To Kill a
Mockingbird
Vocabulary
Chapters 1 & 2
• I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.
• I can use context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Mindful of John Wesley’s
s on the use of many words in buying and selling, Simon made a pile practicing medicine…
Stricture – a remark or comment, especially an adverse criticism: The reviewer made several strictures upon the author's style.

All we had was Simon Finch, a furtrapping
from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess.
- Noun- A druggist; a pharmacist

So Simon, having forgotten his teacher’s dictum on the possession of human chattels , bought three slaves and with their aid established a homestead…
Dictim - noun- an authoritative pronouncement; judicial assertion. 2. a saying
Chattels – noun- movable articles of personal property.
2. any article of tangible property other than land, buildings, and other things annexed to land.

…she married a taciturn man who spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river wondering if his trot-lines were full.
Taciturn – adj.inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.

Malevolent - adj.- wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; illdisposed; malicious

The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, kept to themselves, a predilection unforgiveable in
Macomb. (p. 11)
Predilection - a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference

Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom….When people’s azaleas froze in a cold snap, it was because he breathed on them. (p. 10)
Malevolent - adj.wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious

Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us, not waiting to see if his foray was successful. (p. 18)
Foray - noun- a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder: Vikings made
a foray on the port. 2. a quick, sudden attack

I am from North Alabama, from Winston County.”
The class murmured apprehensively, should she prove to harbor her share of the peculiarities
indigenous to that region.
Indigenous- adj.originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native .
Usually followed by to (indigenous to
Florida).

After a dreary conversation in our living room one night about his entailment , before Mr.
Cunningham left he said, “ Mr. Finch, I don’t know when I’ll ever be able to pay you. (p. 27)
Entailment - nounsomething involved as a necessary part or consequence of something

Entailment was only a part of Mr. Cunningham’s vexations . The acres not entailed were mortgaged to the hilt, and the little cash he made went to interest. (p. 27)
Vexations - noun- the act of irritating, annoying or provoking (Rush hour traffic is a daily vexation.)

Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teamed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies. (p. 10)
Eccentric - adj.deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, norm, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd

To Kill a
Mockingbird
Vocabulary
• Review your words at home every night.
• Use flash cards to help you remember.