The Grapes of Wrath Vocabulary

Question 1

Emulsion

n.

Answer 1

A mixture

Emulsify: to break down

Question 2

Perplexity

n.

Answer 2

State of confusion

Jon was in a state of perplexity; he studied 15 hours for his midterm, yet he failed.

Question 3

Bemused

adj.

Answer 3

Confused

He was bemused by Intelligent Ian’s failing in geometry class.

Question 4

Insinuation

n.

Answer 4

Hidden meaning

Insinuate: to suggest without directly meaning

“If only some people did their homework,” Clara said with insinuation.

Question 5

Embankment

n.

Answer 5

Area that encloses; raised bank or enclosure

Question 6

Protruded

adj.

Answer 6

To stick out

His eyes protruded from his face

Question 7

Willow

n.

Answer 7

A type of tree that has droopy branches

A thin weed that bends with the breeze

(Also metaphorical)
His parents were willow because they “understood” why Jon got an F.

Question 8

Zenith

n.

Answer 8

Pinnacle, high point

The book reached it’s pinnacle during the climax

Question 9

Declivity

n.

Answer 9

Downward slope

He rode his bike down the Declivity.

Question 10

Speckled

adj.

Answer 10

Dotted

Cows are speckled with black.

Question 11

Meek

adj.

Answer 11

Timid, modest

Being brand new to the town, he had been meek.

Question 12

Repented

vb.

Answer 12

Turn away from; trying to fix it and undo from your wrongdoings

He repented the fact that he cheated on his final exam

Question 13

Virtue

n.

Answer 13

Higher quality

Johan’s virtue is diligence.

Question 14

Mosey

vb.

Answer 14

Slang for slowly and lazily

He mosied out of his bed.

Question 15

Plodded

vb.

Answer 15

Walk in a slow, ponderous, struggling manner.

Or metaphorical: I plodded through that class

Question 16

Minced

n.

Answer 16

Cooking or a type of walking (precariously)

He minced out of his room to get cookies from the kitchen.

Question 17

Wane

vb.

Answer 17

To get smaller; to become less severe

The town’s destruction waned as the hurricane lost force, dissipating into a tropical storm.

Question 18

Prodigal

adj.

Answer 18

careless and impractical; frivolous

His prodigal ways cost his parents lots of money.

Question 19

Frivolous

adj.

Answer 19

Prodigal

Question 20

Ensnared

vb.

Answer 20

To get caught (literally or figuratively)

The squirrel was ensnared in a trap.

Question 21

Muzzled

vb.

Answer 21

To prevent attacks by covering an animal, or human’s, mouth. (Can use metaphorically)

He muzzled himself from revealing the secret.

Question 22

Truculent

adj.

Answer 22

Belligerent; aggressively defiant

His truculence led to his firing from the company he started.

Question 23

Petulant

adj.

Answer 23

Insulant; bad-tempered

Angry Ann is very emotional and petulant.

Question 24

Beseech

vb.

Answer 24

to beg

The begged beseeched for food.

Question 25

Solemn | adj.

Answer 25

Grave, somber (Dark and serious) He was solemn after the tragedy of his loved one.

Question 26

Nooses | n.

Answer 26

Looped rope used for hanging to death The criminal was hanged on a noose.

Question 27

Ravenously | adv.

Answer 27

Adv. : Hungrily Adj. : ravenous - very hungry After not eating for two days, Joe ravenously devoured everything at the Thanksgiving dinner.

Question 28

Convulsed | vb.

Answer 28

Rapid Movement as in a convulsion He quickly convulsed the rope so that he could catch the bird.

Question 29

Brooded | vb.

Answer 29

To be in deep, worried, catastrophizing thought. He brooded because of his failed attempt at the gaokao,which is the sole determiner of one's college acceptances. Connotation: Negative Synonym: Deliberate, Grieve, Lament Antonym: Not Worry, Be Carefree

Question 30

Gulch | n.

Answer 30

Ravine, especially where water used to be The gulch was evidence that a drought had recently taken place.

Question 31

Clasped | vb.

Answer 31

Verb: To grab tightly Noun: A metal hook/eye used to close something Synonym: Buckle, Grapple, Clutch, Grip Antonym: Loose, Let go

Question 32

Mosey | vb.

Answer 32

Walk lazily Connotation: Neutral to Negative Synonym: Saunter

Question 33

Sauntered | vb.

Answer 33

Walk without aim Drunk Lenny sauntered through the woods. Connotation: Neutral to positive Synonym: Meandered, (Walk leisurely) Antonym: Run, (Walk with purpose), Sprint, Jockey

Question 34

Sidled | vb.

Answer 34

Come up alongside (Usually horse or table) Jon sidled up to the opponent's quarterback and said,"Has your strength improved at all?" Connotation: Neutral to Negative Synonym:

Question 35

Iridescent | adj.

Answer 35

Reflecting light; bright Times Square was iridescent on New Year's Eve at 11:00. Synonym: Bright, Illuminating Antonym: Dull, Dark

Question 36

Resentful | adj.

Answer 36

Full of indignation (Feeling that one's position is in jeopardy) Joe was resentful of the fact that John was slowly taking over Joe's responsibilities at work. Connotation: Negative Synonym: Belligerent, Malignant Antonym: Good-willed, Neutral, Content, Proud, Gracious, Accepting, Resigned

Question 37

Lithely | adv.

Answer 37

Gracefully, nimbly The leaf lithely fell on the grass. Synonym: Gracefully, nimbly Antonym: Suddenly, Unexpectedly, Bluntly

Question 38

Citadel | n.

Answer 38

Fortress; serving as a buffer/protector My dad is our family citadel; he will always try his best to protect us.

Question 39

Imperturbability | n.

Answer 39

(Perturb: to rattle or highly irritate) State of even temper - cannot be penetrated In Buddhism, imperturbability is key. Connotation: Positive Synonym: Calmness , Oneness, Antonym: Fluctuating, Angry, Joyous

Question 40

Probing | vb.

Answer 40

Analyzing He remained confused, probing how he received 1% on his exam. Connotation: (Contextual) Synonym: Analyzing, Questioning, Inquisative Antonym: Content, Still, Accepting

Question 41

Grime

Answer 41

Embedded dirt

Question 42

Inveterate

Answer 42

Settled in a habit- i.e inveterate gambler | Negative connotation

Question 43

Sty

Answer 43

Hill

Question 44

Giddy

Answer 44

Silly, laughing for no apparent reason Connotation: Almost neutral, usually positive - contextual Synonym: Bubbly, Playful Antonym: Grave, Solemn, Stern,

Question 45

Tepid

Answer 45

Lukewarm (Literally and Fuguratively) (Negative Connotation) Figuratively: A person who cannot make up his mind and commits to all sides. Objective (unbiased and open-minded) is a positive connotation, but tepid is someone who is on the fence and cannot committ to one line of thinking ("Well, I was raised as a Buddhist, but I'm kinda sort of Jewish, a bit Christian, etc.) Synonyms: Indecisive, Non-committal, "On the Fence" Antonyms: Decisive, Definitive, Monolithic, Fixated, Committed,