To kill a mockingbird – vocabulary terms

Vocabulary, allusions & idioms in TKAM: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Belmont_HS/tkm/

Part I: Chapters 1-11

Ch. 1-2: 1. assuaged p3 - verb-To make (something burdensome or painful) less intense or severe: assuage her grief. synonym: relieve 2. apothecary p3 -noun- a pharmacist 3. chattels p4- noun-slaves 4. taciturn p4-adj-untalkative; quiet 5. dictum p4-noun- An authoritative, often formal pronouncement; law 6. strictures p4-noun- criticism OR limit/restriction 7. unsullied p4-adj- not dirtied or soiled 8. ambled p5-verb- strolled; walked leisurely 9. dispatched p5-verb-sent away 10. detachment p6-noun- Indifference to or remoteness from the concerns of others; aloofness

11. malevolent p8-adj-evil; wishing harm to others 12. repertoire p8-noun-The list of songs, plays, operas, readings, or other pieces that a player or company is prepared to perform 13. vapid p8-adj-dull; empty 14. predilection p9-noun- personal preference 15. domiciled p10-verb- lived (as in resided in) 16. flivver p10-noun- an old car 17. nebulous p11-adj- cloudy 18. concession p14-noun-the act of compromising, often grudgingly (unwillingly) 19. foray p15-noun-an adventure; attempt to explore something unfamiliar 20. indigenous p16-adj-Originating and living or occurring naturally in an area or environment 21. cunning p16-adj- deceptive; shrewd 22. wallowing-p17-indulging excessively 23. illicitly p 17-adv- unlawfully 24. mortification p21-noun- extreme shame; humiliation 25. covey-n-group 26. vexations p21-noun- annoyances; irritations 27. alleged-adj- asserted with no proof; supposed 28. piety-noun-religious devotion 29. impotent-adj- lacking power, strength or vigor 30. tyrannical-adj- authoritative in a way that tries to eliminate others’ freedoms 31. entity-noun-Something that exists as a particular and discrete/separate unit 32. quaint-adj-Charmingly odd, especially in an old-fashioned way 33. profane-adj-Vulgar; coarse

Ch. 3-5: 1. expounding-v-describing and explaining in detail 2. dispensation p23-indulgence; allowance; special consideration 3. iniquities p25-noun-injustices; immoralities 4. flinty p25-adj-pitiless; cold 5. contemptuous p27-adj-scornful; despising; disdainful 6. contentious-adj-belligernet; argumentative 7. condescension p27- behavior that implies that somebody is graciously lowering himself or herself to the level of people less important or intelligent 8. diminutive p27- small 9. fractious p29-adj-tending to be troublesome, quarrelsome, or irritable 10. gravely-adv-seriously 11. irked-v-annoyed 12. amiable p29-adj; friendly 13. persevere-v-to carry on in spite of difficulty 14. disapprobation p 31-n- the act or state of being disapproved; condemnation 15. discernable-adj-understandable 16. erratic-adj-irregular 17. auspicious p32-adj-favorable; promising; lucky 18. ethical p35-adj-moral; principled; fair 19. arbitrated p37 -v- decided; determined 20. benevolence p43n-kindness 21. aloof-adj-detached 22. asinine p49-adj-ridiculous; idiotic 23. edification p49 –n-teaching; instruction 24. gape-v-to stare at (with your mouth open) 25. quibbling p49-n-being fussy; hair-splitting-arguing and avoiding the point but bringing up petty details

Ch. 6-8: 1. ensuing-adj-something that comes immediately after something else 2. prowess p51-n-skill; competencey 3. malignant p55 -adj- hateful; evil 4. honed p60-v-sharpened 5. waning-adj-becoming less bright, intense or strong 6. ascertaining p61-v-making certain; discovering; determining 7. unfathomable p63-adj-unable to be measured, understood or believed 8. aberrations p63- n-a deviation from something that is normal or desirable 9. cordial-adj- warm; friendly 10. obliged-v-forced to do something out of a feeling of debt or duty 11. cleaved-v-stuck 12. rendered speechless-made unable to speak 13. perpetrated p67-v- carried out; committed (as in, one who perpetrates is responsible for that action)

14. perplexity p73 -n-confusion; bewilderment 15. ramshackle-ch6-adj-appearing ready to collapse 16. desolate-ch6-adj-devoid of inhabitants or visitors; barren; empty 17. procured-v-got; acquired 18. plaited-v-braided 19. quell-v-to put an end to something; to suppress it

* FYI-hermaphrodite “morphodite” p68-n- an animal or plant that has both female and male reproductive organs Ch. 9-11: 1. analogous-adj-similar; comparable 2. inordinately p76-adj-excessively 3. lineaments p77-n-distinctive features or characteristics 4. ingenuous p77-adj-seeming honest or innocent 5. analogous p77-adj-similar; comparable 6. bawled-v-cried out noisily 7. wary-adj-cautious 8. guile-n-cunning and deceit 9. provocation p79-n- the cause of some sort of feeling, usually anger 10. trousseau-n-all the new clothes a bride brings to her marriage 11. compensate-verb-to make up for something; to pay for something 12. constituted-v-made up the whole or part of something-ch9 13. deportment-n-behavior-ch9 14. donned-v-put on-ch9 15. douse-v- to pour liquid all over someone/thing-ch9 16. evasion-n- avoidance-ch9 17. harbored-v-kept something in possession 18. indicative-adj-suggesting the existence of something 19. innate-adj-present from birth; integral 20. inordinately-adv-excessively 21. tentatively-adv-hesitantly; unsure 22. subdued-v-sofened; made less intense 23. obstreperous p85-adj; noisy and unruly 24. gallantly-adv-politely; in the manner of a gentleman-ch9 25. invective p87-n-curse word; abusive term; insult 26. contemporaries p89-n-age group; peers 27. rudiments p90-n-principles; elements; subjects to be learned 28. tartly p90-adj-sharply 29. mausoleum p90-n-a tomb 30. providence-n-the care of God 31. articulate p97-adj- able to speak and express oneself 32. apoplectic p100-adj-behavior indicating being on the verge of having a stroke 33. umbrage p102-n-offense (a person takes umbrage) 34. commence-v-begin 35. decreed-v-ordered 36. rectitude p102-n-uprightness of character 37. interdict p102-n-prohibition; restraint 38. livid-adj-furious (often red-faced fury) 39. premise-n-basis 40. melancholy-n-sadness 41. passe-adj-old fashioned 42. palliation p103-n-a lessening of pain, fear or anxiety 43. reconnaissance p105-n-examination or exploration to gather information (often associated with the military) 44. undulate p107-v-to move in waves or in a wavy manner 45. propensity p108-n-inclination; tendency 46. tirade-n-a long angry speech 47. viscous-adj-sticky 48. skulked-v- to move or slink about in a sinister manner 49. cantankerous p111-adj- crabby; irritable Part II: Chapters 12-31

Ch. 12-14: (4 words) 1. clad-v-dressed 2. altercation p115 3. appalling-adj-shocking; horrifying 4. contentious-adj-always ready to argue 5. curtness-n-briefness; abruptness 6. devoid-adj-completely without 7. tactful-adj-without offense or rudeness; proper 8. boded-v-continued 9. rotogravure p120 10. decree p121 11. amanuensis p129 12. infallible-adj-never wrong

Chapters 15-16 1. criteria p147 2. succinct p151 3. futility-n-uselessness 4. stifle-v-hold back; suppress 5. succinct-adj-clear and brief 6. acquiencence p152 7. uncouth p154 8. venerable-adj-impressive on account of age or history 9. aggregation p 154 10. impassive p154 11. encumber 155 12. subpoena p 160 13. elucidate p160 14. formidable 15. unobtrusive p 163 16. connivance p165

Chapters 17-18 1. amiably p169 2. corroborating p169 3. turbulent p169 4. corrugated p170 5. gleaning p170 6. acrimonious p171- adj-sarcastic; bitter and nasty 7. benignly p172 8. dictum p173 9. smugly p173 10. tenet p177 11. complacently p177 12. ambidextrous p178 13. mollified p180 14. exodus p189 15. arid 16. tedious Chapters 19-23 1. expunge (vb.): remove completely 2. grimly (adv.): sternly; without humor 3. impudent (adj.): disrespectful; bold; sassy 4. subtlety (n.): delicacy 5. volition-n-ability to choose; the act of exercising your will 6. discreet (adj.): carefully phrased; cautious 7. indicted (v.): formally accused; charged 8. temerity (n.): foolish or rash boldness 9. unmitigated (adj.): out-and-out absolute 10. acquit (v.): clear of a charge; find not guilty 11. indignant (adj.): angry 12. feral (adj.): wild; savage 13. ruefully (adv.): regretfully 14. furtive (adj.): sneaky 15. vehement (adj.): full of emotion and strong feeling 16. wary (adj.): cautious 17. wryly (adv.): humorously; slightly sarcastic

Chapters 24-31 1. brevity (n.): shortness; briefness 2. impertinence (n.): disrespect 3. squalid (adj.): miserable; wretched 4. squalor (n): filth 5. veneer (n.): attractive outer surface 6. recluse (n.): someone who stays away from society and the company of others 7. industry (n.): work, especially on a steady basis 8. notoriety (n.): fame 9. furtive (adj.): secret 10. gait (n.): pace, walk 11. irascible (adj.): angry 12. pinioned (adj.): confined; held down 13. staccato (adj.): distinct; sharp and crisp 14. railing (adj.): painful