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

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. 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.

6. Definition: adv. Seriously (in a serious manner); badly
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. Definition: n. confusion; disorder; a mess
shambles
Definition:
n. confusion; disorder; a mess

13. ruefully

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

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

16. quaver

17. 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.

18. Definition: v. To shake or tremble
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. Definition: adj. Soft and wet, like in a marsh or swamp
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. v. To cover with plaster, clay, mud, or other sticky material
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. Definition: adj. Strongly built; firm or strong; fat or large
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. Definition: v. To dislike very, very much; to really hate
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. Definition: adv. Unwillingly
grudgingly
Definition:
adv. Unwillingly

34. contemptuous

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

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

40. pewter

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

42. 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

43. resentment

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

45. n. Feeling you get when you are being treated unfairly; bitterness
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. Definition: n. The act of standing up to or disobeying authority
defiance
Definition:
n. The act of standing up to or disobeying authority