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!