Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, Vocabulary List Chapters 4-6

familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual

Officer Delinko wished he'd brought a thermos of coffee, because he wasn't accustomed to getting up so early.

a noisy or angry argument

Actually, two good things had come out of the altercation with Dana Matherson.

confident in behavior or style

"...See, didn't I tell you the apology letter was too assertive?"

easily broken or cracked

The slope was littered with brittle dead logs and broken branches, the debris of many cold, windy winters.

a hole or tunnel in the ground that an animal (such as a rabbit or fox) makes to live in or for safety

"...There are no owls here, not one! Those old burrows have been abandoned for years."

polite, reasonable, and respectful

"Next time you've got a problem just tell me, and then we'll sit down and talk about it like civilized human beings. Okay?"

to hide (something or someone) from sight

Concealed beneath a mat of vines he found three plastic garbage bags, each tied at the neck.

a person who has committed a crime or done something wrong

He had a hunch that the culprit (or culprits) intended something more serious than juvenile pranks.

refusing to obey something or someone

After a few tense moments, she dropped to all fours and, with a final defiant snort, lumbered off to collect her cubs.

the act of changing or causing something to change direction

Nonetheless, Roy ran with his head down and one arm upraised for deflection in case another errant ball came flying in his direction.

very sad and without hope

"My car," he said despondently.

to separate or break up into small parts or pieces

Soggy chunks of bun and meat were visible between clenched fingers- she had squeezed the sandwich so ferociously that it had disintegrated.

great fear especially of something that will or might happen

In a fleeting moment of dread, Officer Delinko wondered if it was already the next night. Was it possible he'd accidentally slept through the whole day?

not going in the intended direction : not accurate

Nonetheless, Roy ran with his head down and one arm upraised for deflection in case another errant ball came flying in his direction.

passing by quickly

In a fleeting moment of dread, Officer Delinko wondered if it was already the next night. Was it possible he'd accidentally slept through the whole day?

very powerful or strong : deserving serious attention and respect

They looked lanky and tough, though not as formidable as Beatrice.

moving or changing in small amounts : happening in a slow way over a long period of time

Gradually the night air filled with the buzz of crickets, and Roy smiled to himself, remembering the boxful he'd released there.

impossible to get through or into

The pine trees gave way to a tangled thicket of Brazilian peppers and dense ground scrub, which looked impenetrable.

sure to happen

Another confrontation seemed inevitable, and part of him simply wanted to get it over with.

to make (someone) want to know more about something : to cause (someone) to become interested

Vandalism and trespassing weren't big-time crimes, but Officer Delinko was intrigued by the continuing pattern of mischief at the future site of Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House.

suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future

Chuck Muckle pivoted in slow motion. Ominously he pointed the blade of the shovel at the boy in the owl burrow.

to do (something that is illegal or wrong)

"Because I wanted to catch the perpetrators," Officer Delinko replied.

used to describe an angry or unhappy person who does not want to talk, smile, etc.

It was Curly, the sullen construction foreman.

an act or an instance of staying out of school without permission

"Mr. Eberhardt, it's illegal for a boy your age not to be in school. The offense is called truancy."