Drought
(Noun) a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water resulting from this
Example: "Lawns that were once emerald green lay parched and yellowing; the use of hosepipes had been banned due to drought" (1).
Replete
(Adjective) filled or well-supplied with something
Example: "Mr. Weasley was leaning back in his chair, looking replete and relaxed" (41).
Austere
(Adjective) severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance
Example: "There were about fifty of them, all, as far as he could see, wearing plum-colored robes with an elaborately worked silver W on the left-hand side of the chest and all staring down their noses at him, some with very austere expressions, others looks of frank curiosity" (64).
Supercilious
(Adjective) behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others
Example: "'Enough, enough!' said Fudge with a very supercilious look on his face" (66).
Taradiddle
(Noun) a petty lie
Example: “We haven’t got time to listen to more taradiddles, I’m afraid, Dumbledore. I want this dealt with quickly —” (67).
Bilge
(Noun) nonsense, rubbish
Example: "I have no reason to believe that your views are anything other than bilge" (68).
Puce
(Adjective) of a dark red or purple-brown color
Example: "Fudge turned a slightly deeper shade of puce" (70).
Gamboled
(Verb) run or jump about playfully
Example: "But the great black dog gave a joyful bark and gamboled around them, snapping at pigeons, and chasing its own tail" (84).
Asperity
(Noun) harshness of tone or manner
Example: "'I listen, Ron,' said Hermione with a touch of asperity" (104).
Prat
(Noun) an incompetent, stupid, or foolish person; an idiot
Example: "We didn’t think Mum could take us leaving school early, not on top of Percy turning out to be the world’s biggest prat" (106).
Soporific
(Adjective) tending to induce drowsiness or sleep
Example: "She alone seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns’s voice" (107).
Churlish
(Adjective) rude in a mean-spirited and surly way
Example: "'Yeah, well —' said Harry, feeling it would be churlish to disagree" (161).
Impertinent
(Adjective) not showing proper respect; rude
Example: "'Nothing whatsoever,' said Phineas Nigellus, raising a thin black eyebrow as though he found Harry impertinent" (233).
On Tenterhooks
(Phrase) in a state of suspense or agitation because of uncertainty about a future event
Example: "Harry received two more D’s in Potions, was still on tenterhooks that Hagrid might get the sack, and could not stop himself from dwelling on the dream in which he had seen Voldemort" (277).
Paroxysm
(Noun) a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity
Example: "But she stood and watched, with an expression of gloating enjoyment, as Professor Trelawney shuddered and moaned, rocking backward and forward on her trunk in paroxysms of grief" (280).
Deferential
(Adjective) respectful
Example: "Harry thought Professor Marchbanks must be the tiny, stooped witch with a face so lined it looked as though it had been draped in cobwebs; Umbridge was speaking to her very deferentially" (334).
Irascible
(Adjective) having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
Example: "There was nobody left to tell. Dumbledore had gone, Hagrid had gone, but he had always expected Professor McGonagall to be there, irascible and inflexible, perhaps, but always dependably, solidly present..." (343).
Blunder
(Noun) a stupid, careless mistake
Example: "A wave of hot, prickly anger swept Harry’s body—how could she remind him of that blunder now?" (344).
Gully
(Noun) a water-worn ravine
Example: "Harry could see mountains and gullies below them" (359).
Incantation
(Noun) a series of words said as a magical spell or charm
Example: "He turned his wand backward toward the man’s side, but had no breath to utter an incantation" (376).
