Vocabulary in Number the Stars

Tall and thin in an awkward, ungainly way, with long limbs that seem too long for the body.

Short and solidly built, with a broad, sturdy body — the opposite of tall and slender.

A six-pointed star that is the symbol of Judaism; in the novel it appears on the yellow badge Jews were forced to wear under Nazi occupation.

The regular armed forces of Nazi Germany during World War II, whose soldiers occupied Denmark and patrolled its streets.

Strictly limited in supply by the government so that scarce goods — food, fuel, clothing — are distributed in fixed, small amounts to each person.

A Jewish house of worship and community gathering, equivalent in function to a church or mosque.

Here refers to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a solemn holy day that falls in autumn — not January 1st.

The secret network of ordinary citizens who worked against the Nazi occupiers through sabotage, smuggling, and hiding people in danger.

Deliberate destruction of machinery, railways, or supplies to weaken an enemy's power or slow their operations.

The Jewish New Year, a high holy day observed in early autumn, marking the start of the Days of Awe and a time of reflection and prayer.

The group of people who regularly worship together at a particular synagogue or church; the assembled community of a religious body.

A coffin — the long box in which a dead person is laid for burial; in the novel a closed casket conceals something other than a body.

A vehicle specially designed to carry a coffin, used in funeral processions to transport the dead to burial.

A sacred song or poem from the Hebrew Bible, traditionally sung or recited during Jewish and Christian religious services.

People gathered to grieve and pay their respects at a funeral or in the period of bereavement following a death.

Widespread destruction, chaos, or disorder — used to describe the devastating disruption caused by war or sudden violence.

In this novel, a specially treated cloth packet whose scent confuses and neutralizes the tracking ability of German police dogs.

One of the substances coating the handkerchiefs used to destroy the dogs' sense of smell — part of the secret chemical mixture that protected escaping Jews.

The hooked-cross symbol used as the emblem of Nazi Germany, appearing on flags, armbands, and uniforms of the occupying forces.

An official order requiring people to stay indoors after a set hour at night, enforced by the occupying soldiers with serious penalties for disobedience.

A Jewish festival of lights lasting eight days, celebrated in winter by lighting a special candelabrum called a menorah; mentioned as part of the Jewish life depicted in the novel.

A substance that causes loss of feeling or consciousness; here used in the powder on the handkerchiefs to deaden the dogs' sense of smell.

To tease or torment someone by keeping something desirable just out of reach, raising hope without satisfying it.

Behaving in a commanding, arrogant way that expects immediate obedience, as if one has absolute authority over others.

Showing open disrespect or scorn toward someone, treating them as worthless or beneath consideration.