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Mr. VogelsingerName_________________________Academic and Advanced English 9To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List1. assuage (verb)Synonyms: calm, mitigate, allayDefinition: to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; to soothe or calm; to appeaseTKAM: “When it healed, and Jem’s fears about never being able to play football again were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury” (1). The mother’s voice assuaged the sobbing infant, and finally he began to snooze. Your Sentence: 2. allege (verb) Synonyms: state, tell, testifyDefinition: to state without proof; to declare before a courtTKAM: “The Haverfords had dispatched Maycomb’s leading blacksmith in a misunderstanding arising from the alleged wrongful detention of a mare” (5). The prosecutors alleged that the defendant was guilty of assault and battery. 3. compel (verb)Synonyms: to make or forceDefinition: to force or drive, especially to a course of actionTKAM: “Now that I was compelled to think about it, reading was something that just came to me” (17). The teacher compelled the students to write an apology note over their lunch period. 4. quell (verb)Synonyms: subdue, allayDefinition: to suppress; put an end to; to extinguishTKAM: “Through all the head-shaking, quelling of nausea, and Jem-yelling, I heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing” (41). He tried to quell his nervousness before approaching the stage for his speech. 5. quibble (verb)Synonyms: certain, correctDefinition: to argue over trivial mattersTKAM: “Jem decided there was no point in quibbling and was silent” (187). The friends quibbled over seating at the lunch table. 6. rudiments (noun)ROO duh ment Synonyms: basics, essentialsDefinition: the elementary stages of any subjectTKAM: “When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns” (Lee 119). Because he was not good at the rudiments of English, he had difficulty writing his English paper. 7. articulate (adjective)are TIK yuh late Synonyms: comprehensible, eloquentDefinition: able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectivelyTKAM: “Jem became vaguely articulate: ‘d you see him, Scout?’” (129). An announcer must be articulate. A good politician must be able to articulate his views. 8. melancholy (adjective)MEL un kol ee Synonyms: gloomy, somberDefinition: a feeling of sadness and of being without hopeTKAM: “If [Mrs. Dubose] was on the porch when we passes, we would be rakes by her wrathful gaze, subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing” (132). After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy. 9. obstreperous (adjective)Synonyms: rudeDefinition: resisting control or restraint; noisy, unruly and boisterousTKAM: “Such conduct as yours requires little understanding. It was obstreperous, disorderly, and abusive” (85). My neighbor’s obstreperous dog barks for hours. 10. rectitude (noun)REK teh tood Synonyms: honesty, integrityDefinition: a very moral and correct way of acting.TKAM: “In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what made him break the bonds of ‘You just be a gentleman, son,’ and the phase of self-conscious rectitude he had recently entered” (136). When the preacher’s rectitude was questioned, many left his congregation. 11. tranquil (adjective)TRANG kwul Synonyms: gentle, mildDefinition: Calm, still, and quietTKAM: “[. . .] [Atticus] had a naturally tranquil disposition and a slow fuse” (136). I enjoy vacationing at our beach house because the surroundings are tranquil, and I can relax. 12. protrude (verb)pro TROODSynonyms: extend, projectDefinition: to be farther forward than the rest of somethingTKAM: “[Mrs. Dubose’s] bottom plate [of teeth] was not in, and her upper lip protruded. . .” (142). A large protrusion on his head was the result of being hit by a car. 13. propensity (noun)pruh PEN si tee Synonyms: predisposition, tendencyDefinition: a natural tendency to behave in a particular wayTKAM: “Mrs. Dubose would hound Jem for a while of her favorite subjects, her camellias and our father’s propensities” (144). I have a propensity for staying up late and sleeping late. 14. frivolous (adjective)FRIV uh lus Synonyms: childish, foolishDefinition: behaving in a silly way in situations where you should be behaving in a serious or sensible wTKAM: “[The cartoon] showed Atticus barefooted and in short pants, chained to a desk; he was diligently writing on a slate while some frivolous- looking girls yelled, ‘Yoo-hoo!” at him” (155). A teacher should limit frivolous behavior in the classroom. 15. propel (verb)pro PEL Synonyms: launch, impel Definition: to move or push someone or something forward TKAM: “I wanted to stay and explore, but Calpurnia propelled me up the aisle ahead of her” (163). Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job. 16. formidable (adjective)FORE meh duh bul Synonyms: intimidating, menancingDefinition: very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore deserving respect and often difficult to deal withTKAM: “[The corset] managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra’s was once an hour-glass figure. From any angle, it was formidable” (171). The retired boxer Mohammad Ali was a formidable opponent in his time. Your Sentence: 17. oblique uh BLEEK Synonyms: at an angleDefinition: not expressing something directlyTKAM: “[. . .] but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was” (173). Because of the suspect’s oblique answers, our interrogation of him led us in the wrong direction. 18. edification (noun)ED uh fie ing Synonyms: guidance, enhancementDefinition: uplifting enlightenmentTKAM: “Still, everything he read he passes along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought I’d like it; now, for my edification and instruction” (184). Visiting the cathedral was an edifying experience. 19. reverent (adjective)reh VER ent Synonyms: appreciative, politeDefinition: feeling or expressing a great deal of admiration and respectTKAM: “Jem raised the broom and missed Dill’s head by an inch when it appeared. ‘God Almighty,’ Jem’s voice was reverent” (186). Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope. 20. infallible (adjective)in FAL uh bul Synonyms: certain, correctDefinition: not capable of making mistakesTKAM: “[Dill] traveled with the show all over Mississippi until his infallible sense of direction told him he was in Abbott County, Alabama. . .” (187). Since everyone makes mistakes, no human is infallible. Many people feel that God is infallible. ................
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