Vocabulary Chapters 5-8
RL 5.4 Determine the meaning of words
and phrases as they are used in text.
Running Out of Time
flared
Jessie reached out and felt the bottom
where the pant leg flared slightly.
 Have any of you ever heard this word
before? How was it used?
 flared-to open or spread outward.


Do these jeans have a flared leg?
authentic

In Clifton no one was allowed to use the
words “okay” or “shut-up” because the
village wouldn’t be authentic.

Using context clues what do you think
authentic might mean? Have you ever
heard this word before?

authentic-not false or imitation : real,
actual.
rungs
The rungs of the ladder were mossy and
slick.
 What words in the sentence help you to
determine the meaning?
 rungs- one of the crosspieces of a ladder.

alternating
The floor of the corridor was smooth
and shiny, with a pattern of alternating
black and white squares.
 How did you determine the meaning?
 alternating- every other : every second.
 Are the squares on this
checkerboard alternating?

eternity

Determine the meaning of the following
word:

It seemed an eternity before Jessie
reached a huge room at the end of the
hall.

eternity- infinite time.
silhouette
Determine the meaning of the following
word.
 “Looking up, Jessie could see the word
LADIES on one, with a small silhouette of a
woman in a bonnet and long dress, like Ma
or any of the other women in Clifton might
wear.”
 What text clues helped you figure out the
meaning of the word?
 Silhouette- a solid, usually black, outline
drawing, especially a profile.

etched
“The silhouette was etched in a strange
hard substance, but Jessie didn’t take the
time to marvel at it.”
 What words help us decide the meaning
of the word?
 Etched- to cut or carve a drawing or
design on a surface.

This grave has etched writing on it.
preoccupied
“ She went slowly, preoccupied with
gazing in the mirror.”
 What could cause you to be preoccupied?
 Preoccupied- completely absorbed in
one’s thoughts.

Vaguely
Determine the meaning of the following
word.
 “Teenagers! The woman snorted. The
word sounded vaguely familiar to Jessie.”
 Vaguely: in a way that is uncertain,
indefinite, or unclear; slightly

reprimanded
“Any adult in Clifton would have
reprimanded the children and ordered
them to say,Yes, ma’am, promptly and
crisply.”
 When have you been reprimanded?
 Reprimanded- a severe or formal
criticism.
