To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary List 3

cynical (adj.) • Distrusting of human nature • “I ain’t cynical Miss Alexandra. Tellin’ the truth’s not cynical is it?

fatalistic (adj.) • Believing the worst • “Don’t you oh well me, sir,” Miss Maudie replied recognizing Jem’s fatalistic noises.

ruefully (adv.) • Sorrowfully • Jem grinned ruefully. “Wish the rest of the county thought that.”

furtive (adj.) • Sneaky • “What on Earth could Ewell do to me, sister?” “Something furtive,” Aunt Alexandra said.

stolidly (adv.) • Matter-of-factly • “Doesn’t make it right,” said Jemstolidly.

sordid (adj.) • Despicable, repulsive • I guess it’s to protect frail ladies fromsordidcases like Tom’s.

squalid (adj.) • Filthy • I heard Mrs. Grace Merriweather give a report on the squalid lives of the Mruna tribe.

apprehension (n) • Anxiety • Ladies in bunches always filled me with vague apprehension.

largo (n) • Slow tempo • She said in a statelylargo, “The cooks and the field hands are just dissatisfied, but they’re settling down now.”

demise (n) • Death • He met an untimely demise.

veneer (n) • False front • That Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer is mighty thin.

ceased (v) • Stopped • The Radley place had ceased to terrify me.

spurious (adj.) • Phony, worthless • The rural children brought clippings from the Grit paper, a publication spurious with our teacher.

notoriety (n) • The quality of being widely and unfavorably known • His job lasted only as long as his notoriety.

purloined (v) • Stolen • She was sure those traveling fur traders who came around two days ago hadpurloinedtheir furniture.

To Kill a Mockingbird