To Kill a Mockingbird In-context Vocabulary Chapters 4-6

amiable Atticus sat down in the swing and crossed his legs. His fingers wandered to his watchpocket; he said that was the only way he could think. He waited in amiable silence…

amiable Showing a pleasant personality Think amable in Spanish

auspicious The remainder of my schooldays were not more auspicious than the first.

auspicious Promising success

benign Until Jem and Dill excluded me from their plans, she was only another lady in the neighborhood, but a relatively benign presence.

benign Having a kindly disposition; gracious Bene = “good”

tacit Our tacit treaty with Miss Maudie was that we could play on her lawn, eat her scuppernongs if we didn’t’ jump on the arbor, and explore her vast back lot…

tacit Understood without being openly expressed Silent Have any musicians seen this one in your sheet music?

benevolence Miss Maudie’s benevolence extended to Jem and Dill, whenever they paused in their pursuits…

benevolence Desire to do good towards others Bene = good

edification “No,” said Atticus, “putting his life’s history on display for the edification of the neighborhood.”

edification Moral improvement or guidance It actually comes from the word “to build.”