To Kill a Mockingbird
Vocabulary
Chapter 1
ambled - went at a slow, easy pace; strolled; sauntered
assuaged - made less intense; satisfied
beadle - messenger from an authority; warrant officer
dictum - authoritative, often formal statement of opinion; rule
flivver - automobile, esp. one that is small, inexpensive, and old
foray - quick, sudden attack
impudent - not showing due respect for another person; rude behavior
malevolent - wishing evil to others
predilection - tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference
repertoire - the body of pieces known or regularly performed by a performer or company
unsullied - not soiled, stained, or tarnished
Chapter 2
condescended - doing something despite regarding it as below one's dignity
covey - group, set, or company
entailment - restrictions placed on an estate inheritance
illicitly - without permission; breaking laws, rules, or customs
indigenous - originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native
mortification - feeling embarrassed or humiliated
pronouncements - authoritative statement
seceded - withdrew formally from an alliance, federation, or association
sojourn - temporary stay
wallowing - indulging without restraint
Chapter 3
amiable - friendly and pleasant in manner
contemptuous - feeling or showing that a person or thing is low or worthless
contentious - causing or likely to cause an argument, disagreement, or controversy
diction - choice and use of words in speech or writing; style of enunciation in speaking or singing
diminutive - small; little; tiny
disapprobation - strong disapproval
dispensation - exemption from a rule or usual requirement; doing away with
expounding - explaining
fractious - easily irritated; difficult to control
fraught - filled with; causing or affected by anxiety or stress
iniquities - injustice or immoral behavior
monosyllabic - very brief; terse or blunt, usually characterized by one-syllable words
onslaught - fierce or destructive attack
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Marqarel Orr (order #2429357)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Vocabulary
page 2
Chapter 4
abominable - hateful; detestable; loathsome
arbitrated - decided between opposing or contending parties or sides
auspicious - promising success; favorable
palette - range of colors
parched - made extremely, excessively, or completely dry, as heat, sun, and wind do
phenomena - an unusual or unaccountable fact or occurrence
quelling - suppressing; putting an end to
scuppernongs - a cultivated variety of grapes with sweet yellowish fruit
Chapter 5
asinine - foolish, unintelligent, or silly; stupid
benevolence - desire to do good to others
benign - harmless
cordiality - warmth, friendliness, geniality, heartiness
edification - intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement;
incomprehensible - not able to be understood
magisterial - very authoritative
placidly - in a calm or peaceful manner
tacit - understood or implied without being stated
enlightenment
Chapter 6
dismemberment - the act of dividing into parts; cutting to pieces; mutilating
ensuing - happening or occurring afterwards or as a result
kudzu - fast-growing Chinese and Japanese climbing vine
malignant - very dangerous or harmful in influence or effect
prowess - exceptional or superior ability, skill, or strength
ramshackle - in a state of severe disrepair
waning - decreasing in strength, intensity; drawing to a close
Chapter 7
ascertaining - finding out for certain
cleaved - adhered to or followed closely; stuck; clung
palate - roof of the mouth
perpetual - never ending or changing
rendered - caused to be or become; made
vigil - a period of staying awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch
or pray
Chapter 8
aberrations - actions departing from the right, normal, or usual course
accosted - approached and addressed boldly or aggressively
caricatures - pictures or descriptions exaggerating the characteristics of persons or things
libel - written or printed statement that unjustly damages a person's reputation
morphodite - person or thing in which two opposite qualities are combined
perpetrated - committed
procured - obtained
unfathomable - incapable of being fully explored or understood
63 Copyright 2010 BMI Educational Services, Inc.
Marqaret Orr (order #2429857)
To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary page 3
Chapter 9
analogous - comparable in certain respects
deportment - demeanor; conduct; behavior
doused - drenched with liquid; extinguished
indicative - serving as a sign or indication
innate - inborn; natural
invective - strongly abusive or critical language
lineaments - distinctive outline or feature
nocturnal - pertaining to the night
Obstreperous - noisy and difficult to control
provocation - act of provoking; incitement
Chapter 10
articulate - to utter clearly and distinctly; pronounce with clarity
attributes - qualities; characteristics
contemporaries - people of roughly the same age
inconspicuous - not clearly visible or attracting attention
mausoleum - building housing a tomb or tombs
rudiments - the elements or first principles of a subject
Chapter 11
apoplectic - extremely angry; furious
degradation - humiliation; disgrace; dishonor
devoid - entirely lacking; empty
interdict - any prohibitory act or decree of a court or an administrative
philippic - a bitter verbal attack or denunciation
propensities - inclinations or tendencies
reconnaissance - an inspection or exploration of an area
rectitude - morally correct behavior
officer
Chapter 12
altercation - a noisy argument or disagreement
austere - grave; sober; solemn; serious
clad - dressed or covered
denunciation - the act or instance of denouncing; public censure or condemnation
doctrine - set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a church, political party, or other group
ecclesiastical - relating to the Christian Church or its clergy
rotogravure - process by which pictures are printed
64 Copyright 2010 BMI Educational Services, Inc.
Marqarcl Orr (order #2429857)