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.
Frivolous
adj.
Prodigal
Ensnared
vb.
To get caught (literally or figuratively)
The squirrel was ensnared in a trap.
Muzzled
vb.
To prevent attacks by covering an animal, or human’s, mouth. (Can use metaphorically)
He muzzled himself from revealing the secret.
Truculent
adj.
Belligerent; aggressively defiant
His truculence led to his firing from the company he started.
Petulant
adj.
Insulant; bad-tempered
Angry Ann is very emotional and petulant.
Beseech
vb.
to beg
The begged beseeched for food.
Solemn
adj.
Grave, somber (Dark and serious)
He was solemn after the tragedy of his loved one.
Nooses
n.
Looped rope used for hanging to death
The criminal was hanged on a noose.
Ravenously
adv.
Adv. : Hungrily
Adj. : ravenous - very hungry
After not eating for two days, Joe ravenously devoured everything at the Thanksgiving dinner.
Convulsed
vb.
Rapid Movement as in a convulsion
He quickly convulsed the rope so that he could catch the bird.
Brooded
vb.
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
Gulch
n.
Ravine, especially where water used to be
The gulch was evidence that a drought had recently taken place.
Clasped
vb.
Verb: To grab tightly
Noun: A metal hook/eye used to close something
Synonym: Buckle, Grapple, Clutch, Grip
Antonym: Loose, Let go
Mosey
vb.
Walk lazily
Connotation: Neutral to Negative
Synonym: Saunter
Sauntered
vb.
Walk without aim
Drunk Lenny sauntered through the woods.
Connotation: Neutral to positive
Synonym: Meandered, (Walk leisurely)
Antonym: Run, (Walk with purpose), Sprint, Jockey
Sidled
vb.
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:
Iridescent
adj.
Reflecting light; bright
Times Square was iridescent on New Year’s Eve at 11:00.
Synonym: Bright, Illuminating
Antonym: Dull, Dark
Resentful
adj.
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
Lithely
adv.
Gracefully, nimbly
The leaf lithely fell on the grass.
Synonym: Gracefully, nimbly
Antonym: Suddenly, Unexpectedly, Bluntly
Citadel
n.
Fortress; serving as a buffer/protector
My dad is our family citadel; he will always try his best to protect us.
Imperturbability
n.
(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
Probing
vb.
Analyzing
He remained confused, probing how he received 1% on his exam.
Connotation: (Contextual)
Synonym: Analyzing, Questioning, Inquisative
Antonym: Content, Still, Accepting
Grime
Embedded dirt
Inveterate
Settled in a habit- i.e inveterate gambler
Negative connotation
Sty
Hill
Giddy
Silly, laughing for no apparent reason
Connotation: Almost neutral, usually positive - contextual
Synonym: Bubbly, Playful
Antonym: Grave, Solemn, Stern,
Tepid
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,
