To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary Unit
Part I:
Chapter 1:
Imprudent (5) Not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash
Tyrannical (6) Exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way; oppressive and controlling
Vapid (9) Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; tastless or dull
Malevolent (9) Having or showing a wish to do evil to others; malicious
Chapter 2-3:
Illicit (19) Forbidden by law, rules, or custom; unlawful
Entailment (23) deduction: something that is inferred (deduced or entailed or implied);
Erratic (27) Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
Contentious (30) Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial, involving an argument
Chapter 4-5:
Auspicious (36) Conducive to success; favorable; giving a sign of future success
Aloof (46) Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant; uninvolved and uninterested, typically through
distaste
Benevolence (48) disposition to do good.
Asinine (55) Extremely stupid or foolish.
Edification (55) The instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually:
Chapter 6-8:
Libel (76) A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation;
defame or slander.
Chapter 9:
Inordinately (87) extremely
Vain (87) Having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.
Obstreperous (97) Noisy and difficult to control: boisterous
Provocation Action or speech that provokes someone, esp. deliberately; instigation
Chapter 10-11
Feeble (102) Lacking physical strength, esp. as a result of age or illness.
Inconspicuous (103) Not clearly visible or attracting attention; not conspicuous
Passé (114) No longer fashionable; out of date
Apoplectic (115) Overcome with anger; extremely indignant.
Palliation (118) easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the cause
Part II
Chapter 12-13
Austere (138) adj Severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance. (of living conditions or a way of life)
Prerogative (147) N A right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class; privilege
Chapter 14-15
Fortitude (160) N Courage in pain or adversity:
Placid (164) ADJ (of a person or animal) Not easily upset or excited. (esp. of a place or stretch of
water) Calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity.
Affliction (169) N Something that causes pain or suffering; Pain or suffering.
Façade (170) N An outward appearance that is maintained to conceal a less pleasant or creditable reality.
Succinct (172) ADJ Briefly and clearly expressed
Uncouth (174) ADJ (of a person or their appearance or behavior) Lacking good manners,
refinement, or grace. (esp. of art or language) Lacking sophistication or delicacy.
Chapter 16-17
Subpoena (182) N A writ ordering a person to attend a court: "they were all under subpoena to
appear"; V Summon (someone) with a subpoena/citation
Gala (182) n A social occasion with special entertainments or performances; festival
obtrusive (185) ADJ conspicuous or attracting attention.
Solicitor (187) N A person who tries to obtain business orders, advertising, etc.; a
canvasser; The chief law officer of a city, town, or government department.
Chapter 18-19
Mollify (205) V Appease the anger or anxiety of (someone). Reduce the severity of
(something); soften.
Stealthy (206) adj Behaving, done, or made in a cautious and surreptitious manner, so as not to
be seen or heard; sneaky/sly
Expunge (222) V Erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant); ERASE
Candid (225) adj Truthful and straightforward; frank or sincere
Chapter 20-21
“run of the mill” (229) average
Corroborative (230) v Confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
Caliber (232) adj The quality of someone's character or the level of someone's ability; standard
Peeved (236) v Annoyed; irritated
Indignant (236) Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment;
restentful
Fret (238) v Be constantly or visibly anxious. N Provide (a stringed instrument) with frets
Chapter 22-23
Impassive (242) adj Not feeling or showing emotion vs passive Accepting or allowing what
happens or what others do, without active response or resistance
Appeal (243) n A serious or urgent request, typically one made to the public
Heathen (246) A person who does not belong to a widely held religion
Furtive (250) avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would
lead to trouble; secretive.
Acquittal (250) A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has
been charged: "the trial resulted in an acquittal"; absolution
Chapters 24-25
Adjourn (261) V Break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later;
postpone
Impertinent (263) ADJ Not showing proper respect; rude. OR irrelevant
Squalor (264) N A state of being extremely dirty.
Brevity (266) N Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech; brief
Chapters 26-27
Recluse (277) N A person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people; HERMIT
Persecute (280-283) V Subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, esp. because of their race
or political or religious beliefs; s or annoy (someone) persistently.
Eccentric (287) ADJ Unconventional and slightly strange N A person of unconventional and
slightly strange views or behavior
What was the NRA? (289) National recovery Association; part of the New Deal by FDR to create codes
of "fair practices"
Chapter 28-29
Gallant (292) ADJ Brave; heroic. N A man who pays special attention to women.
Ascertain (296) Find (something) out for certain; make sure of; DETERMINE
Chapter 30-31
Elude (313) V Evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or
cunning way; (of an idea or fact) Fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone).
Stolid (314) adj Calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.
Connive (314) v Conspiring or allowing something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful to
happen
Amiable (321) adj Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.
Acquiescence (321) passive acceptance without protest
Shrewd (321) Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; clever or smart