acquaintance: a person known to one, but usually not a close friend

alma mater: a school, college, or university at which one has studied and, usually, from which one has graduated

archaeologist: a person who studies historic peoples and their cultures by digging up their artifacts

arpeggio: the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously

astronomer: a scientific observer of the celestial bodies

autograph: a person’s own hand-written signature

bewildered: completely puzzled or confused; perplexed

bustling: to move or act with a great show of energy

diminutive size: small; little; tiny

discarded: to throw away; reject

dreary: causing sadness or gloom

enchanting: charming; captivating

extraordinary: exceptional; noteworthy; remarkable

fragile: easily broken, shattered, or damaged; delicate; frail

generation: the term of years accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their children

gigantic: very large; huge

graciously: pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous

humane society: an organization devoted to promoting humane and kind treatment of animals

insane: not of sound mind; crazy

jubilantly: showing great joy, satisfaction, or triumph; rejoicing

precarious: uncertain, unstable, insecure

predicament: an unpleasant or difficult situation

protected species: an animal or bird kept from being damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; guarded from harm

put on a pedestal: to glorify; idealize

rumored: unverified information received from another; hearsay

scholar: a learned, well-educated person

serenaded: to entertain with vocal or instrumental music

sympathetic: feeling sympathy or compassion for others

talons: the claws of a bird of prey

unbeknownst: unknown; without one’s knowledge

venerable: commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity