TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE Chapters

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE Chapters 6 -11 Vocabulary

COMMOTION Part of Speech: noun Definition: agitation; noisy disturbance Sentence from the Novel: “‘Where were you all, didn’t you hear the commotion? ’” – Chapter 6

ARTICULATE Part of Speech: adjective Definition: capable of speech; not speechless Sentence from the Novel: “Jem became vaguely articulate: ‘‘d you see him, Scout? ‘d you see him just standin’ there? … ‘n’ all of a sudden he just relaxed all over, an’ it looked like that gun was a part of him … an’ he did it so quick, like … I hafta aim for ten minutes ‘fore I can hit somethin’ … ’” – Chapter 10

PUNY Part of Speech: adjective Definition: of less than normal size and strength; weak Sentence from the Novel: “‘Shoot no wonder, then, ’ said Jem, jerking his thumb at me. ‘Scout yonder’s been readin’ ever since she was born, and she ain’t even started to school yet. You look right puny for goin’ on seven. ” – Chapter 1

INORDINATE Part of Speech: adjective Definition: not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive Sentence from the Novel: “‘You sound like Cousin Ike Finch, ’ I said. Cousin Ike Finch was Maycomb County’s sole surviving Confederate veteran. He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain. ” – Chapter 9

CHANGELING Part of Speech: noun Definition: (in folklore) an ugly, stupid, or strange child left by fairies in place of a pretty, charming child Sentence from the Novel: “Aunt Alexandra was Atticus’ sister, but when Jem told me about changelings and siblings, I decided that she had been swapped at birth, that my grandparents had perhaps received a Crawford instead of a Finch. ” – Chapter 9

MALIGNANT Part of Speech: adjective Definition: disposed to cause harm, suffering, or distress deliberately; feeling or showing ill will or hatred Sentence from the Novel: “Every night-sound I heard from my cot on the back porch was magnified three-fold; every scratch of feet on gravel was Boo Radley seeking revenge, every passing Negro laughing in the night was Boo Radley loose and after us; insects splashing against the screen were Boo Radley’s insane fingers picking the wire to pieces; the chinaberry trees were malignant, hovering, alive. ” – Chapter 6

MORTIFY Part of Speech: verb Definition: to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one’s pride or self-respect Sentence from the Novel: “If Uncle Atticus lets you run around with stray dogs, that’s his own business, like Grandma says, so it ain’t your fault. I guess it ain’t your fault if Uncle Atticus is [representing Tom Robinson] besides, but I’m here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family. ” – Chapter 9

OPPRESSIVE Part of Speech: adjective Definition: causing discomfort by being excessive, intense, elaborate, etc. Sentence from the Novel: “An oppressive odor met us when we crossed the threshold, an odor I had met many times in rain-rotted gray houses where there are coal-oil lamps, water dippers, and unbleached domestic sheets. It always made me afraid, expectant, watchful. ” – Chapter 11

PERPLEXITY Part of Speech: noun Definition: the state of being perplexed; confusion; uncertainty Sentence from the Novel: “She must have seen my perplexity. She said, ‘Only thing I worried about last night was all the danger and commotion it caused. This whole neighborhood could have gone up. ’” – Chapter 8

INNATE Part of Speech: adjective Definition: existing in one from birth; inborn; native Sentence from the Novel: “Uncle Jack raised his eyebrows and said nothing. I was proceeding on dim theory, aside from the innate attractiveness of such words, that if Atticus discovered I had picked them up at school he wouldn’t make me go. ” – Chapter 9

ASCERTAINING Part of Speech: verb Definition: finding out definitely; learning with certainty or assurance; determining Sentence from the Novel: “When the new wore off his grandfather’s watch and carrying it became a day’s burdensome task, Jem no longer felt the necessity of ascertaining the hour every five minutes. ” – Chapter 7

COMPENSATION Part of Speech: noun Definition: something given or received as an equivalent for services, debt, loss, injury, suffering, lack, etc. Sentence from the Novel: “No amount of sighing could induce Atticus to let us spend Christmas day at home. We went to Finch’s Landing every Christmas in my memory. The fact that Aunt was a good cook was some compensation for being forced to spend a religious holiday with Francis Hancock. ” – Chapter 9

ESSENCE Part of Speech: noun Definition: the basic, real, and unchanging nature of a thing Sentence from the Novel: “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience – Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man. ” – Chapter 11

INGENUOUS Part of Speech: adjective Definition: innocent; naive Sentence from the Novel: “[Francis Hancock] was a year older than I, and I avoided him on my principle: he enjoyed everything I disapproved of, and disliked my ingenuous diversions. ” – Chapter 9

CONFEDERATE Part of Speech: adjective Definition: of or pertaining to the Confederate States of America Sentence from the Novel: “Atticus picked up the Mobile Press and sat down in the rocking chair Jem had vacated. For the life of me, I did not understand how he could sit there in cold blood and read a newspaper when his only son stood an excellent chance of being murdered with a Confederate Army relic. ” – Chapter 11

Online Text of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee