Tom Sawyer

Vocabulary

 

Chapter 1-3
Chapters 4-6
resurrected—raised from the dead
guile--unscrupulous slyness (cunning)
sagacity--wisdom
unalloyed--not weakened
sidling--move sideways
glowering--to stare or look at somebody with anger
derision--contempt(powerful feeling of dislike toward somebody considered to be worthless) or mockery
ambuscade--ambush set for somebody
adamantine--extremely hard or unyielding
melancholy--feeling sadness
straitened--made very difficult, restricted, or narrow
alacrity--promptness or eager and speedy readiness
intrepid--fearless and persistent in the pursuit of something
evanescent--disappearing after only a short time
furtive--done in a way that is intended to escape notice
grotesque--seeming strange by being out of place or unexpected
pliant--bending easily
potent--very strong or powerful
audacious--bold, daring, or fearless
construed--to interpret or understand the meaning of a word, gesture, or action in a particular way
morosely--having a withdraw gloomy personality
beseeching--begging somebody to do something
pathos--feelings of pity
felicity--happiness
blighted--something that spoils or damages things severely
discordant--disagreeable
profaned--to treat something sacred with disrespect
prone--lying face down
martyr—somebody who complains a great deal in order to get sympathy from others
disconcerted—slightly confused
edifice—a building
reprimand—to criticize someone for doing something wrong
mien—somebody’s appearance, facial expressions
subsidence—lessening of something
chafings—to make someone irritated
repinings—to feel dissatisfied or fretful about something and complain or grumble about it
prodigious—very impressive or amazing
august—full of solemn splendor and dignity
attested—to show that something exists or is valid or true
amassed—to gather things together or collect them over time until they form a large pile, collection, or fund
effusion—extravagant and sometimes excessive expression of feelings in speech or writing
preposterous—going very much against what is thought to be sensible or reasonable
venerable—worthy of respect as a result of age, wisdom, or achievements
vestibule—small room or hall between an outer door and the main part of the building
monotonously-uninteresting or boring, spoken in one unvaried tone
discourse—serious and lengthy speech about a topic
facetious—intended to be humorous but often silly or inappropriate
expectorate—to cough up and spit out phlegm
homage—show of reverence and respect toward somebody
pariah—somebody who is despised and avoided by other people
abash—to make somebody feel ashamed, embarrassed, or uncomfortable
animosity—feeling or spirit of hostility or resentment
manifest—clear to see or understand
noncommittal—not making clear any personal opinions or feeling about something
juncture—a point in time, especially an important or critical one
vise—to hold something tightly
jubilant—feeling or expressing great delight over a success, achievement, or victory
Chapters 7-9
Chapters 10-12
upbraid—to correct or criticize somebody in a harsh manner
zephyr—a light warming breeze
illustrious—extremely distinguished and deservedly famous
unappeasable—not able to be satisfied
gaudier—brightly colored or showily decorated to an unpleasant or vulgar degree
zenith—high point or climax of something
incantation—the ritual chanting or use of supposedly magic words
pettishly—irritably
cogitating—thinking deeply and carefully about something
accouterments—an accessory or piece of equipment associated with a particular object, task, or role
ingenuity—cleverness and originality
caterwauling—to make a loud howling noise, or have a noisy argument
ensconced—to hide something somewhere for safety or secrecy
ruffian—somebody who behaves in a rough, bullying, or violent way, often a member of a gang of criminal thugs
combatants—somebody who is involved in a struggle or argument
prophecy—prediction that something will occur in the future
sublimity—noble and exalted
lugubrious—extremely mournful, sad, or gloomy
persecuted—to make somebody the victim of continual pestering
rebuke—to criticize or reprimand somebody
averted—to turn your eyes away from something
ostentatiously—marked by a vulgar display of wealth and success designed to impress people
miscreant—a villain, wrongdoer, or generally malicious and contemptible person
plausibly—believable and appearing likely to be true
inveterate—fixed in a habit or practice, especially a bad one
phrenological—study of the bumps on the outside of the skull
clandestinely-secretly
apprehensive—worried that something bad will happen
remorse—strong feeling of guilt and regret
accosted—to approach and stop somebody in order to speak, especially in an aggressive way
Chapters 13-15
Chapters 16-18
transpired—to become known or be disclosed
compact—agreement between two or more individuals
assented—to agree to something
purloined—to steal something especially when the theft breaks another’s trust
plausibilities—believable and likely to be true
obtruded—to impose something such as opinions or yourself on other people
credulous—too easily convinced that something is true
conflagrations—large fire that causes a great deal of damage
limpid—clear and transparent
ravenous—extremely hungry
notoriety—well known for some undesirable feature, quality, or act
mutiny—rebellion against legal authority, especially by soldiers or sailors
inestimable—too great to calculate its extent, magnitude, or amount
resurrection—revival of something old or long disused
expectoration—to cough up and spit out
inundation—accumulation of an overwhelming amount of things that somebody has to deal with
conflagration—large fire that causes a great deal of damage
eloquent—said or saying something in a forceful, expressive, and persuasive way
soliloquized—speaking while alone, used as a theatrical device that allows a character’s thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience
vestibule—small room or hall between an outer door and the main part of a building
irresolutely—unsure and unable to make decisions
vivacity—liveliness and high-spiritedness
vindictive—looking for revenge or done through a desire for revenge
lacerate—to distress somebody deeply or agonizingly
Chapters 19-22
Chapters 26-28
dismembered—to destroy something by taking it apart so that its parts no longer work together
vindictive— looking for revenge or done through a desire for revenge
spasmodic—occurring at uneven intervals
unpalatable—having an unpleasant taste
incongruous—unsuitable, strange, or out of place
auspices—a sign or token for the future, especially a happy or promising one
aalpable—obvious or easily observed
Chapters 29-31
Chapters 32-35
elude—to escape from or avoid somebody or something by cunning, skill, or resourcefulness
agues—feverish condition involving alternating hot, cold, and sweating stages
embellishment—something added to increase beauty or interest
canvassed—to debate or discuss something thoroughly
sinuous—with graceful winding or curving movements
moiety—way something is divided
clamorous—demanding attention loudly and insistently
effusive—giving or involving an extravagant and sometimes excessive expression of feelings in writing or speech
laudations—great praise and acclaim
prodigious—very impressive or amazing
magnanimous—very generous, kind, or forgiving
insipid--dull because lacking in character and lively qualities