to kill a mockingbird - vocab list
TRANSCRIPT
To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 1
assuage - to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses)
apothecary - one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes (pharmacist)
taciturn - temperamentally disinclined to talk
chattel - an item of tangible movable or immovable property (“human chattel” are slaves)
sullied - to make soiled or tarnished : defile
dictum - a : a formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or opinion b : an observation intended or regarded as authoritative
strictures - something that closely restrains or limits : restriction <moral strictures>
amble - to walk in a leisurely or idle manner; stroll
repertoire
vapid
predilection -
domicile
intimidation
nebulous
concession
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 2
condescend - a : to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend b : to waive the privileges of rank (to stoop to a lower level)
foray - to make a raid or brief invasion <forayed into enemy territory>; to go into a different area from what one is accustomed
transaction - an exchange or transfer of goods, services, or funds <electronic transactions>
indigenous - produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment <indigenous plants> <the indigenous culture>
secede - to withdraw from an organization (as a religious communion or political party or federation)
apprehensive - viewing the future with anxiety or alarm
cunning
illicit
entailment - to restrict (property) by limiting the inheritance to the owner's descendants (in the book, this is family-owned property which could be taken away [repossessed] by banks, due to unpaid debts)
vexation
sojourn –
subsequent
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 3
onslaught - an especially fierce attack; also : something resembling such an attack <an onslaught of changes>
irk - to make weary, irritated, or bored
cordial - a : sincerely or deeply felt <a cordial dislike for each other> b : warmly and genially affable
expound - to explain by setting forth in careful and often elaborate detail <expound a law>
erratic - a : characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity <erratic dieting> <keeps erratic hours>
iniquity - 1: gross injustice : wickedness 2: a wicked act or thing : sin
persevere - : to persist in an enterprise, or undertaking in spite of opposition or discouragement
furor
diminutive
contentious - exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes <a man of a most contentious nature>
fraught
amiable
disapprobation
auspicious
aloft
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 4
fruitless - unsuccessful <a fruitless attempt>
tyranny - a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force <living under the tyranny of the clock — Dixon Wecter>
wreak (past tense: wrought) - bring about, cause <wreak havoc>
unanimous - being of one mind : agreeing; having the agreement and consent of all
arbitrate – to settle an argument between two people or groups after hearing the opinions and ideas of both
mortifying
phenomena
melancholy
evasion
quell
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 5-6
benevolence
incomprehensible
inquisitive
asinine
edification
quibbling
prowess
dismemberment - 1: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of 2: to break up or tear into pieces <The victims' bodies had been dismembered and buried in the basement.>
malignant
pilgrimage - a journey to a holy place <He made a pilgrimage to Mecca. The tradition of pilgrimage is important in Islam>; a journey to a special or unusual place < The family went on a pilgrimage to historical battlefields>
desolate
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 7-8
delete
hone
ascertain
cleave - to adhere firmly and closely
render - a (1) : to cause to be or become : make <enough rainfall … to render irrigation unnecessary — P. E. James> <rendered him helpless>
meditative
unfathomable
aberration
perpetrate
libel - a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression
caricature - exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics < His performance in the film was a caricature of a mad scientist.>
hermaphrodite - an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs
dire
shambles
perplexity
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 9
inordinate - exceeding reasonable limits : immoderate
uncompromising
lineaments - a distinguishing or characteristic feature —usually used in plural
ingenuous
diversions
analogous
changeling - a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy
deportment - the manner in which one conducts oneself : behavior
prey -
obstreperous - marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous <obstreperous merriment>
gallant
invective
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 10
feeble
inconspicuous - not readily noticeable <She tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible so that no one would see her there.>
rudiment - a basic principle or element or a fundamental skill —usually used in plural <teaching themselves the rudiments of rational government — G. B. Galanti>
peril
articulate - expressing oneself readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate teacher>; also : expressed readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate argument>
simultaneous
jubilant
foliage
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 11
ruthless
beholden - being under obligation for a favor or gift : indebted <I'm beholden to you>
sassy
decree - an order usually having the force of law
interdict - a prohibitory decree
rectitude - moral integrity : righteousness; the quality or state of being correct in judgment or procedure
umbrage - a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult <took umbrage at the speaker's remarks>
reconnaissance
undulate – 1: to form or move in waves : fluctuate; 2: to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence
viscous
devoid
cantankerous
commence - to have or make a beginning : start <the meeting will commence soon>
tirade
propensity
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 12
altercation - a noisy heated angry dispute; also : noisy controversy <judging from all the slamming and banging, I'd say there was some sort of altercation going on next door>
fret - to become vexed or worried
diligent
frivolous - marked by unbecoming levity; lacking in seriousness
haughty - blatantly and disdainfully proud <the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu>
garish
bode - to indicate by signs : presage <her natural gift for reading boded well for her future in school>
denote - to serve as an indication of : betoken <the swollen bellies that denote starvation>
innate
denunciation (v. denounce) - to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil <they denounced him as a bigot>
austere
subdue - to bring under control especially by an exertion of the will : curb <subdued my foolish fears>
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 13
sluggish
dispel - to drive away by or as if by scattering : dissipate <She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement.>
formidable - tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive <The mountains were a formidable barrier.>
prerogative - an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege <It's a writer's prerogative to decide the fate of her characters.>
flighty - lacking stability or steadiness; easily upset or excited : volatile <a flighty temper>
discreet
oblique - not straightforward : indirect; also : obscure <gave the eavesdropper an oblique glance out of the corner of her eye>
caste - a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race <a member of the upper caste>
heredity
morbid
grubby - dirty, grimy <grubby hands>
myopic
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 14
squirm
rankle - to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness <The joke about her family rankled her.>
carnal - relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites; marked by sexuality <carnal love>
taut
manacles
infallible - incapable of error : unerring <an infallible memory>
reverent
resilient - tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change <The local economy is remarkably resilient.>
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 15
defendant - a person required to make answer in a legal action or suit (antonym: plaintiff)
placid - serenely free of interruption or disturbance <placid skies> <a placid disposition>
postponement (v. postpone) - to put off to a later time : defer
begrudge
inaudible
ominous
criterion (pl. criteria) - a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based <one criterion for grading these essays will be their conformity to the rules of traditional grammar>
venerable
acquiescence
succinct
oblivious
ramshackle - appearing ready to collapse; carelessly or loosely constructed <a ramshackle plot>
uncouth
aggregation - a group, body, or mass composed of many distinct parts or individuals
detractor – people who speak ill of a person, thing, or idea
affliction
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 16
lurch - to move with a lurch <suddenly lurched forward>; also : stagger
Prohibition - often capitalized : the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors (in the U.S., such laws were in place from 1920 to 1933)
akimbo
subpoena - a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure <received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution>
solicitor - the chief law officer of a municipality, county, or government department
multitude
controversy - a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views : dispute <The controversy is over whether he should be fired or not.>
contrive
unobtrusive
litigant - one engaged in a lawsuit
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 17
scrutiny
corroborate
fluctuation
congenital - existing at or dating from birth <congenital deafness>
acrimonious
pantomime - conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements especially in drama or dance <In the game of charades, one player uses pantomime to represent a word or phrase that the other players have to try to guess.>
ambidextrous - using both left and right hands with equal ease
glean - to gather information or material bit by bit <She gleaned her data from various studies.>
tenet - a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true; especially : one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession <the central tenets of a religion>
dogged
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 18
witness - one that gives evidence; specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal <The defense called its first witness to the stand.>
mollify - to soothe in temper or disposition, to reduce in intensity : to calm
neutrality – showing no bias or preference for either side in a conflict <The newspaper is known for its political neutrality.>
arid
sever
exodus - a mass departure : emigration <the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends>
objection - a reason or argument presented in opposition <My main objection is that some people will have to pay more than others.>
constructionist - one who interprets or construes a legal document (as the United States Constitution) in a specific way <A strict constructionist is someone who has a strict interpretation of written laws>
testimony - a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official <The jury heard 10 days of testimony from the witnesses.>
immaterial
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 19
induce
volition
predicament
unimpaired
misdemeanor - a crime less serious than a felonies (such as rape or murder); and example of a misdemeanor could be disorderly conduct or vandalism
expunge - to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion
impudent
convicted – to be found or proven guilty in a court of law
disorderly conduct (criminal charge/US legal system) - An offense involving disturbance of the public peace and decency; ex: He was charged with disorderly conduct after starting a fistfight with another customer in the supermarket.
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 20
fraud - an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick
indict - to charge with a fault or offense; criticize, accuse
subsequent
contraband - goods or merchandise whose importation, exportation, or possession is forbidden
aridity
unmitigated -
temerity - unreasonable or foolishly bold contempt of danger or opposition : recklessness
cynical
caliber - degree of excellence or importance
circumstantial evidence (legal term) - In law, evidence that is drawn not from direct observation of a fact at issue but from events or circumstances that surround it. If a witness arrives at a crime scene seconds after hearing a gunshot to find someone standing over a corpse and holding a smoking pistol, the evidence is circumstantial, since the person may merely be a bystander who picked up the weapon after the killer dropped it. The popular notion that one cannot be convicted on circumstantial evidence is false. Most criminal convictions are based, at least in part, on circumstantial evidence that sufficiently links criminal and crime.
industrious
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 21
acquit - to discharge completely (as from an obligation or accusation) <the court acquitted the prisoner>
remorse
vengeance
tacit
verdict - the finding or decision of a jury on the matter submitted to it in trial
scurry
tranquil
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 22
bleak
heave
colleague - an associate in a profession
feral - of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast
fatalistic
rueful
heathen - an uncivilized or irreligious person
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 23
credibility
grudge - a feeling of deep-seated resentment or ill will
furtive
adamant
stolid
vehement
commute (v) - to change (a penalty) to another less severe <commute a death sentence to life in prison>
capital offense (legal term) - any criminal charge which is punishable by the death penalty, called "capital" since the defendant could lose his/her head (Latin for caput). Crimes punishable by death vary from state to state and country to country.
infantile
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 24
squalid
communal
adjourn - to suspend a session indefinitely or to another time or place < The meeting adjourned at 4:00.>
apprehension
impertinence
duress
wretch
oppressed
conception - a general idea : concept
devout
sulky
replenish
bovine - having qualities (as placidity or dullness) characteristic of oxen or cows
delectable
humility
martyr
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 25
assurance
scamper
scot-free - completely free from obligation, harm, or penalty; ex: Even though he robbed the convenience store, he got off scot-free because none of the witness could identify him.
subscription - a purchase by prepayment for a certain number of issues (as of a newspaper or magazine)
obituary
miscarriage - corrupt or incompetent management; especially : a failure in the administration of justice
slaughter
demise
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 26
twinge
recluse
compel
allegedly
left to one’s own devices - to let someone do what they want without helping them or trying to control them (usually passive); ex. There are four hours of lessons each morning, and in the afternoon students are left to their own devices. Left to my own devices I wouldn't bother cooking in the evenings.
era
single out - select from a group; <She was singled out for her outstanding performance>
profound
spurious - of a deceitful nature or quality <spurious excuses>
feeble-minded
persecute
muse (v) - to become absorbed in thought; especially : to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 27
annals - historical records : chronicles
savor
hole up - to hide somewhere; ex: The police are looking for me. I need somewhere to hole up. The outlaw holed up in a cave.
metaphor – a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language
florid
nondescript - lacking distinctive or interesting qualities : dull, drab
assault
harbor (v) - to hold especially persistently in the mind <harbored a grudge>
utmost
stealthy
purloin
“somebody just walked over my grave” (expression) – a sudden chill or shivering, possibly caused by nervousness. In this story, it seems to express Alexandra’s concern, but also her intuition that something bad might happen
apprehension
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 28
gait
frenzied
enterprise - a systematic purposeful activity <agriculture is the main economic enterprise among these people>
rustic
ascertain
subordinates - placed in or occupying a lower class, rank, or position : inferior <a subordinate officer>
floundering
pinion - to disable or restrain by binding the arms
staccato - marked by short clear-cut playing or singing of tones or chords <a staccato style>
untrammeled - to remove a band from : free from fastenings
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 29
turmoil
crushed to a pulp – Beaten until made into soft moist shapeless mass of matter.
perforated
pester
tussle
reprimand
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 30
astound
clear-cut - free from ambiguity or uncertainty <a clear–cut decision>
elude
connive
blunt
deceased
bide one’s time - to wait patiently; ex. I've been biding my time for years, just waiting for a chance like this. He's not the type just to sit there and bide his time.
audible
limelight - the center of public attention
disengage
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Chapter 31
sedative
accommodate
trudge
acquiescence
shrewd
The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test
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