RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Vocabulary Chapters 17 - 20
ATROCIOUS
 Determine the meaning of the word in the following sentence
 “But this is atrocious,” Mr. Neely continued. “Simply atrocious,
if you’re right. Are you sure it’s diphtheria? Are you sure there is no
medicine?
 Atrocious – extremely or shockingly
wicked, cruel, or brutal.
HOOLIGANS
 Read the following sentence, use context clues to determine the
meaning.
 “They sound like ordinary hooligans. Has anyone else tried to
stop you?”
 Hooligans – a young person that displays
inappropriate behavior; thug.
THRUMMED
 Read the following sentence:
 “Another turn, and different music thrummed out, loud and raucous. Mr.
Neely switched back to the flowing fiddles.”
What do you think THRUMMED means?
How do you know?
Thrummed – to play a string instrument,
as a guitar, by plucking the strings.
RAUCOUS
 In the following sentence, determine the meaning of the word
raucous:
 “Another turn, and different music thrummed out, loud and
raucous. Mr. Neely switched back to the flowing fiddles.”
 Have your ever heard this word before?
 Raucous –harsh, rowdy, or wild
STIFLE
 Determine the meaning of the word STIFLE by using context
clues in the sentence below:
 “Jessie gasped out loud, then clapped her hand over her mouth to
stifle the noise.”
 What noise was Jessie trying to stifle?
 Stifle – to end by force.
HUFFY
 Have you heard this word before?
 What does it mean in the sentence below?
“Then Mr. Neely, sounding huffy: “All right, all right. I’ll double
check. I’ll lock her in if it makes you feel better---”
 Huffy – touchy or snobbish
HESITATED
 Read the sentence below:
 “Jessie switched positions, hesitating.
Her left leg began to tremble under her
weight.”
 What does it mean to hesitate?
 Have you ever hesitated?
Hesitate – to pause or wait .
MURMURED
 “This is easy”, she murmured to her pretend audience. “I could
climb down the whole wall this way.”
 When or why would a person murmur?
 Murmur – a mumble or indistinct voice
PEERING
Read the following sentence:
“She half expected to see Mr. Neely’s face peering down.”
What does it mean when the sentence says “peering down”?
Peering – viewing intently or curiously
RASPY
 In the sentence below, determine the meaning of the word raspy.
 “Her throat was dry and raspy, and she realized she hadn’t had
anything to drink since the KFC restaurant the night before.”
 Turn and talk - demonstrate a raspy voice
 Raspy – harsh or grating