An Unforgettable Harry Potter Vocabulary Quiz

I literally couldn’t put Harry Potter down when I was reading it because the pages were full of suspense, magic, and mystery. I was transported to another world and it felt like a great escape, where the creative twists and turns literally blew me away.

To get a full sensory experience of the books, consider also listening to the audio books on audible; the American version is read by Jim Dale and The British version is read by Stephen Fry. In addition, there is a fun, quirky band called, Harry and the Potters, which plays music about the book and has brilliant lyrics that are entertaining. I also highly recommend the Philosopher’s Stone Illustrated version.

One huge Potter fan named Helen Haggerson, grew up in California reading the books, watching the movies, and listening to the audio books. She tells us all about her experience in a heart-warming interview, which you can listen to on youtube at the link below.

In this post, we’ll be looking for advanced vocabulary in context from the Harry Potter books. I’ll provide the word, the definition, the sentence in which J.K. Rowling uses it with the page number of the book that it comes from.

Rap= (verb) strike (a hard surface) with a series of rapid audible blows, especially in order to attract attention.

“Up! Get up! Now!”

Harry woke with a start. His aunt rapped on the door again. (The Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 2)

Sallow=(adjective) (of a person’s face or complexion) of an unhealthy yellow or pale brown colour.

“Professor Quirrell, in his absurd turban, was talking to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.” (The Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 7)

To Waft=(with reference to a scent, sound, etc.) pass or cause to pass gently through the air.

“On Halloween morning they woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors.” (The Philosopher’s Stone, chapter 10)

Brandish=(verb) wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

“Read it!” he hissed evily, brandishing the letter the owl had delivered. “Go on–read it!” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-Book 2, pg. 21).

haphazardly=(adverb)in a manner lacking any obvious principle of organization.

“Mrs Weasly was clattering around, cooking breakfast a little haphazardly, throwing dirty looks at her sons as she threw sausages into the frying pan.” (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-Book 2, pg. 35).

raucous=(adverb) making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise.

Harry ate breakfast each morning in the Leaky Cauldron, where he liked watching the other guests: funny little witches from the country, up for a day’s shopping; venerable-looking wizards arguing over the latest article in Transfiguration Today; wild-looking warlocks, raucous dwarfs, and, once, what looked suspiciously like a hag, who ordered a plate of raw liver from behind a thick woolen balaclava. (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, p.52)

Ominously=(adverb) in a way that suggests that something bad is going to happen.

“Uncle Vernon swelled ominously. His sense of outrage seemed to outweigh even his fear of this bunch of oddballs.” (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-Book 5, p.766)

Pompous= (adjective)believing oneself to be grand and important, conceited.

“Teachers and Percy Wesely [were] tailing him everwhere like an extremely pompous guard dog. (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban–book 3, p. 175)