Freshmen English I – To Kill A Mockingbird – 100 Great Vocabulary Words
Word Definition – Synonyms
1. aberration (noun) abnormality, deviation, departure from the “norm”
2. amble (verb) to walk slowly or casually; to stroll or saunter
3 apothecary (noun) pharmacist; person who dispenses medicines
4. assuage (verb) to relieve pain or discomfort; alleviate
5. attire (noun) articles of clothing, apparel, habiliments
6. brethren (noun) brothers, siblings, members of a close-knit community
7. chattels (noun) moveable personal property
8. dictum (noun) wise saying
9. domicile (noun) home or dwelling place; place of residence
10. eaves (noun) roof edges
11. erratic (adj) following no fixed course; haphazard, directionless
12. expound (verb) to explain or elaborate
13. foray (noun) excursion into unknown or enemy territory – usually to spy or plunder
14. fractious (adj) mean, cross, surly, ill-tempered, moody, irascible
15. fraught (adj) full, full of; laden, brimming
16. gape (verb) to stare at with mouth wide open
17. gastric (adj) pertaining to the stomach
18. impotent (adj) weak, helpless, powerless, ineffective
19. imprudent (adj) showing bad judgment
20. impudent (adj) brazenly rude and disrespectful
21. indigenous (adj) native to a particular location
22. invective (noun) verbally abusive speech (full of disparaging remarks)
23. legislature (noun) law-making branch of government
24. malevolent (adj) intending harm or evil; having bad motives
25. malignant (adj) causing harm or evil
26. mortify (verb) to shame, humiliate or embarrass
27. nocturnal (adj) happening at night or pertaining to the nighttime
28. piety (noun) outward religious devotion
29. predilection (noun) preference for or tendency toward something
30. prowess (noun) superior skill or ability
31. quell (verb) to quiet, pacify or subdue
32. repertoire (noun) a collection of something – usually musical pieces or artistic works
33. smilax (noun) vine used for decoration
34. sojourn (noun) a brief journey
35. strictures (noun) strict rules or restrictions
36. tyrannical (adj) abusing one’s power; acting in a dictatorial, arrogant, supercilious manner
37. unsullied (adj) clean, pure, unsoiled
38. vapid (adj) empty, shallow, devoid of content
39. veranda (noun) terrace, porch – roofed open gallery or portico attached to the exterior of a building
40. vexation (noun) state of annoyance or irritation
41. wallow (verb) to indulge in to excess
42. wane (verb) to fade or grow weaker
43. flivver (noun) old, junky car
44. scuppernong (noun) green table grapes
45. aggregation (noun ) a large group, crowd or collection of similar elements
46. bewilderment (noun) state of confusion or disorientation
47. caricature (noun) an exaggerated image or effigy that makes fun of someone
48. façade (noun) the face or front of something – usually of a building
49. iota (noun) a very small amount; a speck, a jot, a miniscule portion;
50. lavations (noun) rituals of washing or bathing
51. lineaments (noun physical features or characteristics; external attributes
52. manacles (noun) shackles, handcuffs, restraints (usually metal)
53. prerogatives (noun) special rights and privileges; perks, advantages
54. rectitude (noun) proper moral conduct or a sense of right and wrong ; conscience
55. rudiments (noun) the basic elements or fundamentals
56. temerity (noun) foolish, rash bravery or brazen conduct, high-risk behavior
57. torso (noun) the “trunk” of the body – without legs, arms or head
58. venue (noun) location where something is held – typically a court case or other public event
59. acquiesce (verb) to give into or go along with
60. edify (verb) to teach or enlighten
61. evade (verb) to avoid or seek to move away from
62. heave (verb) to lift upward with great exertion
63. impair (verb) to weaken or damage
64. omit (verb) to leave out or exclude
65. stifle (verb) to hold back or suppress
66. tarry (verb) to delay or linger or take “one’s sweet time” about getting somewhere
67. undulate (verb) to make wave-like motions
68. adjacent (adj) next to, adjoining, juxtaposed with
69. asinine (adj) ridiculous or stupid to the point of absurdity
70. apoplectic (adj) furious or enraged to the point of paralysis
71. austere (adj) harsh, severe, unadorned, no frills
72. benign (adj) good, beneficial, salutary, producing good
73. cordial (adj) friendly with good manners mixed in
74. diligent (adj) hard-working, industrious, committed to a chore
75. ecclesiastical (adj) pertaining to the church as an institution
76. fey (adj) slightly odd, strange or mildly eccentric
77. frivolous (adj) silly, foolish, shallow, superficial, insipid
78. garish (adj) overly dressed or decorated, excessively bright, glaring, showy
79. ingenuous (adj) simple and innocent; guileless
80. myopic (adj) short-sighted; having a narrow range of visio
81. passe’ (adj) out of date; obsolete, no longer trendy, so “last year”
82. unfathomable (adj) impossible to figure out; unthinkable, inscrutable
83. venerable (adj) old, well-established, stately, dignified, worthy of respect
84. viscous (adj) thick, sticky and wet; syrupy
85. akimbo (adj) hands on hips, elbows jutting outward
86. trousseau (adj) a bride’s wardrobe
87. cynic/cynical (noun/adj) suspicious or distrustful of other peolple and their motives; believing that other people are basically selfish and greedy
88. pauper (noun) a person without money or resources
89. feral (adj) wild, savage, bestial, out of control, untamed
90. ruefully (adv) full of regrets and misgivings
91. vehement (adj) forceful and energetic; zealous, passionate
92. bovine (adj) cow-like or cattle-like
93. brevity (noun) the noun form of “brief” – fleeting, of short duration
94. squalid / squalor (adj/noun) filthy living conditions
95. veneer (noun) the outer surface of something concealing what is underneath
96. remorse (noun) feeling sorrow or guilt for having done something wrong
97. reclusive /recluse (adj/noun) someone who stays inside or keeps away from other people
98. spurious (adv) not-genuine; inauthentic; seeming to be but not actually being
99. notoriety (noun) fame, popularity, renown
100. nondescript (adj) having no special qualities or characteristics; average, mediocre; non “attention-grabbing”
Freshmen English I – To Kill a Mockingbird – Second Vocabulary List
Nouns Definition
1. aggregation a large group, crowd or collection of similar elements
2. bewilderment state of confusion
3. caricature an exaggerated image or effigy that makes fun of someone
4. façade the front or front of something – usually of a building
5. iota a very small amount; a speck, a jot, a miniscule portion;
6. lavations rituals of washing or bathing
7. lineaments physical features or characteristics
8. manacles shackles, handcuffs
9. prerogatives special rights and privilege
10. rectitude proper moral conduct or a sense of right and wrong
11. rudiments the basic elements or skills
12. temerity foolish, rash bravery or brazen conduct, high-risk behavior
13. torso the “trunk” of the body – without legs, arms or head
14. venue location where something is held – typically a court case or other public event
Verbs Definitions
15. acquiesce to give into or go along with
16. edify to teach or enlighten
17. evade to avoid or seek to move away from
18. heave to lift upward with great exertion
19. impair to weaken or damage
20. omit to leave out or exclude
21. stifle to hold back or suppress
22. tarry to delay or linger or take “one’s sweet time” about getting somewhere
23. undulate to make wave-like motions
Adjectives Definition
24. adjacent next to, adjoining, juxtaposed with
25. asinine ridiculous or stupid to the point of absurdity
26. apoplectic furious or enraged to the point of paralysis
27. austere harsh, severe, unadorned, no frills
28. benign good, beneficial, salutary, producing good
29. cordial friendly with good manners mixed in
30. diligent hard-working, industrious, committed to a chore
31. ecclesiastical pertaining to the church as an institution
32. fey slightly odd, strange or mildly eccentric
33. frivolous silly, foolish, shallow, superficial
34. garish overly dressed or decorated, excessively bright, glaring, showy
35. ingenuous simple and innocent; guileless
36. myopic short-sighted; having a narrow range of vision
37. passe’ out of date; obsolete, no longer trendy, so “last year”
38. unfathomable impossible to figure out; unthinkable, inscrutable
39. venerable old, well-established, and worthy of respect
40. viscous thick, sticky and wet; syrupy
Bonus Words
41. akimbo hands on hip
42. trousseau a bride’s wardrobe
Freshmen English I – To Kill A Mockingbird – First Vocabulary List
Word Definition – Synonyms
1. aberration (noun) abnormality, deviation, departure from the “norm”
2. amble (verb) to walk slowly or casually; to stroll or saunter
3 apothecary (noun) pharmacist; person who dispenses medicines
4. assuage (verb) to relieve pain or discomfort; alleviate
5. attire (noun) articles of clothing, apparel, habiliments
6. brethren (noun) brothers, siblings, members of a close-knit community
7. chattels (noun) moveable personal property
8. dictum (noun) wise saying
9. domicile (noun) home or dwelling place; place of residence
10. eaves (noun) roof edges
11. erratic (adj) following no fixed course; haphazard, directionless
12. expound (verb) to explain or elaborate
13. foray (noun) excursion into unknown or enemy territory – usually to spy or plunder
14. fractious (adj) mean, cross, surly, ill-tempered, moody, irascible
15. fraught (adj) full, full of; laden, brimming
16. gape (verb) to stare at with mouth wide open
17. gastric (adj) pertaining to the stomach
18. impotent (adj) weak, helpless, powerless, ineffective
19. imprudent (adj) showing bad judgment
20. impudent (adj) brazenly rude and disrespectful
21. indigenous (adj) native to a particular location
22. invective (noun) verbally abusive speech (full of disparaging remarks)
23. legislature (noun) law-making branch of government
24. malevolent (adj) intending harm or evil; having bad motives
25. malignant (adj) causing harm or evil
26. mortify (verb) to shame, humiliate or embarrass
27. nocturnal (adj) happening at night or pertaining to the nighttime
28. piety (noun) outward religious devotion
29. predilection (noun) preference for or tendency toward something
30. prowess (noun) superior skill or ability
31. quell (verb) to quiet, pacify or subdue
32. repertoire (noun) a collection of something – usually musical pieces or artistic works
33. smilax (noun) vine used for decoration
34. sojourn (noun) a brief journey
35. strictures (noun) rules and restrictions
36. tyrannical (adj) abusing one’s power; acting in a dictatorial, arrogant, supercilious manner
37. unsullied (adj) clean, pure, unsoiled
38. vapid (adj) empty, shallow, devoid of content
39. veranda (noun) balcony
40. vexation (noun) annoyance or irritation
41. wallow (verb) to indulge in to excess
42. wane (verb) to fade or grow weaker
Bonus Words
flivver (noun) old, junky car
scuppernong (noun) green table grapes
Short Story Vocabulary –List #2
1. leisure (noun) – time free from work or duties; time spent on rest and relaxation; “down time”
2. reticent (adj) – non-talkative, using only a few words at a time to communicate; taciturn, laconic
3. tatters/tattered (noun/adj) – ripped to shreds; torn, ragged, shredded, shorn
4. tentative/ly (adj/adv) – hesitant to make a full decision; not fully committed to; unconfirmed
5. sultry (adj) – hot and humid, muggy, sweltering, tropical
6. emphatic /ally (adj)/adv) – said or done with emphasis; forceful, vehement,
7. petulant (adj) – fretful, moody, peevish, easily upset, edgy, quarrelsome, querulous
8. pinafore (noun) – a sleeveless dress or apron (an older article of clothing than is typically seen today).
9. dissent/er (noun) – going against the majority opinion or someone who goes against the majority;
10. pestilence (noun) – a contagious disease, epidemic or plague; something that spreads rapidly
11.avatar (noun) – the visible sign or embodiment of an invisible or larger force
12. hale (adj) – healthy, hearty, robust, vital, intact
13. courtiers (noun) – “hangers-on” at court; typically people who serve, advise or flatter the King and Queen and who thereby look for favors from people in power
14. brazen (adj) – rude, insolent, impudent, audacious, taking liberties with the rules of law and decorum
15. habiliments (noun) – articles of clothing, customary garments, parts of a uniform or costume
16. decorum (noun) – proper behavior in public or rules of behavior; propriety
17. revelers (noun) – party-goers, celebrants, merry-makers
18 prostrate (adj) – prone, sprawled out flat on the ground
19. impede (verb) – to hinder, obstruct or “get in the way of”
20. throng (noun) – a crowd, large group or aggregation of people
21. untenanted (adj) – uninhabited, empty, vacuous, unoccupied
22. frivolous (adj) – silly, foolish, fatuous, insipid, non-serious
23. zeal/ous (noun/adj) – extreme devotion to the point of fanaticism; passion for a person or cause
24. ethereal (adj) – delicate, refined, light and airy, angelic, other-worldly
25. cleave (verb) – to cling to, to adhere
26. vigilance (noun) – watchfulness, attentiveness, concern, solicitude
27. hindrances (noun) – obstacles, impediments, barriers, blockages
28. periphery (noun) – edge, boundary, border, perimeter or circumference
29. sagacity/sagacious (noun/adj) – wisdom, good judgment, prudence, common sense
30. disapprobation (noun) – disapproval, condemnation, censure
“The Monkey’s Paw“(List #1)
perils – placidly – amiably – bog – rubicund – visage – proffered – plagues – grimace – talisman – marred – prosaic – credulity – furtively – liability – apathy – bibulous – stealth – fusillade – reverberate – avert – avarice/avaricious – dubious – malign/ed – apparel
“The Beginning of Grief”
leisure – periphery – sheen – tint – reticent – maneuver – sanctimonious – reverence – tattered – splayed – tentative/ly
“The Storyteller”
sultry – emphatically – fatuous – rarity – resolute – petulant – deplorable unenterprising – punctuality – pinafore – dissenting/dissenter – assail
“The Masque of the Red Death”
pestilence – avatar – scarlet – dauntless – sagacious – hale – egress – courtiers countenance – brazen – habiliments – scrutiny – cessation – ebony disapprobation – decorum – revelers – mummer – unimpeded – prostrate cerements – dominion – giddy – sedate – impede – throng – untenanted
“The Bet”
a priori – frivolous – pampered – zealous – theology – emaciated – ethereal – crimson – cleave/cleaving
“Harrison Bergeron”
vigilance/vigilant – impediments – hindrances