Ch 7-11 TKAM

reassure (v)

give or restore confidence in
I reassured him: "Can't anybody tell what you're gonna do lest they live in the house with you, and even I can't tell sometimes.

assure (v)

inform positively and with certainty and confidence
The second grade was grim, but Jem assured me that the older I got the better school would be, that he started off the same way, and it was not until one reached the sixth grade that one learned anything

Delete

cut or eliminate
Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts.

Crude

not carefully or expertly made
One was the figure of a boy, the other wore a crude dress.

Miniature

being on a very small scale
They were almost perfect miniatures of two children.

Yield

give or supply
The following week the knot-hole yielded a tarnished medal.

Verge

the limit beyond which something happens or changes
He had been on the verge of telling me something all evening; his face would brighten and he would lean toward me, then he would change his mind.

Stark

complete or extreme
Jem was facing me when he looked up, and I saw him go stark white.

Yonder

distant but within sight
"Mr. Radley, ah-did you put cement in that hole in that tree down yonder?

unfathomable

impossible to come to understand
For reasons unfathomable to the most experienced prophets in Maycomb County, autumn turned to winter that year.

seldom (adv.)

not often
Old Mrs. Radley died that winter, but her death caused hardly a ripple-the neighborhood seldom saw her, except when she watered her cannas.

Caricature

a representation of a person exaggerated for comic effect
"You can't go around making caricatures of the neighbors.

devour (v)

destroy completely
We stood watching the street fill with men and cars while fire silently devoured Miss Maudie's house.

Quell

suppress or crush completely
Miss Maudie's tin roof quelled the flames.

Disregard

lack of attention and due care
He began pouring out our secrets right and left in total disregard for my safety if not for his own, omitting nothing, knot-hole, pants and all.

shambles (n)

a condition of great disorder
With most of her possessions gone and her beloved yard a shambles, she still took a lively and cordial interest in Jem's and my affairs.

fanatical (adj)

marked by excessive enthusiasm for a cause or idea
Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire.

Gallantly (adv)

in a heroic or brave manner
Uncle Jack gallantly bowed me to the bathroom.

Absorb

take in a liquid
What bothers me is that she and Jem will have to absorb some ugly things pretty soon.

Acquainted

having fair knowledge of
The jury couldn't possibly be expected to take Tom Robinson's word against the Ewells' - are you acquainted with the Ewells?

vehemently (adv)

in a fierce manner
Atticus shook his head vehemently: "Don't just stand there, Heck!

Simultaneous

occurring or operating at the same time
With movements so swift they seemed simultaneous, Atticus's hand yanked a ball-tipped lever as he brought the gun to his shoulder.

Disrespectful

exhibiting lack of regard; rude and discourteous
Besides being the sassiest, most disrespectful mutts who ever passed her way, we were told that it was quite a pity our father had not remarried after our mother's death.

Accustom

familiarize psychologically or physically
I had become almost accustomed to hearing insults aimed at Atticus.

abide (v)

dwell
The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.