well [...]
a well in which water rises under pressure from a permeable stratum overlaid by impermeable rock.
Ram
[...] and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram, and especially devoted follower of Napoleon [...]
a male sheep
Demented
[...] founbd themselves eager to take place in this demented but partly secure society.
crazy; insane; mad
Translucent
Crouching the pale and naked and translucent, its alabaster bones cast up in shadow [...]
permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc., on the opposite side are not clearly visible.
The bear looked at them inquiringly.
to seek information
Boughs
[...] which wound about through wide-spreading lawns and under the interlacing boughs of tall poplars.
a branch of a tree, especially one of the larger or main branches
Surveying
Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; [...]
to take a general or comprehensive view of or appraise, as a situation, area of study, etc.
Spits
The hunters took their spears, the cooks took their spits, and the rest clubs of firewood.
a pointed rod or bar for thrusting through and holding meat that is to be cooked before or over a fire
Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up and lost among the inward parts of some granitic beast.
granitelike, rocklike, stony hard resisting weight or pressure
Exaltation
[...]an exaltation of joy such as Meg had never before seen.
a feeling of intense well-being or exhilaration; elation; rapture
Interlacing
[...] which wound about through wide-spreading lawns and under the interlacing boughs of tall poplars.
to cross one another, typically passing alternately over and under, as if woven together; intertwine.
Abolished
They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday meetings.
to do away with; put an end to; annul; make void
Clamorously
[...] and the boys followed him, clamorously.
a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people
Alabaster
Crouching the pale and naked and translucent, its alabaster bones cast up in shadow [...]
resembling alabaster (type of gypsum); smooth and white
Exerpt
What is happening in this excerpt?
a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, film, or the like; extract.
Poplars
[...] which wound about through wide-spreading lawns and under the interlacing boughs of tall poplars.
any of the rapidly growing, salicaceous trees of the genus Populus, usually characterized by the columnar or spirelike manner of growth of its branches.
Tumult
Presently the tumult died down.
violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar
Sulphurous
Again the blue-white scar jagged above them and the sulphurous explosion beat down.
of or relating to hellfire
Tarpaulin
He pushed away the plastic tarpaulin and raised himself [..]
a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax
Flanks
She was a marble-white body with powerful flanks, something like a horse [...]
the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip.
Demesne
And over this great demesne Buck ruled.
the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state
Countenance
Napoleon appeared to change countenance and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dogs go [...]
appearance, especially the look or expression of the face
Littleuns/Biguns
Wile Roger mimed the terror of the pig, the littleuns ran and jumped on the outside of the circle.
Slang for young kids and big kids
Glaucoma
Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming away the world.
abnormally high fluid pressure in the eye, most commonly caused either by blockage of the channel through which aqueous humor drains open-angle glaucoma, or chronic glaucoma or by pressure of the iris against the lens, which traps the aqueous humor angle-closure glaucoma, or acute glaucoma