© Brent Coley 2009 | The Sign of the Beaver Key Vocabulary – Part 1

See if you can correctly define the following vocabulary words.

If necessary, use the context clues from the sample sentences to help you.

gravely

gravely Sample Sentence: He was gravely ill and had to be admitted to the hospital.

gravely Definition: adv. Seriously (in a serious manner); badly

flint

flint Sample Sentence: Matt didn’t have any matches, so he looked for a piece of flint to start a fire.

flint Definition: n. Hard gray or brown stone that makes a spark when struck against steel

shambles

shambles Sample Sentence: After having five young kids over to play all day, the house was in shambles.

shambles Definition: n. confusion; disorder; a mess

ruefully

ruefully Sample Sentence: My dad ruefully informed me that my grandpa had passed away.

ruefully Definition: adv. Sorrowfully (sadly); unhappily

quaver

quaver Sample Sentence: The leaves on the tree began to quaver in the light breeze.

quaver Definition: v. To shake or tremble

boggy

boggy Sample Sentence: After the heavy rain, the field was boggy and had to be closed during recess.

boggy Definition: adj. Soft and wet, like in a marsh or swamp

daub

daub Sample Sentence: Matt tried to daub the hole in the wall of the cabin to keep the rain out.

daub Definition: v. To cover with plaster, clay, mud, or other sticky material

stout

stout Sample Sentence: I looked for a good, stout stick to use as a walking stick during my hike.

stout Definition: adj. Strongly built; firm or strong; fat or large

detest

detest Sample Sentence: Country music is okay, I don’t really like rap, and I detest heavy metal.

detest Definition: v. To dislike very, very much; to really hate

grudgingly

grudgingly Sample Sentence: When my mom asked, I grudgingly agreed to take my sister with me to the mall.

grudgingly Definition: adv. Unwillingly

contemptuous

contemptuous Sample Sentence: The girls gave Sally a contemptuous look, hurting her feelings.

contemptuous Definition: adj. showing a feeling that a person, act, or thing is worthless or inferior

deprive

deprive Sample Sentence: If I don’t eat all of my dinner, my mom will deprive me of dessert.

deprive Definition: v. To keep from having or doing

pewter

pewter Sample Sentence: The pioneers filled up their pewter mugs with strong coffee.

pewter Definition: adj./n. A mixture of tin and lead, copper, or other metals

resentment

resentment Sample Sentence: Randy felt resentment when Bill, who hadn’t practiced, got the big part in the play.

resentment Definition: n. Feeling you get when you are being treated unfairly; bitterness

defiance

defiance Sample Sentence: The student was sent to the office for his defiance toward the playground aide.

defiance Definition: n. The act of standing up to or disobeying authority