Vocabulary for To Kill a Mockingbird
Chapter 1
apothecary – a pharmacist
assuaged – eased, relieved
brethren – brothers
chattels – slaves
dictum – a rule or command
flivver – an old, cheap car
foray – a raid or attack
impotent – powerless
imprudent – bold
malevolent – evil
morbid – gruesome, horrific
nebulous – cloudy; vague
piety – religious devotion
predilection – tendency
strictures – restrictions
synonymous – meaning the same thing
taciturn – quiet
tyrannical – harsh; domineering
unsullied – clean; pure
vapid – dull
Chapter 2
condescended – lowered oneself
delegation – a group of representatives
enact – to act out
entailment – a restriction placed on estate inheritance
illicitly – illegally; secretly
impressionistic – fleeting; vague
indigenous – native
sentimentality – tenderness
sojourn – a temporary stay
uninitiated – not yet introduced to
vexations – problems; annoyances
Chapter 3
amiable – friendly
concede – to admit; yield
contemptuous – hateful
cordially – warmly
diction – the choice of words
diminutive – very small
disapprobation – disapproval
discernible – able to be observed or understood
dispensation – the act of freeing someone from a rule or obligation
erratic – irregular
expounding – discussing at length
flinty – hard; unbending
fractious – quarrelsome
fraught – filled with; loaded
furor – an uproar; commotion
iniquities – injustices
irked – bothered
judiciously – wisely, sensibly
misdemeanor – a minor offense
monosyllabic – consisting of one syllable
onslaught – an attack
persevere – to carry on
phenomenal – extraordinary; rare
populace – the general public
speculation – study, scrutiny; guesswork
Chapter 4
abominable – horrid
arbitrated – judged; decided
auspicious – promising
evasion – avoidance
melancholy – sadness, depression
quelling – overcoming
scuppernongs – grapes
sluggishly – without energy or enthusiasm
transparent – able to be seen through
unanimous – agreed upon by all
Chapter 5
aloof – distant; remote
asinine – foolish; stupid
benevolence – good will
benign – harmless
edification – illumination; instruction
hitherto – up until now
incomprehensible – incapable of being understood
inquisitive – curious
magisterial – authoritative
peril – danger
pestilence – a plague
placidly – calmly
tacit – understood but unspoken
Chapter 6
cherub – an angel
desolate – dismal, bleak
dismemberment – the pulling apart of limbs
ensuing – following
malignant – evil
pilgrimage – a journey
prowess – skill
ramshackle – broken down
solitary – sole, single
waning – dwindling
Chapter 7
ascertaining – finding out; determining
burdensome – difficult; heavy
embalming – the process of preserving a dead body
meditative – thoughtful
rendered – made
tarnished – rusty
vigil – a period of observation
Chapter 8
aberrations – changes from the norm; variations
accosted – confronted in an aggressive manner
adjacent – neighboring
caricatures – exaggerated likenesses
direst – most dreadful or alarming
heartened – encouraged; uplifted
libel – an unlawful attack on someone’s character
meteorological – relating to the weather
morphodite – a slang term for hermaphrodite, a person with both male and female
characteristics
perpetrated – committed a wrongful or illegal action
perplexity – confusion
procured – obtained
prophets – people who claim to have the ability to predict the future
treble – high; shrill
unfathomable – impossible to understand
Chapter 9
analogous – comparable
changelings – in folklore, they are children that were switched at birth by fairies
deportment – behavior
fanatical – obsessive
fluently – with ease
gallantly – courteously; graciously
gastric – stomach-related
gravitated – was drawn to
guilelessness – truthfulness; lack of deceit
hookah – a water-pipe
induce – to persuade
ingenuous – childlike
innate – inborn; natural
inordinately – excessively
invective – insulting and/or foul language
jetty – a structure that projects outward into a body of water
lineaments – features
mortify – to embarrass
obstreperous – unruly; hostile
provocation – the act of causing someone to become angry
tarried – delayed
tentatively – cautiously
trousseau – a collection of household goods and bridal clothing for marriage
uncompromising – inflexible; rigid
Chapter 10
alist – leaning to one side
articulate – able to express oneself clearly
attributes – qualities; characteristics
breastworks – a low wall constructed for defense
foliage – leaves; plants
inconspicuous – unnoticeable
jubilantly – joyfully
mausoleum – a tomb
rudiments – the basics
tartly – sharply
vehemently – passionately; forcefully
Chapter 11
acquisition – a purchase or possession
antagonized – tortured
apoplectic – in a state of great anger or excitement
bedecked – decorated
beholden – in debt
cantankerous – difficult; cranky
decreed – ordered, commanded
degeneration – collapse; decline
devoid – empty
inaudible – impossible to hear
infuriated – angered; enraged
interdict – denial of permission; prohibition
oppressive – stifling; overwhelming
palliation – the act of soothing or relieving pain
passé – out of style or use
philippic – a bitter tirade
premise – a principle or idea
propensities – tendencies; inclinations
protruded – stuck out
reconnaissance – a brief survey
rectitude – moral uprightness
tranquil – calm
umbrage – offense
undulate – to rise and fall; move in a wavelike manner
viscous – thick
wrathful – full of anger
Chapter 12
altercation – a quarrel
appalling – shocking; dreadful
artillery – guns, cannons, or other firing weapons
asafoetida – a strong-smelling spice
austere – stern
contentious – quarrelsome
denunciation – criticism; an expression of disapproval
diligently – in a serious and hardworking manner
ecclesiastical – relating to religion or church
enarmored – tough and rigid, as if wearing a suit of armor
frivolous – silly; playful
habiliments – clothes and accessories
haughty – arrogant, stuck-up
impedimenta - equipment
qualms – misgivings
tedious – tiresome; dull
Chapter 13
curtness – bluntness; harshness
dispatched – sent out
dispelled – scattered; driven away
elusive – hard to pin down
formidable – awe-inspiring; frightening
myopic – narrow-minded
obliquely – indirectly
prerogative – an exclusive right
sustain – to support or nourish
warily – cautiously
Chapter 14
bestowed – given; granted
carnal – pertaining to flesh; sexual
erosion – the wearing away or decaying of something
fortitude – strength, courage
infallible – perfect; faultless
manacles – restraints; shackles
penitentiary – a prison
pensive – thoughtful
petitioned – pleaded; requested
rankling – aggravating
resilient – flexible; tough
reverent – full of respect
Chapter 15
acquiescence – reluctant agreement; compliance
affliction – a problem or disease
aggregation – an assembled group
detractors – critics
discreet – careful to not draw attention to; low-key
encumbered – weighed down
futility – uselessness, hopelessness
impassive – expressionless
linotype – a machine used in the printing process
oblivious – unaware
ominous – menacing
privy – an outhouse
succinct – to the point
uncouth – rude; graceless
venerable – respected; admired
venue – a place for an event
Chapter 16
affluent – wealthy
akimbo – with hands on hips and elbows pointing outward
countenance – the appearance; face
eccentricities – odd traits or behaviors
elucidate – to clarify
fey – strange; eccentric
multitudes – large amounts; masses
profane – wicked; disrespectful
prominent – leading; widely known
reminiscent – reminding one (of)
sundry – various
unobtrusive – unnoticeable
vista – a view
Chapter 16
affluent – wealthy
akimbo – with hands on hips and elbows pointing outward
countenance – the appearance; face
eccentricities – odd traits or behaviors
elucidate – to clarify
fey – strange; eccentric
multitudes – large amounts; masses
profane – wicked; disrespectful
prominent – leading; widely known
reminiscent – reminding one (of)
sundry – various
unobtrusive – unnoticeable
vista – a view
Chapter 17
acrimonious – angry; hostile
ambidextrous – equally capable with each hand
bantam – a small chicken
complacently – in a smug or self-satisfied way
congenital – inborn, hereditary
convened – assembled; came together
corroborating – confirming; supporting
crepey – wrinkled
dogged – determined; strong-willed
fluctuations – changes, variations
genially – in a warm and friendly manner
pantomime – the act of expressing oneself with gestures rather than words
refuse – garbage
skewed – tilted
tenet – a principle
turbulent – violent; chaotic
Chapter 18
brash – aggressive; arrogant
browbeating – bullying; pestering
contorted – twisted out of shape
distilled – extracted the essence of
exodus – a mass exit or departure
involuntary – uncontrolled; spontaneous
lavations – washings, cleanings
mollified – soothed, calmed
neutrality – passivity; blandness
rove – to wander
serenely – calmly
stealthy – sly, sneaky
strenuous – hard; tiring
Chapter 19
candid – open, frank
ex cathedra – with the authority of one’s position
expunge – to delete
impudent – cocky; disrespectful
unimpaired – functioning properly
volition – the exercising of one’s own will
Chapter 20
aridity – dryness
caliber – the quality or ability of
contraband – smuggled goods
cynical – distrusting of human nature
distaff – the female side of a family (in this case, referring to Eleanor Roosevelt)
idealist – one who has an unrealistically positive view of something
indicted – accused, charged
industrious – hardworking
integrity – decency, reliability
iota – a bit, a very small amount
pauper – an extremely poor person
temerity – nerve
unmitigated – pure; absolute
Chapter 21
demurred – protested; objected
indignant – angry
preliminary – first, initial
relenting – giving in
remorse – guilt; deep regret
Chapter 22
colleagues – coworkers; associates
fatalistic – believing the worst
feral – wild, menacing
heathen – relating to people who do not practice an accepted religion; pagan
ruefully – sorrowfully
Chapter 23
adamant – stubborn, firm
commutes – changes; reduces
credibility – trustworthiness; reliability
furtive – sneaky
improbable – unlikely
inevitable – unavoidable
infantile – babyish
sordid – vile; distasteful
stolidly – matter-of-factly
wryly – in a dry or sarcastic manner
Chapter 24
adjourned – broke up; took a break
apprehension – anxiety
bovine – relating to cattle; cow-like
brevity – briefness; shortness
commenced – started
duress – pressure to due something against one’s will; force
humility – the state of being humble or selfless
impertinence – rudeness; disrespect
largo – a slow tempo
martyred – sacrificed for a cause
sibilant – like a hissing sound
squalid – filthy
undelectable – unpleasant; unappealing
vocation – occupation
Chapter 25
assurances – promises
demise – death
veneer – a false front
Chapter 26
allegedly – supposedly
dictatorship – a form of government in which the ruler holds absolute power
enunciated – pronounced clearly
marveled – was in awe of
mused – thought, pondered
recluse – a hermit or loner
spurious – phony; worthless
Chapter 27
annals – records
burgle – to rob
florid – flowery; fancy
nondescript – ordinary; unremarkable
notoriety – fame, usually due to a negative quality or bad behavior
purloined – stolen
Chapter 28
floundering – struggling clumsily
gait – the manner of walking
hexagonal – in the shape of a six-sided figure
incantations – spells; charms
irascible – hot-tempered
lament – an expression of grief or sadness
lichen – moss
pinioned – bound; restrained
primeval – ancient; primitive
repertoire – a list or collection
rustic – from the country; untutored
squandered – wasted
staccato – sharply disconnected; disjointed
subordinates – underlings; those lower in rank or position
untrammeled – not limited or restricted
vicinity – the surrounding area
Chapter 29
garishly – in a bright and glaring manner
perforated – punctured, pierced
reprimand – to scold
turmoil – unrest; disturbance
Chapter 30
blandly – in a mild or dull way
competent – capable
connived – plotted
eluded – escaped
intently – carefully; keenly
Chapter 31
pointedly – with emphasis
raling – rattling or abnormal sounding (specific to the lungs)
sedative – a drug that eases pain and causes sleep
shrewder – smarter; more clever