To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 1

assuage - to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses)

apothecary - one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes (pharmacist)

taciturn - temperamentally disinclined to talk

chattel - an item of tangible movable or immovable property (“human chattel” are slaves)

sullied - to make soiled or tarnished : defile

dictum - a : a formal pronouncement of a principle, proposition, or opinion b : an observation intended or regarded as authoritative

strictures - something that closely restrains or limits : restriction <moral strictures>

amble - to walk in a leisurely or idle manner; stroll

repertoire

vapid

predilection -

domicile

intimidation

nebulous

concession

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 2

condescend - a : to descend to a less formal or dignified level : unbend b : to waive the privileges of rank (to stoop to a lower level)

foray - to make a raid or brief invasion <forayed into enemy territory>; to go into a different area from what one is accustomed

transaction - an exchange or transfer of goods, services, or funds <electronic transactions>

indigenous - produced, growing, living, or occurring naturally in a particular region or environment <indigenous plants> <the indigenous culture>

secede - to withdraw from an organization (as a religious communion or political party or federation)

apprehensive - viewing the future with anxiety or alarm

cunning

illicit

entailment - to restrict (property) by limiting the inheritance to the owner's descendants (in the book, this is family-owned property which could be taken away [repossessed] by banks, due to unpaid debts)

vexation

sojourn –

subsequent

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 3

onslaught - an especially fierce attack; also : something resembling such an attack <an onslaught of changes>

irk - to make weary, irritated, or bored

cordial - a : sincerely or deeply felt <a cordial dislike for each other> b : warmly and genially affable

expound - to explain by setting forth in careful and often elaborate detail <expound a law>

erratic - a : characterized by lack of consistency, regularity, or uniformity <erratic dieting> <keeps erratic hours>

iniquity - 1: gross injustice : wickedness 2: a wicked act or thing : sin

persevere - : to persist in an enterprise, or undertaking in spite of opposition or discouragement

furor

diminutive

contentious - exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes <a man of a most contentious nature>

fraught

amiable

disapprobation

auspicious

aloft

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 4

fruitless - unsuccessful <a fruitless attempt>

tyranny - a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force <living under the tyranny of the clock — Dixon Wecter>

wreak (past tense: wrought) - bring about, cause <wreak havoc>

unanimous - being of one mind : agreeing; having the agreement and consent of all

arbitrate – to settle an argument between two people or groups after hearing the opinions and ideas of both

mortifying

phenomena

melancholy

evasion

quell

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 5-6

benevolence

incomprehensible

inquisitive

asinine

edification

quibbling

prowess

dismemberment - 1: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of 2: to break up or tear into pieces <The victims' bodies had been dismembered and buried in the basement.>

malignant

pilgrimage - a journey to a holy place <He made a pilgrimage to Mecca. The tradition of pilgrimage is important in Islam>; a journey to a special or unusual place < The family went on a pilgrimage to historical battlefields>

desolate

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 7-8

delete

hone

ascertain

cleave - to adhere firmly and closely

render - a (1) : to cause to be or become : make <enough rainfall … to render irrigation unnecessary — P. E. James> <rendered him helpless>

meditative

unfathomable

aberration

perpetrate

libel - a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression

caricature - exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics < His performance in the film was a caricature of a mad scientist.>

hermaphrodite - an animal or plant having both male and female reproductive organs

dire

shambles

perplexity

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 9

inordinate - exceeding reasonable limits : immoderate

uncompromising

lineaments - a distinguishing or characteristic feature —usually used in plural

ingenuous

diversions

analogous

changeling - a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy

deportment - the manner in which one conducts oneself : behavior

prey -

obstreperous - marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous <obstreperous merriment>

gallant

invective

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 10

feeble

inconspicuous - not readily noticeable <She tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible so that no one would see her there.>

rudiment - a basic principle or element or a fundamental skill —usually used in plural <teaching themselves the rudiments of rational government — G. B. Galanti>

peril

articulate - expressing oneself readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate teacher>; also : expressed readily, clearly, or effectively <an articulate argument>

simultaneous

jubilant

foliage

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 11

ruthless

beholden - being under obligation for a favor or gift : indebted <I'm beholden to you>

sassy

decree - an order usually having the force of law

interdict - a prohibitory decree

rectitude - moral integrity : righteousness; the quality or state of being correct in judgment or procedure

umbrage - a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult <took umbrage at the speaker's remarks>

reconnaissance

undulate – 1: to form or move in waves : fluctuate; 2: to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence

viscous

devoid

cantankerous

commence - to have or make a beginning : start <the meeting will commence soon>

tirade

propensity

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 12

altercation - a noisy heated angry dispute; also : noisy controversy <judging from all the slamming and banging, I'd say there was some sort of altercation going on next door>

fret - to become vexed or worried

diligent

frivolous - marked by unbecoming levity; lacking in seriousness

haughty - blatantly and disdainfully proud <the haughty waiter smirked when I remarked that it was odd that a French restaurant didn't even have french fries on the menu>

garish

bode - to indicate by signs : presage <her natural gift for reading boded well for her future in school>

denote - to serve as an indication of : betoken <the swollen bellies that denote starvation>

innate

denunciation (v. denounce) - to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil <they denounced him as a bigot>

austere

subdue - to bring under control especially by an exertion of the will : curb <subdued my foolish fears>

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 13

sluggish

dispel - to drive away by or as if by scattering : dissipate <She made an official statement to dispel any rumors about her retirement.>

formidable - tending to inspire awe or wonder : impressive <The mountains were a formidable barrier.>

prerogative - an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege <It's a writer's prerogative to decide the fate of her characters.>

flighty - lacking stability or steadiness; easily upset or excited : volatile <a flighty temper>

discreet

oblique - not straightforward : indirect; also : obscure <gave the eavesdropper an oblique glance out of the corner of her eye>

caste - a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race <a member of the upper caste>

heredity

morbid

grubby - dirty, grimy <grubby hands>

myopic

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 14

squirm

rankle - to cause anger, irritation, or deep bitterness <The joke about her family rankled her.>

carnal - relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites; marked by sexuality <carnal love>

taut

manacles

infallible - incapable of error : unerring <an infallible memory>

reverent

resilient - tending to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change <The local economy is remarkably resilient.>

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 15

defendant - a person required to make answer in a legal action or suit (antonym: plaintiff)

placid - serenely free of interruption or disturbance <placid skies> <a placid disposition>

postponement (v. postpone) - to put off to a later time : defer

begrudge

inaudible

ominous

criterion (pl. criteria) - a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based <one criterion for grading these essays will be their conformity to the rules of traditional grammar>

venerable

acquiescence

succinct

oblivious

ramshackle - appearing ready to collapse; carelessly or loosely constructed <a ramshackle plot>

uncouth

aggregation - a group, body, or mass composed of many distinct parts or individuals

detractor – people who speak ill of a person, thing, or idea

affliction

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 16

lurch - to move with a lurch <suddenly lurched forward>; also : stagger

Prohibition - often capitalized : the forbidding by law of the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic liquors (in the U.S., such laws were in place from 1920 to 1933)

akimbo

subpoena - a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure <received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution>

solicitor - the chief law officer of a municipality, county, or government department

multitude

controversy - a discussion marked especially by the expression of opposing views : dispute <The controversy is over whether he should be fired or not.>

contrive

unobtrusive

litigant - one engaged in a lawsuit

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 17

scrutiny

corroborate

fluctuation

congenital - existing at or dating from birth <congenital deafness>

acrimonious

pantomime - conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements especially in drama or dance <In the game of charades, one player uses pantomime to represent a word or phrase that the other players have to try to guess.>

ambidextrous - using both left and right hands with equal ease

glean - to gather information or material bit by bit <She gleaned her data from various studies.>

tenet - a principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true; especially : one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession <the central tenets of a religion>

dogged

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 18

witness - one that gives evidence; specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal <The defense called its first witness to the stand.>

mollify - to soothe in temper or disposition, to reduce in intensity : to calm

neutrality – showing no bias or preference for either side in a conflict <The newspaper is known for its political neutrality.>

arid

sever

exodus - a mass departure : emigration <the mass exodus from the cities for the beaches and the mountains on most summer weekends>

objection - a reason or argument presented in opposition <My main objection is that some people will have to pay more than others.>

constructionist - one who interprets or construes a legal document (as the United States Constitution) in a specific way <A strict constructionist is someone who has a strict interpretation of written laws>

testimony - a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official <The jury heard 10 days of testimony from the witnesses.>

immaterial

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 19

induce

volition

predicament

unimpaired

misdemeanor - a crime less serious than a felonies (such as rape or murder); and example of a misdemeanor could be disorderly conduct or vandalism

expunge - to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion

impudent

convicted – to be found or proven guilty in a court of law

disorderly conduct (criminal charge/US legal system) - An offense involving disturbance of the public peace and decency; ex: He was charged with disorderly conduct after starting a fistfight with another customer in the supermarket.

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 20

fraud - an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick

indict - to charge with a fault or offense; criticize, accuse

subsequent

contraband - goods or merchandise whose importation, exportation, or possession is forbidden

aridity

unmitigated -

temerity - unreasonable or foolishly bold contempt of danger or opposition : recklessness

cynical

caliber - degree of excellence or importance

circumstantial evidence (legal term) - In law, evidence that is drawn not from direct observation of a fact at issue but from events or circumstances that surround it. If a witness arrives at a crime scene seconds after hearing a gunshot to find someone standing over a corpse and holding a smoking pistol, the evidence is circumstantial, since the person may merely be a bystander who picked up the weapon after the killer dropped it. The popular notion that one cannot be convicted on circumstantial evidence is false. Most criminal convictions are based, at least in part, on circumstantial evidence that sufficiently links criminal and crime.

industrious

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 21

acquit - to discharge completely (as from an obligation or accusation) <the court acquitted the prisoner>

remorse

vengeance

tacit

verdict - the finding or decision of a jury on the matter submitted to it in trial

scurry

tranquil

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 22

bleak

heave

colleague - an associate in a profession

feral - of, relating to, or suggestive of a wild beast

fatalistic

rueful

heathen - an uncivilized or irreligious person

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 23

credibility

grudge - a feeling of deep-seated resentment or ill will

furtive

adamant

stolid

vehement

commute (v) - to change (a penalty) to another less severe <commute a death sentence to life in prison>

capital offense (legal term) - any criminal charge which is punishable by the death penalty, called "capital" since the defendant could lose his/her head (Latin for caput). Crimes punishable by death vary from state to state and country to country.

infantile

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 24

squalid

communal

adjourn - to suspend a session indefinitely or to another time or place < The meeting adjourned at 4:00.>

apprehension

impertinence

duress

wretch

oppressed

conception - a general idea : concept

devout

sulky

replenish

bovine - having qualities (as placidity or dullness) characteristic of oxen or cows

delectable

humility

martyr

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 25

assurance

scamper

scot-free - completely free from obligation, harm, or penalty; ex: Even though he robbed the convenience store, he got off scot-free because none of the witness could identify him.

subscription - a purchase by prepayment for a certain number of issues (as of a newspaper or magazine)

obituary

miscarriage - corrupt or incompetent management; especially : a failure in the administration of justice

slaughter

demise

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 26

twinge

recluse

compel

allegedly

left to one’s own devices - to let someone do what they want without helping them or trying to control them (usually passive); ex. There are four hours of lessons each morning, and in the afternoon students are left to their own devices. Left to my own devices I wouldn't bother cooking in the evenings.

era

single out - select from a group; <She was singled out for her outstanding performance>

profound

spurious - of a deceitful nature or quality <spurious excuses>

feeble-minded

persecute

muse (v) - to become absorbed in thought; especially : to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 27

annals - historical records : chronicles

savor

hole up - to hide somewhere; ex: The police are looking for me. I need somewhere to hole up. The outlaw holed up in a cave.

metaphor – a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language

florid

nondescript - lacking distinctive or interesting qualities : dull, drab

assault

harbor (v) - to hold especially persistently in the mind <harbored a grudge>

utmost

stealthy

purloin

“somebody just walked over my grave” (expression) – a sudden chill or shivering, possibly caused by nervousness. In this story, it seems to express Alexandra’s concern, but also her intuition that something bad might happen

apprehension

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 28

gait

frenzied

enterprise - a systematic purposeful activity <agriculture is the main economic enterprise among these people>

rustic

ascertain

subordinates - placed in or occupying a lower class, rank, or position : inferior <a subordinate officer>

floundering

pinion - to disable or restrain by binding the arms

staccato - marked by short clear-cut playing or singing of tones or chords <a staccato style>

untrammeled - to remove a band from : free from fastenings

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 29

turmoil

crushed to a pulp – Beaten until made into soft moist shapeless mass of matter.

perforated

pester

tussle

reprimand

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 30

astound

clear-cut - free from ambiguity or uncertainty <a clear–cut decision>

elude

connive

blunt

deceased

bide one’s time - to wait patiently; ex. I've been biding my time for years, just waiting for a chance like this. He's not the type just to sit there and bide his time.

audible

limelight - the center of public attention

disengage

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To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List

Chapter 31

sedative

accommodate

trudge

acquiescence

shrewd

The definitions provided are taken from Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Try to find good synonyms for these words, to help you remember them for the test

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