Dreams and Discoveries
Words from the story
Learn the lively words used in 'My Brother's Great Invention'.
'My Brother's Great Invention' is told in a lively voice, and its glossed words mostly describe how someone looked, sounded or felt. Collect them!
Sounds:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| racket | a loud, disturbing noise |
| clanging | a loud ringing, like metal being hit |
| muffled | not clear or loud |
| clattering | continuous loud noise |
| eerie | strange (the whine from the next room) |
Faces and moods:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| scowling | looking angry, frowning |
| smugly | proudly, pleased with yourself |
| crestfallen | sad and disappointed |
| offended | upset, hurt |
| sceptical | doubtful (Anita about the alarm) |
| indulgently | fondly (Mr Sharma smiling at Anand's story) |
Ways of doing things:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| stealthily | quietly, so as not to be seen or heard |
| frantic | hurried and disorganised |
| groggily | sleepily |
| hastily | quickly |
| in unison | together |
Making and unmaking:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| rigged up | put together quickly, for the time being |
| tinkering | experimenting, fiddling |
| elaborate | detailed (Anand's blueprint) |
| dismantled | taken apart (the machine, in the end) |
The night words:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ruffianly | rough or violent-looking |
| brandishing | waving (a weapon) |
| cudgel | a short, thick stick used as a weapon |
| gasped | took a quick breath in surprise |
| peering | looking carefully |
| intruders | people who come in without permission |
Two more you'll use often: sopping = soaking (Papa came in sopping wet), and niggling = a slight, nagging feeling (Papa's suspicion that the machine might really have worked).
Sceptical is doubtful, crestfallen is sad and disappointed, niggling is a slight feeling — the story's words are mostly about mood.
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