Word #1

Sarcophagus  Page 44  Paragraph 3

Sentence in which the word appears:
        "Claudia hid her violin case in a sarcophagus that had no lid."

Definition:
        A stone coffin many times decorated with a sculpture.

What does this word have to do with the story?
        This word describes the place in which Claudia hid her violin case within the museum.  She was hiding her case here so that no one would see it and find out that they had been living inside the museum.

Word #2

Acquisition  Page 58  Paragraph 2

Sentence in which the word appears:
            "Interest in the marble piece arises from the unusual circumstances attending its acquisition by the museum and from the belief that it may be the work of the Italian Renaissance master, Michelangelo."

Definition:
            The act of gaining something.

What does this word add to the story?
            This word explains the museum's gaining of Michelangelo's sculpture, "Angel."  This word is used to describe to Claudia and Jamie that from the arrival of the sculpture to the museum, the sculpture (as they believe) may have actually been sculpted by Michelangelo himself.

Word #3

Amassed   Page 60   Paragraph 1

Sentence in which the word appears:
            "Mr. Frankweiler amassed a fortune from the corn oil industry and from developing many corn products."

Definition:
            To accumulate a large quantity of something.

What does this word add to the story?
            This word demonstrates how over time Mr. Frankweiler accumulated (or gained) a lot of money from the corn oil industry .  Also, this word shows that it was a great deal of money that he accumulated.