The smallest and weakest animal born in a litter, often needing special care to survive

📝 The runt of the litter was much smaller than the other piglets.

📖 The pig was a runt — the smallest of the litter — and Fern's father said there was no sense in keeping it.

A situation where someone is treated unfairly or wrongly

📝 She felt a deep sense of injustice when she was blamed for something she had not done.

📖 Fern could not bear the injustice of it — the pig had done nothing wrong, yet it was to be killed.

Kindness and compassion shown to someone who might otherwise be harmed

📝 The judge showed mercy and gave the child a second chance.

📖 'Have mercy!' cried Fern. 'The pig couldn't help being born small, could it?'

Filled with delight and wonder, as if under a magic spell

📝 The children were enchanted by the puppeteer's performance.

📖 Fern was enchanted by the small creature — she carried him everywhere and fed him from a doll's nursing bottle.

Serious and dignified, without any trace of humour or lightness

📝 The teacher's voice was solemn as she announced the sad news.

📖 Mr. Arable's face was solemn as he carried the ax toward the hoghouse that cold spring morning.

Happily satisfied with one's situation; not wanting anything more

📝 The cat lay contented in the warm patch of sunlight by the window.

📖 Wilbur was warm, well-fed, and perfectly contented — he did not yet know what lay ahead.

Perfectly and completely happy; full of great joy

📝 They spent a blissful afternoon swimming in the lake without a care in the world.

📖 Those first weeks with Fern were blissful for Wilbur — he followed her everywhere and slept near the stove.

Wild with anxiety or desperation; out of control with worry or excitement

📝 She was frantic when she realised she had lost her passport at the airport.

📖 Wilbur was frantic — he ran in circles, squealing loudly, while everyone in the yard tried to catch him.

Attractive and pleasing; making you want something or feel warmth toward it

📝 The smell of warm cinnamon rolls was very appealing to the hungry children.

📖 Wilbur looked up with his appealing little eyes, and Fern's heart melted completely.

Kept as a prisoner; unable to escape or move freely

📝 The captive bird paced back and forth along the narrow perch.

📖 As a captive in the pen, Wilbur had nothing to do but eat, sleep, and wait for something to happen.

Begged urgently and earnestly; pleaded with great desperation

📝 She implored her parents to let her keep the stray kitten she had found in the rain.

📖 'Please,' implored Fern, throwing herself in front of her father. 'Give him to me.'

A person or animal that eats too much in a greedy, excessive way

📝 The dog was a glutton — he finished his bowl in seconds and immediately looked for more.

📖 Wilbur was not a glutton by nature, but he did approach his morning slop with considerable enthusiasm.