Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Vocabulary Raucous
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Vocabulary
Raucous What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Raucous The crowd’s raucous laughter could be heard outside. Christopher John’s whistling increased to a raucous, nervous shrill… (5) Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Raucous Rough-sounding; harsh (adj. ) Loud; unpleasant The crowd’s raucous laughter could be heard outside.
Sharecropping What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Sharecropping The sharecropping family grew mostly tobacco and cotton. “Beyond the protective fencing of the forest, vast farming fields, worked by a multitude of sharecropping families, covered two thirds of a ten-square-mile plantation. ” (6) Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Sharecropping A system of farming in the South that developed after the Civil War (n. ) Farming The sharecropping family grew mostly tobacco and cotton.
Emaciated What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Emaciated Jane was so emaciated from not eating that she was too weak to perform her daily tasks. “…a tall emaciated-looking boy popped suddenly from a forest trail and swung a thin arm around Stacey” (8). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Emaciated To make extremely thin (adj. ) Thin, withered Jane was so emaciated from not eating that she was too weak to perform her daily tasks.
Dismally What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Dismally Fred stared dismally at the burning embers of his former home. “Little Man shook a threatening fist into the thick air, then looked dismally down at himself” (13). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Dismally Causing gloom; cheerless (adj. ) Gloomy; hopeless Fred stared dismally at the burning embers of his former home.
Transposed What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Transposed The director transposed the formation of the marching band to generate a more creative show. “As Jeremy and his sister and brothers hurried toward those transposed flags, we turned eastward toward our home” (15). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Transposed To change position, order, or sequence (v. ) Rearrange; reorder The director transposed the formation of the marching band to generate a more creative show.
Dubious What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Dubious The student offered the teacher a dubious excuse for not turning him his homework. “…I resolved to make the best of my rather dubious position” (21). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Dubious Questionable, and uncertain (adj. ) Unclear, Suspicious The student offered the teacher a dubious excuse for not turning him his homework.
Maverick What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Maverick An artistic maverick, Johnny Depp transcends your typical Hollywood star. “(Mama) was still considered by many of the other teachers as a disrupting maverick” (30). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Maverick A person who refuses to conform and acts independently (adj. ) Nonconformist; Rebel The artistic maverick, Johnny Depp transcends your typical Hollywood star.
Ornate What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Ornate I stood awestruck as I stared at the ornate tomb of Cleopatra. “The furniture…included a walnut bed whose ornate headboard rose halfway up the wall toward the high ceiling” (36). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Ornate Elaborately designed; flashy, showy (adj. ) Elaborate; luxurious I stood awestruck as I stared at the ornate tomb of Cleopatra.
Resiliency What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Resiliency Already looking toward the next game, Tom showed great resiliency after the difficult loss. “At first the rain had merely splotched the dust, which seemed to be rejoicing in its own resiliency and laughing at the heavy drops thudding against it” (42). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Resiliency The ability to recover quickly to original form/state (n. ) Bounce back; elastic; tough Already looking toward the next game, Tom showed great resiliency after the difficult loss.
Emitted What do you think this word means? What part of speech is it?
Emitted The skunk emitted a gut-wrenching scent that contaminated the entire basement. “We were not fond of the skins, for once they were wet they emitted a musty odor…” (43). Now, what do you think it means? What part of speech is it?
Emitted To issue, to give force, to send off (v. ) Give off; release The skunk emitted a gut-wrenching scent that contaminated the entire basement.
Oblivious Flipping through the newspaper as I strolled to work, I was oblivious to the banana peel on the sidewalk. “And for once in his life, Little Man was happily oblivious to the mud spattering upon him” (51). Def: Unconscious, unaware (adj)
Adamantly Many Americans have been adamantly opposed to the War in Iraq. “ ‘No! We can’t ever tell nobody!’ declared Stacey adamantly” (64). Def: Hard to break, inflexible, rigid (adj/adv with -ly)
Confer Before making a decision, Jim needed to confer with his wife. “…it occurred to me that it was probably the boys coming to confer with me” (66). Def: Discuss, consult (v)
Admonished After discovering Jane’s lie, Jane’s mother admonished her bad behavior. “T. J. ’s eyes roamed the length of the room, then he admonished, ‘See, if you was smart like me, Stacey, you’d use the old brain to get the questions on that big test comin’ up’ ” (72). Def: To correct or caution critically, reprimand (v)
Haughtily He peered haughtily down his nose at me. “ ‘Well, you don’t have to get snippety about it, ’ replied T. J. haughtily” (73). Def: snobbish, scornful, arrogant (adj/adv with -ly)
Feigned She feigned excitement upon receiving a bag of rocks from her grandparents for her birthday. “I nudged Christopher-John and Christopher. John nudged Little Man, and the three of us forced ourselves to stare into the fire in feigned disinterest ” (74). Def: pretend, to give a false appearance (adj)
Proprietors The proprietors of Caribou Coffee have excelled in creating a unique, northwoods atmosphere. “She also spoke of finding another store to patronize, one where the proprietors were more concerned about the welfare of the community” (98). Def: owners (n)
Retaliated After being knocked to his knees by an inside fastball, Kyler retaliated on the next pitch by zinging a line-drive past the pitcher’s ear. “ ‘I already know what I am, ’ I retaliated” (112). Def: to pay back; to return like for like or evil for evil. (v)
Sullenly Discovering that he failed the math test, Jason trudged sullenly out of the room. “He crossed the street sullenly then, his hands jammed in his pockets” (113). Def: a gloomy silence or mood (adj; adv with ly)
Ambled Lindsey ambled through the park contemplating the meaning of life. “Instead, I ambled along the sidewalk trying to understand why Mr. Barnett had acted the way he had ” (113). Def: to walk in a slow, easy-like manner; stroll. (v)
Languidly Exhausted, Stan languidly waved at us after the marathon. “Uncle stopped the car at the intersection and…motioned languidly at the Wallace store” (137 -138). Def: lacking energy or spirit; weak. (adj; adv with -ly)
Placid It was easy to find peace sitting near the placid waters of Lake Jenny. “He was a long, thin man in his mid-fifties with a perfect lawyer face, so placid that it was difficult to guess what thoughts lay behind it” (160). Def: calm or peaceful. (adj)
Boycott Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white man sparked the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott. “But even more important than all that, you’re pointing a finger right at the Wallaces with this boycott business” (164). Def: to hold back from buying, using, or dealing with in protest. (v)
Insolently “No!” replied the toddler insolently. “Uncle Hammer eyed him insolently” (168). Def: disrespectful, rude. (adj; adv with -ly)
Jovial His once jovial nature disappeared after his mother died. “…it was obvious that the jovial mask that T. J. always wore had been stripped away” (177). Def: happy-go-lucky; good-humored (adj)
Amenities It is important to learn how to use appropriate amenities when greeting someone. “ ‘You goin’ up to the store tomorrow, David? ’ Mr. Avery asked after all the amenities had been said” (203). Def: social courtesies. (n)
Lethargically On Saturday, he hung around the house lethargically. “The heat swooped low over the land…and through it people moved slowly, lethargically, as if under water” (227). Def: slow; tired (adj; adv with -ly)
Crescendo As the music reached a deafening crescendo, I got the shivers! “A crescendo of ugly hate rose from the men as the second car approached” (254). Def: a gradual increase in intensity or sound (n)
Traipsing Tom and his dog Buddy traipsed down the muddy trail oblivious to the mess it was creating. “ ‘I’m gonna teach all of y’all ‘bout traipsing off in the middle of the night…’ ” (258). Def: walking without purpose. (v)
Menacingly As the graveyard caretaker menacingly approached us, we quickly turned and ran away. “…the thunder banged menacingly overhead. ” (260). Def: threatening (adj; adv with -ly)
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