Of Mice and Men - Vocabulary (100 Words)

juncture

n. the shape, manner, or place in which things come together

debris

n. the remains of something that has been destroyed

mottled

adj. having spots or patches of color

recumbent

adj. lying down; in a position of comfort or rest

tramp

n. a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk

emerge

v. come out into view, as from being concealed

companion

n. a friend who is frequently with another

embrace

n. the state of taking in or encircling

despair

n. a state in which all hope is lost or absent

drone

v. to talk in a monotonous voice

current

n. a steady flow of a fluid

lumber

v. move heavily or clumsily

brusque

adj. blunt, direct

elaborate

adj. marked by complexity and richness of detail

pantomime

n. a performance using gestures and movements without words

contemplate

v. to consider as a possibility

imperious

adj. haughty or overbearing

quiver

v. to shake with fast, tremulous movements

scoff

v. to laugh at with contempt and derision

mimic

v. to imitate, especially for satirical effect

anguish

n. extreme distress of body or mind

yammer

v. to howl or wail as if in pain, to whimper

bait

v. to lure, entice, or entrap

plead

v. to appeal or request earnestly

gesture

v. to show, express, or direct through movement

glimmer

n. a flash of light

occupant

n. someone who lives at a particular place for a long period

vial

n. a small bottle that contains a drug

laden

adj. filled with a great quantity

indicate

v. to designate a place, direction, person, or thing

scourge

n. something causing misery or death

relish

n. vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment

deliberate

adj. careful, unhurried, purposeful

prompt

adj. without delay

abrupt

adj. quick and sudden

peer

v. to look searchingly

reassure

v. to cause to feel confident

bristle

n. a stiff hair

mollify

v. to calm or to appease

calculate

v. to predict in advance

pugnacious

adj. tough and callous by virtue of experience

gingerly

adv. with extreme care or delicacy

slough

v. to cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers

derogatory

adj. expressive of low opinion

basin

n. a bowl-shaped vessel used for holding food or liquids

tangle

v. disarrange or rumple

decisive

adj. characterized by resoluteness and firmness

contorted

adj. twisted, especially as in pain or struggle

handy

adj. clever and useful

ominous

adj. threatening, indicating something bad is going to happen

flounce

v. to move in an exaggerated way

plaintive

adj. sorrowful, mournful

complacent

adj. satisfied with a situation that should be changed or improved

derision

n. mocking scorn, ridicule

lynch

v. to kidnap, punish, and/or kill someone believed to have committed some sort of offense

conceal

v. to hide, keep something or someone out of sight

stride

n. a long step

gnawing

adj. persistent and troubling, chewing away at

entranced

adj. in a state of wonder or fascination

reprehensible

adj. highly unacceptable, deserving criticism

bemused

adj. caused somebody to be confused

cowering

adj. cringing or moving backward in fear

regard

v. to think carefully about someone or something, to judge

wryly

adv. in an amusing or ironic way

solemnly

adv. in a formal manner, without humor

maul

v. beat, batter, tear at

aloof

adj. uninvolved with people or events, remote

meager

adj. very small and unsatisfying

liniment

n. pain relieving cream or ointment

fawning

adj. attempting to please with flattery

disarming

adj. charming, friendly or trusting

scornful

adj. feeling or expressing great contempt for someone or something

brutally

adv. in an unrelentingly harsh or cruel way

indignation

n. anger about an unfairness

avert

v. to turn away

appraise

v. to look over, make a judgement about

crestfallen

adj. humiliated or totally disappointed

jeering

adj. shouting or laughing at someone or something in a hurtful way

hurl

v. to throw something with huge force

sullenly

adv. in a hostile or unsociable way

woe

n. grief or distress

console

v. to provide comfort to someone who is saddened

writhe

v. to twist or squirm, especially from feelings of pain

muffled

adj. wrapped or padded with material to stifle sound

bewildered

adj. completely confused or puzzled

paw

v. to strike at repeatedly, touch clumsily

cringe

v. to pull away in a frightened manner

snivel

v. to behave in a whining way

lance

v. to pierce with a sharp instrument

scudded

v. moved swiftly and smoothly

disapprovingly

adv. with negative judgement based on individual / personal standards

haunches

n. hip, or upper thigh of an animal

retort

v. to respond in a witty, angry, or insulting manner

belligerently

adv. in a hostile, aggressive, or fighting manner

woodenly

adv. in an unresponsive manner - like wood

monotonous

adj. uninteresting and boring

craftily

adv. in a clever or tricky way

triumph

n. an act or occasion of winning or being victorious

dutifully

adv. in an obedient manner, without protest

jarred

v. shook something abruptly