The Nowadays Girls in the Adirondacks: 40 words to know before you read it
The 40 words Gertrude Hall Brownell uses again and again in The Nowadays Girls in the Adirondacks that are outside the 4,000 most common in English. Learn them first and the opening chapters read much more easily. Each comes with its pronunciation and a sentence from the book.
bungalow/ˈbəŋɡəˌɫoʊ/80× in the book
"I heard Mr. Pursell say they were going to visit friends who have a bungalow on Lower Saranac.
canoe/kəˈnu/80× in the book
"I am just dying for a chance in a canoe with——"
exclaim/ɪkˈskɫeɪm/80× in the book
exclaimed Sylvia.
murmur/ˈmɝmɝ/70× in the book
she murmured, as she sipped the spiced, icy drink.
chum/ˈtʃəm/53× in the book
She gazed at her trio of chums, who had seated themselves about the room, in various positions of comfort.
chaperon47× in the book
Aunt Theodora Leigh Brownley will chaperon us, and——"
gasp/ˈɡæsp/33× in the book
gasped Rose.
assent/əˈsɛnt/19× in the book
"Oh, that's all right," assented Alice.
stove/ˈstoʊv/18× in the book
… for a tea outfit had been brought along, and one of the men was lighting the alcohol stove which was not only to boil water for the beverage, but also to warm some of the numerous viands.
mile/ˈmaɪɫ/17× in the book
Then, after we get to the end of the fourth lake there is a carry of one mile to the sixth lake."
mil/ˈmɪɫ/16× in the book
From Fulton Chain a little railroad ran the two miles, more or less, to Old Forge.
cavalier/ˈkævəɫiɹ/15× in the book
Sylvia gasped her surprise, but a moment later it was added to, for a thirteenth-century cavalier, with glossy black curls flowing over his lace collar, approached, and with a low bow, said:
hastily/ˈheɪstəɫi/15× in the book
she exclaimed, looking hastily down at the floor.
loon/ˈɫun/14× in the book
… from some lonely and unseen pond, would come the call of the loon, that strange and often solitary bird whose cry has such a weird sound …
hesitation/ˌhɛzəˈteɪʃən/14× in the book
I'll have to pick up a new step in the hesitation waltz, to make it more difficult."
maid/ˈmeɪd/14× in the book
… as she was shot upward in the smooth-running elevator, wondered whether the coloured maid at the Grand Central had made sure that there was no cinder dust on the end of her nose.
ashore/əˈʃɔɹ/13× in the book
The canoeists were to keep together in a little flotilla, and proceed up First Lake for a short distance, go ashore and have a little lunch.
paddle/ˈpædəɫ/13× in the book
It's a little safer than a canoe, but almost as light, and you can row it or paddle it, and it will stand pretty rough water."
merry/ˈmɛɹi/13× in the book
and Rose laughed a merry laugh, that sounded like the tinkle of ice in a strawberry-tinted pitcher of lemonade on a hot day.
glorious/ˈɡɫɔɹiəs/13× in the book
"It is glorious!"
glow/ˈɡɫoʊ/13× in the book
A startled cry came from Rose, who turned pale, so that only a small tinted spot glowed in either cheek.
retort/ˈɹiˌtɔɹt/12× in the book
"Why, yo'all seem surprised," was the retort in that slow, unctuous, Southern voice.
anyhow/ˈɛniˌhaʊ/12× in the book
He'll probably lose I don't know how many thousand dollars by being away from the office for even a little while—at least he'll say so, anyhow," and she laughed.
blush/ˈbɫəʃ/12× in the book
stormed Rose, blushing so that her cheeks, which usually held a most charming centre-tint, were now suffused with carmine.
delightful/dɪˈɫaɪtfəɫ/12× in the book
Just now the little affair was in that most delightful of all states, one of perfect understanding.
garment/ˈɡɑɹmənt/12× in the book
Meanwhile Alice was being provided with an outfit of dry garments by the owner of the cottage, and a messenger was despatched to the hotel …
emerald/ˈɛmɝɹəɫd/11× in the book
asked Alice, as she turned an emerald ring on her finger—an emerald that caused much wonder among strangers as to where she had obtained it, for it was a most beautiful stone.
telegram/ˈtɛɫəˌɡɹæm/11× in the book
Hazel was away when my telegram reached her, but she left Chicago last night, and ought to be here now.
falter/ˈfɔɫtɝ/11× in the book
faltered Sylvia.
whirl/ˈhwɝɫ/11× in the book
"Unrestful," put in Alice, as she caught Hazel by the shoulders and whirled her about, forcing her over toward the piano.
eagerly/ˈiɡɝɫi/11× in the book
she went on, eagerly, joyously.
glide/ˈɡɫaɪd/11× in the book
"No bad news, I hope," said Hazel, as she glided across the room and put her arms about her chum.
morrow/ˈmɑɹoʊ/10× in the book
As long as it isn't dangerous, and as long as nothing can be done right away, wait until to-morrow to tell her, Sylvia."
lantern/ˈɫæntɝn/10× in the book
"Now I'll light a lantern, and we'll go ashore for the stone."
cheerful/ˈtʃɪɹfəɫ/10× in the book
But it was a more cheerful place than when they had left it, for now a fire was merrily crackling on the hearth …
nowadays/ˈnaʊəˌdeɪz/10× in the book
The girls were "up-to-the-minute" damsels, and they were devotees of the nowadays idea.
overturn/ˈoʊvɝˌtɝn/10× in the book
Then she arose from the little table, so precipitately as almost to overturn it, though Rose saved it in time.
drip/ˈdɹɪp/10× in the book
asked Tupson, of Alice, as he poised his dripping paddle.
charm/ˈtʃɑɹm/10× in the book
Mrs. Brownley was called "Aunt" not only by courtesy, but through love, for she was a charming character, and the girls were very fond of her, especially our four.
boil/ˈbɔɪɫ/10× in the book
The water bubbled and boiled at the bow of their craft.
Pronunciation: ipa-dict (MIT), from Wiktionary.
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