To Kill a Mockingbird Word of the Day Vocabulary Chapters 22-31

Word 1 - Adjective CYNICAL distrusting the motives of others “Don’t talk like that, Dill,” said Aunt Alexandra. “It’s not becoming to a child. It’s —cynical.”

Word 2 - Adjective FERAL existing in a natural state; wild Jem made a feral noise in his throat. I wished for a weapon.

Word 3 - Adverb RUEFULLY feeling, showing, or expressing sorry or pity Jem grinned ruefully. “Wish the rest of the county thought that.”

Word 4 - Adjective FURTIVE secretive; suggestive of guilt “What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister?” “Something furtive,” Aunt Alexandra said. “You may count on that.”

Word 5 - Noun REMORSE deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed I sometimes felt a twinge of remorse, when passing by the old place, at ever having taken part in what must have been sheer torment to Arthur Radley…

Word 6 - Noun REPERTOIRE a set of skills or behavior High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill kee, kee of the sunflower bird to the irascible qua-ack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will.

Word 7 - Noun GAIT a person’s manner of walking We had slowed to a cautious gait, and were feeling our way forward so as not to bump into the tree.

Word 8 - Verb REPRIMAND to reprove or rebuke severely,  especially in a formal way As I said it, I half pointed to the man in the corner, but brought my arm down quickly lest Atticus reprimand me for pointing. It was impolite to point.

Word 9 - Verb ASTOUND shock or greatly surprise Dr. Reynolds’s voice was as breezy as his step, as though he had said it every evening of his life, an announcement that astounded me even more than being in the same room with Boo Radley.

Word 10 - Adjective AUDIBLE able to be heard When Mr. Tate spoke again his voice was barely audible.