The Grapes of Wrath Vocabulary Flashcards
Vocabulary Words from "The Grapes of Wrath"
Emulsion
n.
A mixture
Emulsify: to break down
Perplexity
n.
State of confusion
Jon was in a state of perplexity; he studied 15 hours for his midterm, yet he failed.
Bemused
adj.
Confused
He was bemused by Intelligent Ian’s failing in geometry class.
Insinuation
n.
Hidden meaning
Insinuate: to suggest without directly meaning
“If only some people did their homework,” Clara said with insinuation.
Embankment
n.
Area that encloses; raised bank or enclosure
Protruded
adj.
To stick out
His eyes protruded from his face
Willow
n.
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.
Zenith
n.
Pinnacle, high point
The book reached it’s pinnacle during the climax
Declivity
n.
Downward slope
He rode his bike down the Declivity.
Speckled
adj.
Dotted
Cows are speckled with black.
Meek
adj.
Timid, modest
Being brand new to the town, he had been meek.
Repented
vb.
Turn away from; trying to fix it and undo from your wrongdoings
He repented the fact that he cheated on his final exam
Virtue
n.
Higher quality
Johan’s virtue is diligence.
Mosey
vb.
Slang for slowly and lazily
He mosied out of his bed.
Plodded
vb.
Walk in a slow, ponderous, struggling manner.
Or metaphorical: I plodded through that class
Minced
n.
Cooking or a type of walking (precariously)
He minced out of his room to get cookies from the kitchen.
Wane
vb.
To get smaller; to become less severe
The town’s destruction waned as the hurricane lost force, dissipating into a tropical storm.
Prodigal
adj.
careless and impractical; frivolous
His prodigal ways cost his parents lots of money.