Mr. Vogelsinger
Academic and Advanced English 9
1. assuage (verb)
Name_________________________
To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List
Synonyms: calm, mitigate, allay
Definition: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; to soothe or calm; to appease
TKAM: “When it healed, and Jem’s fears about never being able to play football again were assuaged, he
was seldom self-conscious about his injury” (1).
The mother’s voice assuaged the sobbing infant, and finally he began to snooze.
Your Sentence:
2. allege (verb)
Synonyms: state, tell, testify
Definition: to state without proof; to declare before a court
TKAM: “The Haverfords had dispatched Maycomb’s leading blacksmith in a misunderstanding arising from
the alleged wrongful detention of a mare” (5).
The prosecutors alleged that the defendant was guilty of assault and battery.
3. compel (verb)
Synonyms: to make or force
Definition: to force or drive, especially to a course of action
TKAM: “Now that I was compelled to think about it, reading was something that just came to me” (17).
The teacher compelled the students to write an apology note over their lunch period.
4. quell (verb)
Synonyms: subdue, allay
Definition: to suppress; put an end to; to extinguish
TKAM: “Through all the head-shaking, quelling of nausea, and Jem-yelling, I heard another sound, so low I
could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing” (41).
He tried to quell his nervousness before approaching the stage for his speech.
5. quibble (verb)
Synonyms: certain, correct
Definition: to argue over trivial matters
TKAM: “Jem decided there was no point in quibbling and was silent” (187).
The friends quibbled over seating at the lunch table.
6. rudiments (noun)
ROO duh ment
Synonyms: basics, essentials
Definition: the elementary stages of any subject
TKAM: “When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the
rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns” (Lee 119).
Because he was not good at the rudiments of English, he had difficulty writing his English paper.
7. articulate (adjective)
are TIK yuh late
Synonyms: comprehensible, eloquent
Definition: able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively
TKAM: “Jem became vaguely articulate: ‘d you see him, Scout?’” (129).
An announcer must be articulate. A good politician must be able to articulate his views.
8. melancholy (adjective)
MEL un kol ee
Synonyms: gloomy, somber
Definition: a feeling of sadness and of being without hope
TKAM: “If [Mrs. Dubose] was on the porch when we passes, we would be rakes by her wrathful gaze,
subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we
would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing” (132).
After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy.
9. obstreperous (adjective)
Synonyms: rude
Definition: resisting control or restraint; noisy, unruly and boisterous
TKAM: “Such conduct as yours requires little understanding. It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive”
(85).
My neighbor’s obstreperous dog barks for hours.
10. rectitude (noun)
REK teh tood
Synonyms: honesty, integrity
Definition: a very moral and correct way of acting.
TKAM: “In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what made him break the bonds
of ‘You just be a gentleman, son,’ and the phase of self-conscious rectitude he had recently entered” (136).
When the preacher’s rectitude was questioned, many left his congregation.
11. tranquil (adjective)
TRANG kwul
Synonyms: gentle, mild
Definition: Calm, still, and quiet
TKAM: “[. . .] [Atticus] had a naturally tranquil disposition and a slow fuse” (136).
I enjoy vacationing at our beach house because the surroundings are tranquil, and I can relax.
12. protrude (verb)
pro TROOD
Synonyms: extend, project
Definition: to be farther forward than the rest of something
TKAM: “[Mrs. Dubose’s] bottom plate [of teeth] was not in, and her upper lip protruded. . .” (142).
A large protrusion on his head was the result of being hit by a car.
13. propensity (noun)
pruh PEN si tee
Synonyms: predisposition, tendency
Definition: a natural tendency to behave in a particular way
TKAM: “Mrs. Dubose would hound Jem for a while of her favorite subjects, her camellias and our father’s
propensities” (144).
I have a propensity for staying up late and sleeping late.
14. frivolous (adjective)
FRIV uh lus
Synonyms: childish, foolish
Definition: behaving in a silly way in situations where you should be behaving in a serious or sensible w
TKAM: “[The cartoon] showed Atticus barefooted and in short pants, chained to a desk; he was diligently
writing on a slate while some frivolous- looking girls yelled, ‘Yoo-hoo!” at him” (155).
A teacher should limit frivolous behavior in the classroom.
15. propel (verb)
pro PEL
Synonyms: launch, impel
Definition: to move or push someone or something forward
TKAM: “I wanted to stay and explore, but Calpurnia propelled me up the aisle ahead of her” (163).
Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job.
16. formidable (adjective)
FORE meh duh bul
Synonyms: intimidating, menancing
Definition: very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore deserving respect and often difficult to deal
with
TKAM: “[The corset] managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra’s was once an hour-glass figure. From any
angle, it was formidable” (171).
The retired boxer Mohammad Ali was a formidable opponent in his time.
Your Sentence:
17. oblique
uh BLEEK
Synonyms: at an angle
Definition: not expressing something directly
TKAM: “[. . .] but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had
been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was” (173).
Because of the suspect’s oblique answers, our interrogation of him led us in the wrong direction.
18. edification (noun)
ED uh fie ing
Synonyms: guidance, enhancement
Definition: uplifting enlightenment
TKAM: “Still, everything he read he passes along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he
thought I’d like it; now, for my edification and instruction” (184).
Visiting the cathedral was an edifying experience.
19. reverent (adjective)
reh VER ent
Synonyms: appreciative, polite
Definition: feeling or expressing a great deal of admiration and respect
TKAM: “Jem raised the broom and missed Dill’s head by an inch when it appeared. ‘God Almighty,’ Jem’s
voice was reverent” (186).
Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope.
20. infallible (adjective)
in FAL uh bul
Synonyms: certain, correct
Definition: not capable of making mistakes
TKAM: “[Dill] traveled with the show all over Mississippi until his infallible sense of direction told him he
was in Abbott County, Alabama. . .” (187).
Since everyone makes mistakes, no human is infallible. Many people feel that God is infallible.