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"Of Mice and Men" - Vocabulary List : Vocabulary.com
VOCABULARY LISTS
"Of Mice and Men"
October 21, 2012 By Vocabulary.com (NY)
Here are 100 key words for understanding John Steinbeck’s 1937 tragic novel "Of Mice and Men" -set during the Great Depression in California.
juncture
the shape or manner in which things come together
On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes
curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains,
but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—
willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in
their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s
ooding; and sycamores with mottled, white,
recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the
pool.
debris
the remains of something that has been destroyed
On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes
curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains,
but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—
willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in
their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s
ooding; and sycamores with mottled, white,
recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the
pool.
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mottled
having spots or patches of color
On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes
curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains,
but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—
willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in
their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s
ooding; and sycamores with mottled, white,
recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the
pool.
recumbent
lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes
curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains,
but on the valley side the water is lined with trees—
willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in
their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s
ooding; and sycamores with mottled, white,
recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the
pool.
tramp
a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk
There is a path through the willows and among the
sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming
down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool,
and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down
from the highway in the evening to jungle-up near
water.
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emerge
come out into view, as from concealment
For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two
men emerged from the path and came into the
opening by the green pool.
companion
a friend who is frequently with another
His huge companion dropped his blankets and
ung himself down and drank from the surface of
the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into
the water like a horse.
embrace
the state of taking in or encircling
Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from
the river, drew up his knees and embraced them.
despair
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
He looked down at the ground in despair.
drone
talk in a monotonous voice
Lennie droned to himself softly, “I ain’t gonna say
nothin’ .
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current
a steady ow of a uid or gas
The reeds jerked slightly in the current.
lumber
move heavily or clumsily
Lennie lumbered to his feet and disappeared in the
brush.
brusquely
in a blunt direct manner
“Awright,” he said brusquely.
elaborate
marked by complexity and richness of detail
But Lennie made an elaborate pantomime of
innocence.
pantomime
a performance using gestures and movements without words
But Lennie made an elaborate pantomime of
innocence.
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contemplate
consider as a possibility
Lennie hesitated, backed away, looked wildly at the
brush line as though he contemplated running for
his freedom.
quiver
shake with fast, tremulous movements
Lennie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes.
sco
laugh at with contempt and derision
George sco ed.
mimic
imitate, especially for satirical e ect
He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when
they are mimicking one another.
anguish
extreme distress of body or mind
He looked across the re at Lennie’s anguished face,
and then he looked ashamedly at the ames.
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bait
lure, entice, or entrap
Lennie avoided the bait.
plead
appeal or request earnestly
Lennie pleaded, “Come on, George.
gesture
show, express, or direct through movement
George gestured with his spoon.
glimmer
a ash of light
They made their beds on the sand, and as the blaze
dropped from the re the sphere of light grew
smaller; the curling branches disappeared and only a
faint glimmer showed where the tree trunks were.
occupant
someone who lives at a particular place for a long period
Over each bunk there was nailed an apple box with
the opening forward so that it made two shelves for
the personal belongings of the occupant of the
bunk.
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vial
a small bottle that contains a drug
And there were medicines on the shelves, and little
vials, combs; and from nails on the box sides, a few
neckties.
laden
lled with a great quantity
At about ten o’clock in the morning the sun threw a
bright dust- laden bar through one of the side
windows, and in and out of the beam ies shot like
rushing stars.
indicate
designate a place, direction, person, or thing
“You can have them two beds there,” he said,
indicating two bunks near the stove.
scourge
something causing misery or death
“Says ‘positively kills lice, roaches and other
scourges.’
relish
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
He paused in relish of the memory.
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deliberately
in a careful unhurried manner
The boss deliberately put the little book in his
pocket.
promptly
with little or no delay
“Job was done,” said George promptly.
abruptly
quickly and without warning
He turned abruptly and went to the door, but before
he went out he turned and looked for a long moment
at the two men.
peer
look searchingly
He stopped suddenly, stepped to the open front door
and peered out.
reassure
cause to feel con dent
But he was reassured by the swamper’s defense.
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bristle
a sti hair
He stood his broom against the wall and he rubbed
his white bristled cheek with his knuckles.
calculate
predict in advance
His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.
pugnacious
ready and able to resort to force or violence
His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.
gingerly
with extreme care or delicacy
Curley stepped gingerly close to him.
slough
cast o hair, skin, horn, or feathers
He’d slough me.
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derogatory
expressive of low opinion
He had drawn a derogatory statement from ...
basin
a bowl-shaped vessel used for holding food or liquids
“I gotta be settin’ out the wash basins for the guys.
tangle
disarrange or rumple
“If he tangles with you, Lennie, we’re gonna get the
*slang for ght (v. "If he ghts with you Lennie..."
can.
decisive
characterized by resoluteness and rmness
His tone grew decisive.
contorted
twisted, especially as in pain or struggle
His face contorted with thought.
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rouge
redden by applying makeup to
She had full, rouged lips and wide- spaced eyes,
heavily made up.
cluster
a grouping of a number of similar things
Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages.
brittle
lacking warmth and generosity of spirit
Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality.
apprehensive
in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
She was suddenly apprehensive.
disengage
release from something that holds fast or entangles
Lennie tried to disengage his ear.
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gravity
a manner that is serious and solemn
There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so
profound that all talk stopped when he spoke.
profound
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so
profound that all talk stopped when he spoke.
authority
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
His authority was so great that his word was taken
on any subject, be it politics or love.
complacently
in a self-satis ed manner
Lennie, who had been following the conversation
back and forth with his eyes, smiled complacently
at the compliment.
compliment
a remark expressing praise and admiration
Lennie, who had been following the conversation
back and forth with his eyes, smiled complacently at
the compliment.
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douse
wet thoroughly
His head still dripped water from the scrubbing and
dousing.
precede
be earlier in time
Carlson stepped back to let Slim precede him, and
then the two of them went
out the door.
derision
the act of treating with contempt
Through the open door came the thuds and
occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now
and then the sound of voices raised in approval or
derision.
nuisance
a bothersome annoying person
“’Course Lennie’s a God damn nuisance most of the
time,” said George.
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stride
a step in walking or running
He walked over with his heavy-legged stride and
looked down at the dog.
subdued
quieted and brought under control
Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked
down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the
other, and held it down.
deliberate
carefully thought out in advance
George laid out his deliberate solitaire hand—
seven cards, and six on top, and ve on top of those.
creep
move slowly
Lennie crept to his bunk and sat down, trying not to
attract attention.
chamber
a natural or arti cial enclosed space
He laid them on his bed and then brought out the
*the chamber of a gun is where the bullet is held right
pistol, took out the magazine and snapped the
before it is red.
loaded shell from the chamber.
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rapt
feeling great delight and interest
He looked raptly at the wall over Lennie’s head.
subside
wear o or die down
He subsided, grumbling to himself, threatening the
future cats which might dare to disturb the future
rabbits.
bemused
deeply absorbed in thought
They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the
thing, each mind was popped into the future when
this lovely thing should come about.
retreat
the act of withdrawing or going backward
Lennie looked helplessly at George, and then he got
up and tried to retreat.
poised
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
Curley was balanced and poised.
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cower
crouch or curl up
He crouched cowering against the wall.
accumulate
get or gather together
And scattered about the oor were a number of
personal possessions; for, being alone, Crooks could
leave his things about, and being a stable buck and a
cripple, he was more permanent than the other men,
and he had accumulated more possessions than he
could carry on his back.
civil
of or relating to or be tting citizens as individuals
And he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a
mauled copy of the California civil code for 1905.
aloof
remote in manner
This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was
*emotionally distant; removed.
a proud, aloof man.
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meager
de cient in amount or quality or extent
In the stable buck’s room a small electric globe threw
a meager yellow light.
fawning
attempting to win favor by attery
Lennie gulped and his smile grew more fawning.
persuasive
intended or having the power to induce action or belief
His voice grew soft and persuasive.
apprehension
fearful expectation or anticipation
Lennie’s face wrinkled with apprehension.
scornful
expressing extreme contempt
Crooks was scornful.
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conceal
prevent from being seen or discovered
It was di cult for Crooks to conceal his pleasure
with anger.
indignation
a feeling of righteous anger
She was breathless with indignation.
retire
withdraw from active participation
Crooks had retired into the terrible protective dignity
of the Negro.
scorn
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
She turned on him in scorn.
ego
an in ated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
There was no personality, no ego— nothing to
arouse either like or dislike.
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avert
turn away or aside
For a moment she stood over him as though waiting
for him to move so that she could whip at him again;
but Crooks sat perfectly still, his eyes averted,
everything that might be hurt drawn in.
appraise
consider in a comprehensive way
She appraised him coolly.
crestfallen
brought low in spirit
Candy was crestfallen.
jeer
laugh at with contempt and derision
From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the
playing peg and the shouts of men, playing,
encouraging, jeering.
woe
misery resulting from a iction
Then all of Lennie’s woe came back on him.
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console
give moral or emotional strength to
She consoled him.
writhe
move in a twisting or contorted motion
Her feet battered on the hay and she writhed to be
free; and from under Lennie’s hand came a mu ed
screaming.
cringe
draw back, as with fear, pain, or embarrassment
She whimpered and cringed to the packing box, and
jumped in among the puppies.
hover
hang, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
As happens sometimes, a moment settled and
hovered and remained for much more than a
moment.
retort
answer back
Now Lennie retorted belligerently, “He ain’t neither.
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monotonous
sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis.
advance
move forward
He advanced a step into the room, then
remembered and backed to the door again.
con de
reveal in private
And because she had con ded in him, she moved
closer to Lennie and sat beside him.
bewildered
perplexed by many con icting situations or statements
For a moment he seemed bewildered.
discontent
a longing for something better than the present situation
And the meanness and the plannings and the
discontent and the ache for attention were all gone
from her face.
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snivel
cry or whine with snu ing
He sniveled, and his voice shook.
coarse
rough to the touch
“Some people got kinda coarse hair,” she said
complacently.
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