grassgut

" Lawd, Ah know dat grassgut liver-lipted nigger ain't done took and beat mah baby already!"

pg.22

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

In context the word sounds like an insult used back then and I couldn't find it on Dictionary.com

beaten biscuits

" Then she went to see Nanny in Mrs. Washburn's kitchen on the day for beaten biscuits."

pg.22

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

According to Dictionary.com they are hard, unleavened biscuits made to rise by pounding and folding dough.

treacherous

"An envious heart makes a treacherous ear."

pg.5

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

I've heard it used in dangerous situations such as a hurricane or a "treacherous" storm, so i think it means dangerous.

ecstatic

"She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight."

pg.11

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

According to Dictionary.com it means being in a state of ecstasy; joyful or enraptured.

lacerate

"She bolted upright and peered out of the window and saw Johnny Taylor lacerating her Janie with a kiss."

pg.12

Harper Perennial Modern Classics

I think this word means cutting,or cutting into too.

Languish

I think this means to become weak.

Lickin'

"Round a week later de man brought de picture for Mis' Washburn to see and pay him which she did, then give us all a good lickin'."

p.9
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

I think the means beaten. A punishment.

Mulatto

"She walked around the dence corner and went in the intimate gate with her heaping plate of mulatto rice."

p.4
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

I didn't know what this ment but, the dictionary said it was the first generation offspring of a black person and white person.

Vigorously

"She took the cloth and rubbed vigorously."

p.5
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

This means with force, or energy.

Resignation

"...Never landing until the Wtcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time."

p.1
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

an act of resigning / sign again

delerium

"she noted that even in his delerium he took good aim."

pg.183harper perenial modern classicsanother form of
delerious

sullenly

"'Mis' Janie,'' Hezekiah began sullenly next day, ''you oughtn't 'low dat Tea
Cake tuh de house wid yuh.'"

p. 102
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

I think this means sad or maybe emo. (Sullen Cullen)

bitch's baby

"Ah'm uh bitch's baby round lady people."

p. 36
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

In this context, 'bitch's baby' means puppy.

britches

"Mah britches is just as long as his."

p. 35
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Britches are pants.

metropolis

"Ah means tuh put mah hands tuh de plow heah, and strain every nerve tuh
make dis out town de metropolis uh de state."

p. 42
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

Metropolis refers to a city. (Like the metro bus in the city)

incredulous

"They tried hard to hold it in, but enough indredulous laughter burst our
of their eyes and leaked from the corners of their mouths to inform anyone of
their thoughts."

p. 37
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

This means expressing disbelief. Like "incredible!"

Newel Post

" At the newel post Janie whirled around and for the space of a thought she was lit up like a transfiguation."

Pg 105
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

This is the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs and it supports the handrail.

Wash Board

"When Ah come round de lake 'bout noontime mah wife and some others had ' inn flat on de ground usin' his sides fuh uh wash board."

Pg 52
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

It means a board used to hand wash clothes.

Spittoon

"There was the matter of the spittoons."

Pg 47
Harper Perennial Modern Classics

A spittoon is a bucket where people spit, mostly used by chewers of tobacco and spitting.

Hint- Spit

saw-horses

"The younger boys had to rig up the saw-horses with boards..."

Page 45.

Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

Saw-horses are work horses used to do labor around a farm or a town.