Words to Know "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner

Verb: To go around, avoid, or bypass. Circumvent Verb: To go around, avoid, or bypass. Bentley Stealth Cat managed to circumvent the rules by finding a loophole.

The girls coquettish behavior gave her a reputation. Adjective: characteristically flirtatious, especially in a teasing light hearted manner The girls coquettish behavior gave her a reputation.

Diffident Adjective: lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth; timid, shy, reserved. No one thought the diffident girl would be able to speak in front of the class without fainting.

Encroach Verb: To advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; to make gradual advances. The edge of the lake began to slowly encroach on my property as the rain continued to fall.

Obliterate Verb: To remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely Bentley Stealth Cat broke into the cupboard and obliterated the bag of Halloween candy.

Adjective: Not clear to understand; hard to perceive. Obscure Adjective: Not clear to understand; hard to perceive. Her face was completely obscured by the veil, making it impossible to guess her identity.

Adjective: Pale; faint or lacking color. Pallid Adjective: Pale; faint or lacking color. The boy looked pallid, causing alarm that he may have lost more blood than previously thought.

Virulent Adjective: Actively poisonous; highly infective or violently or spitefully hostile. That particular strain of bacteria is not that virulent, so we did not have to wear the extra safety gear.

Temerity Noun: Reckless boldness; rashness A wise man lacks the temerity to stare a vicious dog in the face.

Tedious Adjective: Long and tiresome The tedious worksheets were slowly changing the students into zombies.