Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 1-3

Guessed Meaning Form

impassive (adjective)

• Context: The expression on his face was impassive.

• Definition: showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless.

obstinate (adjective)

• Context: The obstinate boy refused to clean his room.

• Definition: Stubborn

occupation (noun)

• Context: During World War II, Denmark was under German occupation.

• Definition: The period during which a military force takes control of another country

sabotage (verb)

• Context: The angry workers were responsible for sabotaging the machines.

• Definition: To purposely destroy or damage something

fiancé (noun)

• Context: My sister’s fiancé bought her engagement ring at a jewelry store in New Orleans.

• Definition: man/ woman engaged to be married

rationed (verb)

• Context: During the war, the government rationed oil and sugar.

• Definition: To control the amount of food or supplies that people can use

haughtily (adverb)

• Context: The soldiers walked in haughtily and demanded the Jews follow them.

• Definition: arrogantly; with too much pride

trousseau (noun)

• Context: The young woman looked at the clothes in her trousseau knowing her wedding was soon.

• Definition: a bride’s collection of clothing and linens

curfew (noun)

• Context: The streets were desolate and dark at night due to the early curfew.

• Definition: a time by which people must be off the streets

swastika (noun)

• Context: The flags of Nazi Germany had a black swastika on them.

• Definition: A symbol used to represent the Nazi party; it looks like a cross with bent arms

torment (verb)

• Context: The mosquitoes constantly tormented people during the long summer days.

• Definition: To cause pain or suffering

Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 4-6

rabbi (noun)

• Context: The rabbi taught the congregation about God.

• Definition: A Jewish religious leader

synagogue (noun)

• Context: My Jewish friend goes to the synagogue with her family every week.

• Definition: A Jewish house of worship (It’s the Jewish equivalent of a church or temple)

imprinted (verb)

• Context: The paper was imprinted with the Great Seal of the United States.

• Definition: To make a mark or impression on something

urgently (adverb)

• Context: I urgently needed to contact the resistance fighters.

• Definition: Compelling immediate action or attention; pressing.

disdainfully (adjective)

• Context: Laura looked at the sweater disdainfully and then put it back on the rack.

• Definition: Showing that you dislike something or think it is worthless

imperious (adjective)

• Context: The bully on the playground made imperious comments to the other children.

• Definition: commanding; dominant

tentatively (adjective)

• Context: We tentatively set plans for the weekend.

• Definition: showing hesitancy or uncertainty

exasperation (noun)

• Context: The student sighed in exasperation when she was told she could no longer use the calculator on her test.

• Definition: to be frustrated

Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 7-9

deftly (adverb)

• Context: Lois deftly poured a glass of milk.

• Definition: Quick and skillful

Star of David (noun)

• Context: The flag of Israel has a Star of David on it.

• Definition: A symbol of Judaism

anchored (verb)

• Context: They anchored the ship in the bay.

• Definition: Secured; held in place

dismayed (verb)

• Context: Her parents were dismayed that she chose to be a teacher instead of a doctor.

• Definition: To be upset

hazy (adjective)

• Context: We only had a hazy view of the mountain.

• Definition: Partly hidden or obscured by light vapor, smoke, or dust

relocate (verb)

• Context: He relocated to Los Angeles for his new job.

• Definition: To move to a new location

mourning (noun)

• Context: He was still in mourning for his dead wife.

• Definition: A period of time during which a person feels grief or sadness for someone who has died

specter (noun)

• Context: After watching the scary movie, Molly had a difficult time getting the specter of the haunted house out of her mind.

• Definition: A haunting or disturbing image

hearse (noun)

• Context: The hearse transported the coffin to the cemetery.

• Definition: A funeral vehicle

Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 10-12

gnarled (adjective)

• Context: Kevin used the gnarled branches of the tree as the arms for his snowman.

• Definition: Twisted and knotty

pride (noun)

• Context: Students show their pride when they do good work.

• Definition: confidence in yourself

Psalm (noun)

• Context: After the sermon, we sang a brief psalm.

• Definition: A sacred song or poem used in worship (particularly those contained in the Bible)

staccato (noun)

• Context: Her high-heeled shoes made a rapid staccato as she walked across the wooden floor.

• Definition: Short, sudden sounds

surge (noun)

• Context: Tom felt a surge of anger when he saw another boy mistreating his dog.

• Definition: A sudden rush of emotion or feeling

typhus (noun)

• Context: By the looks of this rash, I think the patient has typhus.

• Definition: An infectious disease caused by lice or fleas. It causes high fever, headache, and a dark red rash.

commotion (noun)

• Context: I went outside to see what all the commotion was about.

• Definition: A noisy disturbance

Godspeed (noun)

• Context: We wished our dad godspeed when he went on a business trip to Japan.

• Definition: An expression used to wish success to someone who is going away

unfamiliar (adjective)

• Context: Since this was his first time in this town he was unfamiliar with the streets.

• Definition: Not well known

Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 13-15

protruding (verb)

• Context: I saw a shark fin protruding from the water.

• Definition: Sticking out

contempt (noun)

• Context: He showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly.

• Definition: A feeling that someone or something is worthless or unworthy of respect

implored (verb)

• Context: He implored his parents to let him keep the stray cat.

• Definition: Begged; pleaded

sprawling (verb)

• Context: The ladder tipped over, sending him sprawling across the floor.

• Definition: To lie, sit, or fall with your arms and legs spread out

tantalize (verb)

• Context: You should not tantalize your younger brother with that candy bar if he can not have it.

• Definition: to tease

stricken (adjective)

• Context: John’s face was stricken with grief after his dog died.

• Definition: Overwhelmed with pain or sorrow

Guessed Meaning

Number the Stars Vocabulary

Chapters 16-Afterword

concealed (verb)

• Context: The note was carefully concealed in his pocket.

• Definition: Hidden

bleak (adjective)

• Context: It was a dark and bleak wintry day.

• Definition: Gloomy and miserable

deprivation (noun)

• Context: Mary suffers from sleep deprivation.

• Definition: The lack of something that you need

orchestrated (verb)

• Context: The man orchestrated the entire circus, including the wardrobe, refreshments, and all of the acts.

• Definition: Organized or planned

permeated (verb)

• Context: The aroma of the soup permeated the air.

• Definition: To spread throughout something

raided (verb)

• Context: The village was suddenly raided by neighboring tribes.

• Definition: To make a surprise attack