The Grapes of Wrath Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary Words from "The Grapes of Wrath"

1
Q

Emulsion

n.

A

A mixture

Emulsify: to break down

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2
Q

Perplexity

n.

A

State of confusion

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

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3
Q

Bemused

adj.

A

Confused

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

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4
Q

Insinuation

n.

A

Hidden meaning

Insinuate: to suggest without directly meaning

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

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5
Q

Embankment

n.

A

Area that encloses; raised bank or enclosure

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6
Q

Protruded

adj.

A

To stick out

His eyes protruded from his face

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7
Q

Willow

n.

A

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.

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8
Q

Zenith

n.

A

Pinnacle, high point

The book reached it’s pinnacle during the climax

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9
Q

Declivity

n.

A

Downward slope

He rode his bike down the Declivity.

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10
Q

Speckled

adj.

A

Dotted

Cows are speckled with black.

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11
Q

Meek

adj.

A

Timid, modest

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

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12
Q

Repented

vb.

A

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

He repented the fact that he cheated on his final exam

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13
Q

Virtue

n.

A

Higher quality

Johan’s virtue is diligence.

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14
Q

Mosey

vb.

A

Slang for slowly and lazily

He mosied out of his bed.

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15
Q

Plodded

vb.

A

Walk in a slow, ponderous, struggling manner.

Or metaphorical: I plodded through that class

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16
Q

Minced

n.

A

Cooking or a type of walking (precariously)

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

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17
Q

Wane

vb.

A

To get smaller; to become less severe

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

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18
Q

Prodigal

adj.

A

careless and impractical; frivolous

His prodigal ways cost his parents lots of money.

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19
Q

Frivolous

adj.

A

Prodigal

20
Q

Ensnared

vb.

A

To get caught (literally or figuratively)

The squirrel was ensnared in a trap.

21
Q

Muzzled

vb.

A

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

He muzzled himself from revealing the secret.

22
Q

Truculent

adj.

A

Belligerent; aggressively defiant

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

23
Q

Petulant

adj.

A

Insulant; bad-tempered

Angry Ann is very emotional and petulant.

24
Q

Beseech

vb.

A

to beg

The begged beseeched for food.

25
Q

Solemn

adj.

A

Grave, somber (Dark and serious)

He was solemn after the tragedy of his loved one.

26
Q

Nooses

n.

A

Looped rope used for hanging to death

The criminal was hanged on a noose.

27
Q

Ravenously

adv.

A

Adv. : Hungrily
Adj. : ravenous - very hungry

After not eating for two days, Joe ravenously devoured everything at the Thanksgiving dinner.

28
Q

Convulsed

vb.

A

Rapid Movement as in a convulsion

He quickly convulsed the rope so that he could catch the bird.

29
Q

Brooded

vb.

A

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

30
Q

Gulch

n.

A

Ravine, especially where water used to be

The gulch was evidence that a drought had recently taken place.

31
Q

Clasped

vb.

A

Verb: To grab tightly
Noun: A metal hook/eye used to close something

Synonym: Buckle, Grapple, Clutch, Grip

Antonym: Loose, Let go

32
Q

Mosey

vb.

A

Walk lazily

Connotation: Neutral to Negative

Synonym: Saunter

33
Q

Sauntered

vb.

A

Walk without aim

Drunk Lenny sauntered through the woods.

Connotation: Neutral to positive

Synonym: Meandered, (Walk leisurely)

Antonym: Run, (Walk with purpose), Sprint, Jockey

34
Q

Sidled

vb.

A

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:

35
Q

Iridescent

adj.

A

Reflecting light; bright

Times Square was iridescent on New Year’s Eve at 11:00.

Synonym: Bright, Illuminating

Antonym: Dull, Dark

36
Q

Resentful

adj.

A

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

37
Q

Lithely

adv.

A

Gracefully, nimbly

The leaf lithely fell on the grass.

Synonym: Gracefully, nimbly

Antonym: Suddenly, Unexpectedly, Bluntly

38
Q

Citadel

n.

A

Fortress; serving as a buffer/protector

My dad is our family citadel; he will always try his best to protect us.

39
Q

Imperturbability

n.

A

(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

40
Q

Probing

vb.

A

Analyzing

He remained confused, probing how he received 1% on his exam.

Connotation: (Contextual)

Synonym: Analyzing, Questioning, Inquisative

Antonym: Content, Still, Accepting

41
Q

Grime

A

Embedded dirt

42
Q

Inveterate

A

Settled in a habit- i.e inveterate gambler

Negative connotation

43
Q

Sty

A

Hill

44
Q

Giddy

A

Silly, laughing for no apparent reason

Connotation: Almost neutral, usually positive - contextual

Synonym: Bubbly, Playful

Antonym: Grave, Solemn, Stern,

45
Q

Tepid

A

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,