Chapter 3

Question 1

Onslaught \ˈän-ˌslȯt, ˈȯn-\; Noun

Answer 1

1. A fierce or destructive attack.
2. A large quantity of people or things that is difficult to cope with

Ex1) “His fist were cocked, as if expecting an onslaught from both of us.” (p23)

Ex2) The weakened soldier suffered from an onslaught when they let down their guards.

Question 2

Speculation \ˌspe-kyə-ˈlā-shən\; Noun

Answer 2

1. The forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.
2. Investment in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.

Ex1) “I stomped at him to chase him away, but Jem put out his hand and stopped me. He examined Walter with an air of speculation.” (p 23)

Ex2) The psychic made speculations about Jenny’s future.

Question 3

Dispensation\ˌdis-pən-ˈsā-shən, -ˌpen-\; Noun

Answer 3

1. Exemption from a rule or usual requirement.
2. A system of order, government, or organization of a nation, community, etc., especially as existing at a particular time.

Ex1) “Jem’s free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away.” (p 23)

Ex2) The dispensation for joining Laurels is being a sophomore, junior, or senior.

Question 4

Irked \ˈərk\; Verb

Answer 4

1. irritate; annoy.

Ex1) “Jem’s free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away.” (pg. 23)

Question 5

Cordially \ˈkȯr-jəl\; Adverb

Answer 5

1. in an heartly manner.

Ex1) “A hain’t lives there,” he said cordially, pointing to the Radley house. “Ever hear about him, Walter?” (p 23)

Question 6

Expounding \ik-ˈspau̇nd\; Verb

Answer 6

1. Present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail.
2. Explain the meaning of (a literary or doctrinal work).

Ex1) “Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house.” (p 24)

Question 7

Erratic \i-ˈra-tik\; Verb/Noun

Answer 7

1. Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
2. [Geology]

A rock or boulder that differs from the surrounding rock and is believed to have been brought from a distance by glacial action.

Ex1) “She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnia’s grammar became erratic.” (p 24)

Question 8

Tranquility \tran-ˈkwi-lə-tē, traŋ-\; Noun

Answer 8

1. The quality or state of being tranquil; calm.

Ex1) “When in tranquility, her grammar was as good as anybody’s in Maycomb.” (p 24)

Question 9

Retrieved \ri-ˈtrēv\; Verb

Answer 9

1. Get or bring (something) back; regain possession of

Ex1) “I retrieved my plate and finished dinner in the kitchen, thankful, though, that I was spared the humiliation of facing them again.” (p 25)

Question 10

Sprint \ˈsprint\; Verb/Noun

Answer 10

1. Run at full speed over a short distance.
2. An act or short spell of running at full speed.

Ex1) “Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnia’s iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place.” (p 25)

Question 11

Iniquities -kwə-tē\; Noun

Answer 11

1. Immoral or grossly unfair behavior

Ex1) “Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnia’s iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place.” (p 25)

Question 12

Flinty \ˈflin-tē\; Adjective

Answer 12

1. of, containing, or reminiscent of flint.

Ex1) “Atticus’s voice was *flinty.*” (p 25)

Question 13

Persevere \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir\; Verb

Answer 13

1. Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.

Ex1) “Apparently she had revived enough to persevere in her profession.” (p 25)

Question 14

Furor \ˈfyu̇r-ˌȯr, -ər\; Noun

Answer 14

1. An outbreak of public anger or excitement

Ex1) “The cootie’s host showed not the faintest interest in the furor he had wrought.” (p 26)

Question 15

Contentious \kən-ˈten(t)-shəs\; Adjective

Answer 15

1. Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
2. Involving heated argument.
3. Given to arguing or provoking argument.

Ex1) “Ain’t got no mother,” was the answer, “and their paw’s right contentious.”” (p 27)

Question 16

Condescension \ˌkän-di-ˈsen(t)-shən\; Noun

Answer 16

1. an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain

Ex1) “The boy’s condescension flashed to anger.” (p 27)

Question 17

Contemptuous \kən-ˈtem(p)-chə-wəs; Adjective

Answer 17

1. Showing contempt; scornful

Ex1) “The boy did not answer. He gave a short contemptuous snort.” (p 27)

Question 18

Diminutive \də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv\; Adjective/Noun

Answer 18

1. Extremely or unusually small.
2. A smaller or shorter thing, in particular.

Ex1) “He was among the most diminutive of men, but when Burris Ewell turned toward him, Little Chuck’s right hand went to his pocket.” (p 27)

Question 19

Dispersed \di-ˈspərs\; Verb

Answer 19

1. Distribute or spread over a wide area.
2. Go or cause to go in different directions or to different destinations.
3. (with reference to gas, smoke, mist, or cloud) Thin out or cause to thin out and disappear.

Ex1) “Miss Caroline smiled, blew her nose, said, “Thank you, darlings,” dispersed us, opened a book and mystified the first grade with a long narrative about a toadfrog that lived in a hall.” (p 28)

Question 20

Fraught \ˈfrȯḵt\; Adjective

Answer 20

1. (of a situation or course of action) Filled with or destined to result in (something undesirable).
2. Causing or affected by great anxiety or stress.

Ex1) “If the remainder of the school year were as fraught with drama as the first day, perhaps it would be mildly entertaining, but the prospect of spending nine months refraining from reading and writing made me think of running away.” (p 28)

Question 21

Monosyllabic \ˌmä-nə-sə-ˈla-bik\; Adjective

Answer 21

1. (of a word or utterance) Consisting of one syllable.
2. (of a person) Using brief words to signify reluctance to engage in conversation.

Ex1) “My replies were monosyllabic and he did not press me.” (p 28)

Question 22

Fractious \ˈfrak-shəs\; Adjective

Answer 22

1. (typically of children) Irritable and quarrelsome.
2. (of a group or organization) Difficult to control; unruly.

Ex1) “She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so. I was weary from the day’s crimes.” (p 29)

Question 23

Amiable \ˈā-mē-ə-bəl: Adjective

Answer 23

1. Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

Ex1) “He waited in amiable silence, and I sought to reinforce my position” (p 29)

Question 24

Crackling Bread; Noun

Answer 24

1. Crackling bread is a dish from the Southern United States which consists of cracklings and a type of bread, made of cornmeal.

Ex1) “It was not often that she made crackling bread, she said she never had time, but with both of us at school today had been an easy one for her.” (p 29)

Question 25

Compromise \ˈkäm-prə-ˌmīz\; Noun/Verb

Answer 25

1. An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
2. Settle a dispute by mutual concession.
3. Accept standards that are lower than is desirable.

Ex1) “When Atticus looked down at me I saw the expression on his face that always made me expect something. “Do you know what a compromise is?” he asked.” (p 31)

Question 26

Gravely \ˈgrāv: Adverb

Answer 26

1. Something done seriously or somberly, or something that is very serious and bad

Ex1) “Atticus kept us in fits that evening, gravely reading columns of print about a man who sat on a flagpole for no discernible reason, which was reason enough for Jem to spend the following Saturday aloft in the treehouse.” (p 31)

Question 27

Aloft \ə-ˈlȯft\; Adverb/Adjective

Answer 27

1. Up in or into the air; overhead.
2. Up the mast or into the rigging of a sailing vessel.

Ex1) “Atticus kept us in fits that evening, gravely reading columns of print about a man who sat on a flagpole for no discernible reason, which was reason enough for Jem to spend the following Saturday aloft in the treehouse.” (p 31)

Question 28

Auspicious \ȯ-ˈspi-shəs\; Adjective

Answer 28

1. Conducive to success; favorable.
2. Giving or being a sign of future success.

Ex1) “The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first.” (p 31)