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

2. See if you can correctly define the following vocabulary words.

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

4. gravely

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

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

7. flint

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

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

10. shambles

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

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

13. ruefully

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

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

16. quaver

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

18. quaver Definition: v. To shake or tremble

19. boggy

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

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

22. daub

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

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

25. stout

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

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

28. detest

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

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

31. grudgingly

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

33. grudgingly Definition: adv. Unwillingly

34. contemptuous

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

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

37. deprive

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

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

40. pewter

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

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

43. resentment

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

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

46. defiance

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

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