comparatively

" The minister grew comparatively calm".

Bantam Classic
Pg.136

i think comparison is the root word but im not quite sure how it fitsin twith the quote.

askance

"where, asked he, with a look askance at them".

Bantam Classic
Pg.119

i have no idea what this word means.

scrutinized

" Thus Roger Chillingworth scrutinized his patient carefully".

Bantam Classic
Pg.112

from the context i think it means to examine.

garb

" But it was a remarkable attribute of this garb, and indeed of the childs whole
appearance".

Bantam Classic
Pg.93

im pretty sure it means garment.

striven

" I have striven with my young brother here, under whose preaching of the word
you have been privelaged to sit".

Bantam Classic
Pg.61

i think striven is taken from the word strive. putting effort into something.

bade

Hester bade little Pearl run down to the margin of
the water.

Bantam Classic
Pg. 152

i beleive this means to ask or suggest.

blighted

"Hester gazed after him a little while, looking with a half-fantastic curiosity
to see whether the tender grass of early spring would not be blighted beneath
him and show the wavering track of his footsteps..."

Bantam Classic
pg.170

I think this means destroyed or crushed.

hillock

"The leaves might bestrew him, and the soil gradually accumulate and form a little hillock over his frame, no matter whether there were life in it or no."

Bantam Classic

pg.170

I am assuming that because it sounds like "hill" this word is similar to it.
Maybe it is a mound of dirt or some kind of formation like that

.

deletorious

"Or might it suffice him that every wholesome growth should be converted into something deletorious and malignant at his touch?"

Bantam Classic
pg. 158

I believe that this means destroyed or ruined.

vicissitude

"So great a vicissitude in his life could not at once be received as
real."

Bantam Classic

pg.192

I believe this is a vision or something to hope for, a goal.

bedizen

"Prithee, young one, who art thou, and what has ailed thy mother to bedizen thee
in this strange fashion?"

Bantam Classic
Ch. 8 Pg. 100

I think this word means to dress because the context before this quote describes Pearl's dress.

appelation

"Under the appelation of Roger Chillingworth, the reader will remember, was
hidden another name, which its former wearer had resolved should never more be
spoken."

Bantam Classic
Ch. 9 Pg. 107

I believe appelation is another word for pseudonym or pen name.

edifice

"Before this ugly edifice, and between it and the wheel-track of the street, was
a grassy plot..."

Bantam Classic
Ch. 1 Pg. 45

I think edifice means a building, or maybe prison because the first chapter was describing the prison.

Austerity

"it might be partly owing to the studied austerity of her dress, and partly to
the lack of demonstration in her manners."

Bantam Classic
Pg. 148

i think that it means to stand out

Sagacious

".. it truly seemed that this sagacious, experienced, benevolent old physician,
with his concord of paternal and reverntial love for the young pastor, was the
very man of all mankind to be constantly within reach of his voice."

Bantam Classic
Pg. 114

Im thinking this has something to do with years of practice.

Placidity

" her only really comfort was when the child lay in the placidity of sleep."

Bantam Classic
Pg. 85

Im gonna guess that placidity has to do with a peacful state of mind perhaps.

Convulsion

"it now writhed in convulsions of pain, and was a frocible type, in its little
frame.."

Bantam Classic
P67

im not really sure but im gonna guess that it has to do with some kind of serious pain.

adduced

"Indeed hath he, answered the magistrate, and hath adduced such arguments that we will even leave the matter as it now stands."

Bantam Classic
ch. 8 p. 105

I think this word means to bring up in a conversation. Dictionary.com says it means to cite as an example or means of proof in an argument.

conjectured

"As the light drew nearer, he beheld, within its illuminated circle, his brother clergyman, the Reverend Mr. Wilson; who as Mr. Dimmesdale now conjectured, had been praying at the bedside of some dying man. "

Bantam Classic
ch. 12 pg 136

I think this word means come up with an answer. Dictionary.com said it is the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without evidence for proof.

placidity

"Her only real comfort was when the child lay in the placidity of sleep."

Bantam Classic
ch 6 pg 85

Dictionary.com said it means to be calm or peaceful. It can also mean quiet or undisturbed.

impalpable

"To the untrue man, the whole universe is false,- it is impalpable,- it shrinks to nothing within his grasp."

Bantam Books

Chapter 11 pg 133

I think impalpable means to be untouchable.

writhing

"A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight."

Bantam Books

Chapter 3 pg 57

I think this word means strong and overbearing or in a great deal of pain. I've heard it used both ways.

apparition

"It would have been impossible to guess that this bright and sunny apparition owed its existence to the shape of gloomy gray..."

Bantam Books

Chapter 21 pg 204

I think I've heard this word used in Macbeth before when the apparitions came to him and foretold what would happen so I think this means some sort of assumption that will happen.

tumultuous

"The moment that he did so there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his own, pouring like a torrent into his heart and hurrying through all his veins..."

Bantam Books

Chapter 12 pg 139

This word means highly agitated, a raising of clatter and commotion or to mean disorderly and noisy according to Dictionary. com.

infirmities

"As a physician, with the minister's physical and spiritual infirmities,that
theses bad opportunities had been turned to a cruel puspose."

Bantman Classic

Chp 15 Page 174

Infirmities has to to with being sick. A synonym for illness or sickness. I have heard this word used in other books, and also a infirmiry is a place you go when you are sick.

foreboded

"In allowing the minister to be thrown into a position where so much evil was to
be foreboded, and nothing auspicious to be hoped."

Bantman Classic

Chp 13 page 151


I am not to sure what foreboded actually means, but Websters dictionary says it means to have a inward conviction.

intangibility

"with a strange remoteness and intangibility; it was as if she were hovering
in the air and might vanish."

Batman Classic

chp5 page 84

I think intangibility may mean something that really cant be grasped or preceived. At Dictionary.com it is an adjective that could mean incapable of being perceived by the senses.

crimson

"Save by a flush of crimson that rose irrepressibly over her pale cheek, and
again subsided into the depths of her bosom."

Bantman Classic

Chp 4 page 78


I think crimson means, a terror or horror. It can be used as a adjective to describe a persons expression or feelings.

Plumage

"What little bird of scarlet plummage may this be"?

Bantam Classic
Ch8 pg 100
I honestly have no idea what this means.

Interposed

"Ah, but, interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart."

Bantam Classic
Ch 2 pg 49
I think this word means said.

Malice

"Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared, there was yet, we fear, a quiet
depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old
man,
which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal
had
ever
wreaked upon an enemy."

Bantam Classic
Ch11 pg 127
I think malice means harmful.

perpetuated

"Mother and daughter stood together in the same circle of seclusion from human society; and in the nature of the child seemed to be perpetuated those unquiet elements that had distracted Hester Prynne before Pearls birth."

Ch 3 Page 86
Scarlet Letter Bantam Classic

I have no idea what this word means. Dictionary.com says to preserve from extinction or oblivion.

ignominy

"Heaven hath granted thee an open ignominy"

Ch 2 Page 63
Scarlet Letter- Bantam Classic

I have heard ignominy be used towards describing a disgrace or public contempt.

iniquity

"to find yourself, at length, in a land where iniquity is searched out"

Ch 2 Page 58
Scarlet Letter Bantam Classic

Iniquity means a gross injustice or wickedness. I have never heard this word before this book.

Indubitably

"But, in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this
kind could not so indubitably be drawn."

Bantam Classic

Ch 2 pg 47

I think this word means unquestionable.

emolument

"Baby-linen- for babies then wore robes of state- afforded still another
possibility of toil and emolument."

Bantam Classic

ch.5 p.76

I think this word means profit or income.

insubordination

"As night approached, it proving impossible to quell her insubordination by
rebuke or threats of punishment, Master Brackett, the jailor, thought fit to
introduce a physician."

Bantam Classic

ch.4 p.65

I think this word means not submitting to or obeying authority.

ignominious

"Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter
be engraved upon her
tombstone."

Bantam Classic

ch.3 p.59

I think this word means shameful or disgraceful because the scarlet letter was given as Hester's punishment.

iniquity

"It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at
least, stand on the scaffold by her side."

Bantam Classic

ch.3 p.59

I think this word means a sin or injustice because they seem to be describing Hester's sin of adultery.

lodgment

"Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgment in their minds..."

pg. 110
Elements in Literature

I believe lodgment is a sort of shelter or a certain place in which something belongs.

calamities

"...who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities
of war..."

pg. 90
Elements of Literature

I believe this means troubles or duties. I think it is a negative word expressing troublesome duties.

inundated

"Quickly clambering in and grabbing our oars, we had rowed two crossbow shots from shore when a wave inundated us."

page 117

Elements of Literature

I think this means to be covered or washed over maybe engulfed.

tarry

" They told us to tarry a little while, then they would do as we wished."

page 118

Elements of Literature

This word must mean to wait or stall maybe.

bondage

"nothing more bondage than to liberty"

page 76

elements of literature

i feel like bondage means together like bonding or maybe even band aid because they bond to your skin.

progenitor

"Women shall be considered the progenitors of the Nation."

page 110

Elements of Literature

I think this means procreator or creator

grubbed

" As the sun rose next morning, the Indians appeared as they promised,bringing an abundance of fish and of certain roots which taste like nuts,some bigger than walnuts, some smaller,mostly grubbed from the water with great labor."

page 117

Elements of Literature

I think it means dug from or taken out of

coarsest

"fondly expecting thier coarsest utensils in that happy place would be of massy silver."

page 131

elements of literature

the only definition i could think of was like coarse meaning something has a rough texture.

frugality

"like most other undertakerswho have no assistance from the public, they starved the designby too much frugality."

page 131

elements of literature

honestly i have no idea what this means

brutes

"it was amazing to see these wild, untaught savages howling like brutes in compassion for us."

page 118

elements of literature

i think brute means savage.

lamenting

"for i was going up and down mourning and lamenting my loss."

element of literature

page38

i think lamenting means felling down but im not quite sure.

abdicated

"He has abdicated government here withdrawing his governors, and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection."

p. 102
Elements of Literature

Abdicated means given up responsibility for.

ardor

"Quitting this class of men, I turn with the warm ardor of a friend to
those who have nobly stood, and yet determined to stand the matter out."

p. 91
Elements of Literature

The book states that ardor means emotional warmth or passion.

decrepit

"Some carried their old decrepit mothers, some carried one, and some
another."

Page 39 Elements in Literature

I have heard decrepit used in everyday talk, as well as in movies and tv. Decrepit means to be old, worn down, often used to describe a old person.

sagamore

"By my master in this writitng, must be understood Quanopin, who was a
sagamore, and married to King Phillip's wife sister."

page 38 Elements In Literature

In our english text books sagamore is defined as a secondary chief in the hierarchy of several American Indian peoples.

evinces

"But when a long train of abuses and unsurpations, began at a distinguished
period and pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce
them
under absolute despotism."

page 100 Elements In Literature

At Dictionary.com evinces means demonstrate clearly, or also to vanquish.

disaffected

"America could carry on a two years' war by the confiscation of the property
of disaffected persons; and be made happy by their expulsion."

page 91 Elements of Literature

Disaffected means the opposite of affected. Means you are not affected by something, not bothered by.

tyranny

"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with
us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

page 89. Elements of Literature

Tyranny can be used to describe a goverment. A unrestrained use or exercise of power.

vengeance

"The floods of God's vengeance have been withheld."

page 47 Elements of Literature

I think vengeance has to do with revenge or harm.

arbitrary

"...all that preserves them of every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God."

Page 47 Elements of Literature

I think arbitrary means having an unlimited amount of something.

reproach

"Nor would the shade of the skin have been any reproach at this day, for if a Moor may be washed white in three generations, surely an Indian might have been blanched in two."

page 133 Elements of Literature

I think reproach means to find fault with something or to blame.

beseeched

"But death being surer and nearer if we stayed where we were, I went ahead and beseeched the Indians."

page 118 Elements of Literature

The book says this word means to beg.

deliberation

"Neither anger nor fury shall find lodgment in their minds and all their words and acions shall be marked by calm deliberarion."

Page 110 Elements of Literature

Dictionary.com says it means careful consideration

Despotism

"...a design to reduce them under absolute depotism,.."

Pg. 100 Elements of Literature

the book said that despotismis is ruled by a tyrant or king with unlimited power.

Celestial

"heaven knows how to put a proper price upn its goods; and it would be stange
indeed, if so celestial and article as freedom.."

Pg. 89 Elements of Liturature

the book sayd that celestial ment divine or perfect

Tyrannical

"That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established..."

Pg. 111 Elements of Liturature

I've heard of a person being a tyrant so im guessing this has to do with someone being very harsh and mean.

Foment

"If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are
determined to foment a Rebellion.."

Pg. 111 Elements of Literature

the book said that foment meant to stir up.

contrivance

"... and your healthy constitution and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you, ..."

p.47 Elements of Literature

A contrivance is a scheme or a plan.

incensed

"In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God."

P. 47 Elements of Literature

Incensed means to be angered or enraged.

forbearance

"In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God."

P.47 Elements of Literature

Forbearance is having tolerance or restraint.

plunder

"One of the Indians that came from Medfield fight, had brought some plunder, came to me, and asked me, if I would have a Bible, he had got one in his basket."

P.39 Elements of Literature

The book said plunder means goods seized, especially during wartime. I don't understand what that means but I think it means to rob or take someone else's possession by force.

succorless

"I, starting up, the light did spy
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my distress
And not to leave me succorless."

P.29 Elements of Literature

Succorless means without aid or assistance; to be helpless.

modish

Elements of Literature

p.131

"This modish frenzy, being still more inflamed by the charming account
given of Virginia by the first adventurers, made many found of removing such a
Paradise."

I think that modish means in the current style or popular.

plight

Elements of Literature

p.118

"The Indians, understanding our full plight, sat down and lamented for half
an hour so loudly they could have been heard a long way off."

I think that plight means and unfortunate or unfavorable situation.

thistle

Elements of Literature

p.109

"Under the shade of this Tree of Great Peace we spread soft white feathery
down of the globe thistle as seats for you, Adodarhoh, and your cousin
Lords."

I think thistle is any of the various prickly plants or things that they shed.

provision

Elements of Literature

p.41

"Where they fell to boiling of groundnuts, and parching of corn (as many as
had it) for their provision."

I think that provision is supplies or food (especially for a long journey).

bier

"Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier; but going through a thick wood with him, they were hindered."

Elements of Literature


p.39

I think that bier is a stand on which to put a corpse or coffin before burial.

wigwam

Elements of Literature

p.38

"In the morning, when they understood that my child was dead they sent
for me home to my master's wigwam."

I think that wigwam is an Indiam dwelling of some sort; maybe like a tepee.

longhouse

"The old chief of that land lived with his wife whose name was Aataentsic, meaning "Ancient Woman," in there longhouse near the great tree."

Elements of Literature

p. 24
I think that longhouse is a long, communal house especially in native American culture based on the context and what I have learned in past history classes.

gingham

"...she wore a huge gingham apron with pockets..."

Chapter 6, page 96, Steinbeck Centennial Edition

I believe that gingham is some kind of material that was used for clothing.

scudded

"...the brown, dry leaves on the ground scudded a few feet."

Chapter 6, page 95, Steinbeck Centennial Edition

Based on the context in which the word is used, I believe that it means the
leaves blew or floated a few feet along the ground.

pugnacious

"He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. ... His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious."

Page 96 Chapter 6

hard-bitten: tough and callous by virtue of experience

hoosegow

“On the trigger of the hoosegow.”

Page 56 Chapter 3

Another word for jail or the "slammer"

bindle

George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank.

Page 3
Chapter 1
Penguin Classic
I think a bindle is something that holds something.

graybacks

"...'then how come he got graybacks?' Gerorge was working up a slow anger."

page 18 chapter 2

Penguin Classic

I have no idea what graybacks means, but for some reason I think it has to do with money, although that may be completely wrong.

mottled

"sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and ranches that arch over the
pool."

page 1 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

Although I am not to sure what mottled means, when I researched the word a book called the Mottled Dawn appeared. Therefore, i think it means something beautiful, used to describe nature, maybe having to do with streaks of sun or color.

dabbled

"Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water
arose in little splashes."

page 3 chapter 1

Penguin Classic


I remember from middle school my art teacher would always say "dabble your paint brush." It means to splatter and often used in art termonology.

scowled

"The little man jerked down the rim of his hat and scowled over at Lennie."

Page 4 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

At FreeDictionary.com they said it is used to express anger or displeasure.

droned

"Lennie droned to himself softley, 'I ain't gonna say nothin'.."

page 6 chapter 1

Penguin Classic

I have heared the word droned used in many other stories read in school. I think it could be a synonym for moan, complain or, groan.

recumbent

"...and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branchedthat arch
over the pool."

ch. 1 pg. 1 Steinbeck Centennial Edition Penguin

I really don't know what this means, but my guess is that it means bent.

Liniment

"Crooks sat on his bunk and looked at the door for a moment, and then he
reached for the liniment bottle."

Pg 83 Penguin Edition

I think this has to do with some kind of medicine.

Sycamores

"there is a
path through the willows and among the sycamores..."

chapter 1 pg 1 Penguin Edition

i think it has something to do with trees?

scuttled

"Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room."

ch. 3 pg. 41 Steinbeck Centennial Edition Penguin


I think this means to exit in a quick or quiet manner.

mottled

"But by the pool among the mottled sycamores, a pleasant shade had fallen."

chapter 6, page 97, Penguin Books

Mottled means spotted or blotched with different shades or colors.

apprehension

"Well, s'pose, jus' s'pose he don't come back. What'll you do then?" Lennie's face wrinkled with apprehension.

chapter 4, page 70, Penguin Books

Apprehension is a noun that means fearful or uneasy anticipation of the future.

wisps

"The resting horses nibbled the remaining wisps of hay, and they stamped their feet and they bit the wood of the mangers and rattled the halter chains."

chapter 5, page 82, Penguin Books

A wisp is a small bundle or bunch of straw, hair or grass.

plaintively

"I don't want no trouble, he said plaintively."

chapter 2, page 29, Penguin Books

This word means sorrowful or melancholy.

derision

"Through the open door came the thuds and occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now and then the sound of voices raised in approval or derision."

chapter 3, page 38, Penguin Books

This word is a noun that means contemptuous or jeering laughter; ridicule.

slough

"He'd slough me!"

Chapter 2, page 27, Penguin Books Ltd.


dictionary.com says,
verb (used without object)

5.	to be or become shed or cast off, as the slough of a snake.

6.	to cast off a slough.

7.	Pathology. to separate from the sound flesh, as a slough.

8.	Cards. to discard a card or cards.

–verb (used with object)

9.	to dispose or get rid of; cast (often fol. by off): to slough off a bad habit.

10.	to shed as or like a slough.

11.	Cards. to discard (cards).

ominously

"He said ominously, "Well, he better watch out for Lennie..."

Chapter 2, page 27, Penguin Books Ltd.

dictionary.com says

portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious: an ominous bank of dark clouds.

2.	having the significance of an omen.

relish

"He paused in relish of the memory."

Chapter 2, page 21, Penguin Books Ltd.

dictionary.com says
noun

1.	liking or enjoyment of the taste of something.

2.	pleasurable appreciation of anything; liking: He has no relish for obscene jokes.

3.	Cookery. a. something savory or appetizing added to a meal, as pickles or olives. b. a sweet pickle made of various vegetables, usually chopped or minced. c. an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre.

4.	a pleasing or appetizing flavor.

5.	a pleasing or enjoyable quality.

6.	a taste or flavor.

7.	a smack, trace, or touch of something.

–verb (used with object)

8.	to take pleasure in; like; enjoy: I don't relish the long drive home.

9.	to make pleasing to the taste.

10.	to like the taste of.

imperiously

"George's hand remained outstretched imperiously."

Chapter 1, page 10, Penguin Books Ltd.

dictionary.com says,
1. domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an
imperious person.

2.	urgent; imperative: imperious need.

stilted

"A stilted heron labeled up into the air and pounded down river."

Chapter 1, page 2, Penguin Books Ltd.

According to dictionary.com,
1. Stiffly dignified or formal, as speech or literary style; pompous.

2. Architecture. (of an arch) resting on imposts treated in part as downward continuations of the arch.

Berserk

Ch 9
Pg 168

"It made them go berserk".

I think berserk means crazy.

Indignation

Ch 4
Pg 78

"An’ a guy tol’ me he could put me in pitchers…” She was breathless with indignation".

I think indignation means anger.

Brittle

Ch 2
Pg 31

" I'm lookin' for Curley," she said. Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality.

I think brittle means rough.

Belligerently

Ch 6
Pg 102

" Now Lennie retorted belligerently, He ain't neither. George won't do nothing like that".

I think belligerently means to be agressive.

Kudzu

"as i awoke in a bed of kudzu vines.."

im pretty sure kudzu must have something to do with plants.

Aloof

Ch 4
Pg 67

"This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man".



I think aloof means to be a outcast.

morosly

"George stared morosly at the water."
pg 4

i think morosly must have to do with some kind of emotion

complacently

“‘When I’m doin’ my hair sometimes I jus’ set an’ stroke it ’cause it’s so
soft. . ." Some people got kinda coarse hair,’ she said complacently”

p. 90

Penguin edition

Based on the context, I think complacently means in a self-satisfied manner.

bemused

“They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing , each mind was
popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about”

p. 60

Penguin edition

Based on the context, think bemused means unable to think clearly.

reverently

“This thing they had never really believed in was coming true. George
said
reverently, 'Jesus Christ! I bet I could swing her'...I bet we could swing her,’
he repeated softly.”

p. 60

Penguin edition

Based on the context, I think this word means with respect or admiration.

reprehensible

“When Candy spoke they both jumped as though they had been caught doing
something reprehensible”

p.59

Penguin edition

Based on the context, think reprehensible means something unacceptable or deserving punishment.

mollified

“. . . he don’t,’ said George, slightly mollified, ‘not if he wants to stay
workin’ long’”

p. 27

Penguin edition

Based on the context, I think mollified means to calm or soothe someone who is upset.

Deflated

Deflated


To release air?


"She got deflated about life, I suppose you'd say."

Righteous

Righteous


I believe this means having power? I'm not sure though.


"Jesus had righteous indignation when he turned over the tables in the temple and drove out the thieving moneychangers."

Organdy

Organdy


I think this means stiff fabric?


"The curtains were organdy, not your average white organdy but silver-gray, so the air came through with a slightly smokey shimmer."

woodenly

woodenly


I think this means stiff or awkwardly?


"He said woodenly, "If I was alone I could live so easy."

page 69
chapter 1

appreciation

appreciation


It is kind of hard to explain but I think it means to give recogniton to someone or something.


"Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea."

page 59

chapter 6

pugnacious

pugnacious


inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative.


"His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious."

page 25
chapter 5

monotonous

monotonous


Tediously repetitious or lacking in variety. (Boring as well)


"George Shook himself. He said woodenly, "If I was alone i could live so easy." His voice was monotonous, had no emphasis. "

page 69
chapter 1

junctures

"...carrying in the lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's
flooding..."

page 1

Chapter 1

Penguin Classic

I think this means to to join together.

Denomination

denomination

Lowering your standards, opposite of being nominated.

"I had no idea what sort of denomination Orthodox Eclectic was, but I nodded like we had a big group of them back in Sylvan."

Indignation

indignation

I have no idea what this means.

P87

"Rightious indignation is what Brothet Gerald called it "Jesus had rightious indignation when he turned over the tables in the Temple and drove out the money changers."

Salvation

Salvation

In think salvation means being saved.

P.58 chp. 3

"We were to offer them the 5-part plan of salvation, which they could accept or not."

Consternation

Pg 64

Ch3

"He thought the tone of shock in my voice was really consternation".


I think consternation means fear.

Blaspheme

Pg 44

Ch. 2

Rosaleen said "You can curse me, but don't blaspheme the Lord Jesus".

I think Blaspheme means to curse or be profound

jilted

chapter 6
page 103
line12

"afraid this situation of jilted love might be unfortunate enough to send may into one of her episodes."


i beleive jilted means unexpected

pomade

chapter 4
page 71
line 24

"i could smell nothing than but the pomade on her hair"


pomade is a type of hair product

Apprentice

Chapter 12
Pg. 311

"I took on the role of apprentice fiction writer."

An apprentice is a person who works for another to learn a trade; a learner; a novice.

Exertion

Chapter 12
Pg. 294

"I'd heard the grunt of exertion escape his lips as the blow landed, seen the momentary bulge of his eyes."

Exertion means vigorous action or effort.

Bona Fide

Chapter 5 (couldn't find in chapter 12)
Pg. 85

"Rosaleen would like to say May's a bona fide candidate for the nut house"

Bona fide means made, done, presented, or authentic.

High-Caliber

Chapter 8
Pg. 137

"I pictured myself eating three-tiered chocolate cake for breakfast throughout
the enitre month, staying up an hour after bedtime writing high-caliber stories and poems."

I have no clue what high-caliber means, but my guess is that it is meant in a good way.

cicada

ch. 11

pg 228

"The cicadas were going crazy, filling the air with their strange brand of singing."

I think cicadas are large insects that make noises.

contemplate

ch. 10

page 211

"Contemplating is more like it."

I think the word contemplate means to think about something.

catacombs

ch. 10

page 206

"No, but back when the Christians hid from the Romans down in the catacombs, they used to scratch pictures of the bees on the walls."

I think catacombs are underground caves.

Parsonage

Ch.1

Pg. 31

"When we'd cut through the parsonage yard and were back on the highway..."

I think that this word means churchyard.

Perimeter

Ch 1

Pg. 28

"They crawled on their stalk legs around the curved perimeters of the glass as
if the world had shrunk to that jar."

I think that this word means edges or sides.

Oblivious

Ch.1

Pg. 21

"Hallelujah, Jesus," Reosaleen was saying over there on her stool. Oblivious"

I think that this word means unaware.

Okra

Chapter 8
Pg. 152

"The whole house smelled of fried okra."

I believe okra must be some kind of southern dish.

Gizzard

Chapter 8
Pg. 148

"No, you take the chicken breast. I'm just fine with the neck and gizzard, really."

I think a gizzard is just a part of a chicken.

Stethoscope

Chapter 8
Pg. 142

"I swear if you listen to my chest with a stethoscope,
what you'd hear is that storygoing on and on in my Big Mama's voice."

I'm pretty sure a stethoscope is a tool used by doctor's to listen to heartbeats.

Sprig

Chapter 2

Page 42

"Goodbye," I said, and there was a tiny sprig of sadness pushing up from my heart.

I think this must mean "feeling."  I have no idea.

Cowlick

Chapter 1
page 9

"My hair was black like my mother's but basically a nest of cowlicks."

I believe that a cowlick is a noun that is used to describe a knot or knots in someones hair. Lily had previously described how her hair looked awful because she didn't have a mother to brush it, so naturally, her hair would have many knots or "cowlicks" in it.

Orneriness

Chapter 1
page 3

"He had an orneriness year-round, but especially in the summer, when he worked
in his peach orchards daylight to dusk."

I think that orneriness is a noun that means a bad mood or attitude. Lily says that T. Ray's "orneriness" is worse in the summer when he's working all day. This led me to think that it would be something that would worsen according to how irritated and tired you are. In this case T. Ray must get irritated by working all day so his mood or his "orneriness" is worsened.

Presumptuous

Chapter 1
page 2

"I know it is presumptuous to compare my
small life to hers, but I have reason to believe she wouldn't mind..."

I believe that presumptuous is an adjective describing something that is assumed or presumed. Lily is saying that she knows that she's just assuming that her life is like her mother's. She only assumes this because she doesn't really know that much about her mother's life.

Welcome to The Vocablog!

Welcome to American Literature! Mrs. Lowe's class is trying an experiment this year: we're taking our vocabulary lists from the texts we're reading in class. This blog will be a forum for us to share definitions and references with one another.

Here's all you need to know about posting on this site:

• Please use your alias at ALL TIMES.  This is for your protection.  Plus, it's fun to try to figure out who everyone is.  :)
• Under the "Posting" tab, select "New Post."  The title of the post should be the vocabulary word.  That's all -- just one word.  Whatever information you have about it goes in the post itself: context in which the word is used, your guess about the definition, links to the definition or other uses of the word.  In the "Labels" box, put the complete title of the book (in this case, "The Secret Life of Bees."
• Feel free to comment on others' posts, even (especially!) if you disagree with the author.  No non-class member is allowed to comment, though anyone can read the posts, so feel free to send them to all your closest friends.  You've probably already done this, right?

Happy Vocablogging!