© Brent Coley 2009 | www.mrcoley.com The Sign of the Beaver Key Vocabulary – Part 1 © Brent Coley 2009 | www.mrcoley.com

See if you can correctly define the following vocabulary words.

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

gravely

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

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

Definition: n. confusion; disorder; a mess shambles Definition: n. confusion; disorder; a mess

ruefully

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

Definition: adv. Sorrowfully (sadly); unhappily ruefully Definition: adv. Sorrowfully (sadly); unhappily

quaver

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

Definition: v. To shake or tremble 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.

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

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

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

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

Definition: adv. Unwillingly grudgingly Definition: adv. Unwillingly

contemptuous

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

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

Definition: v. To keep from having or doing deprive Definition: v. To keep from having or doing

pewter

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

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

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

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