Vocabulary Flashcards
Rarely
- “My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in the back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut.”
- not often; seldom
- I rarely forget my books at school, because then I can’t do my homework.
Content
- I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have.”
- In a state of peaceful happiness.
- I was content when I saw my dogs.
Loned
- “So I loned out.”
- single or isolated
- I loned out when I was unwanted.
Asset
- “Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next.”
- a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality.
- People all over he world shave incredible assets that make them unique.
Slouched
- “I automatically hitched my thumbs in my jeans and slouched, wondering if I could get away if I made a break for it.”
- stand, move, or sit in a lazy, drooping way.
- I slicked because I was exhausted from doing all that work.
Madras
- “He had on a madras shirt.”
- a strong, fine-textured cotton fabric, typically patterned with colorful stripes or checks.
- people in the 1960s like to wear madras clothing and still do.
Cowlick
- “He has darkbrown hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back—just like Dad’s—but Darry’s eyes are his own.”
- a lock of hair that grows in a direction different from the rest and that resists being combed flat.
- no one wants to have a cowlick any day especially on school picture day.
Quivering
- “I drew a quivering breath and quit crying. You just don’t cry in front of Darry.”
- tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion.
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Complicated
- “Steve Randle was seventeen, tall and lean, with thick greasy hair he kept combed in complicated swirls.”
- consisting of many interconnecting parts or elements ; intricate.
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Sarcasm
- Sure,” I said, trying for Soda’s sake to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.”
- the use of iron or mock convey contempt.
- it is hard to not use sarcasm sometimes.
Incredulous
- She gave him an incredulous look; and then she threw her Coke in his face.”
- (a person of their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.
- I incredulously read something.
Nonchalantly
- “Okay,” I said nonchalantly, “might as well.”
- coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual.
- in a composed and unconcerned manner.
- I nonchalantly invited my friends over.
Sophisticated
- We’re sophisticated “—cool to the point of not feeling anything.”
- (of a machine, system, or technique) developed to a high degree of complexity.
- I try to act sophisticate sometimes when there is a serious situation.
Elite
- “And,” TwoBit added grimly, “a few other of the socially elite checkered shirt set.”
*a group of people considered (by others or themselves) to be the best in a particular society or category, esp. because of their power, talent, or wealth.
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Resignedly
- Well,” Cherry said resignedly, “they’ve spotted us.”
*with resignation and acceptance; in a resigned manner; “resignedly, I telegraphed back that it was all right with me if he insisted”
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Unceasingly
- My teeth chattered unceasingly and I couldn’t stop them.”
- endlessly: with unflagging resolve; “dance inspires him ceaselessly to strive higher and higher toward the shining pinnacle of perfection that is the goal of every artiste”
- I unceasingly started talking.
Bootlegging
- “Buck raised a few quarter horses, and made most of his money on fixed races and a little bootlegging.”
*make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, esp. liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally.
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Apprehensive
- He was pretty well crocked, which made me apprehensive.”
- anxious or fearful that something unpleasant will happen.
- I apprehensively looked at something.
Contemptuously
- I hated them as bitterly and as contemptuously as Dally Winston hated.” “I winced inside.
*without respect; in a disdainful manner; “she spoke of him contemptuously”
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Winced
- “Johnny’s eyes went round and he winced as though I’d belted him.
- give a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of or in anticipation of pain or distress.
- I winced when I saw that the ball was coming towards me.
Bewildering
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*cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused.
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Premonition
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*a strong feeling that something is about to happen, esp. something unpleasant.
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Groggy
- *dazed, weak, or unsteady, esp. from illness, intoxication, sleep, or a blow.
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Reluctantly
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*With reluctance
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Importingly
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*bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad for sale.
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Sullenly
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*bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy.
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Eluded
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*evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way.
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Vital
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*absolutely necessary or important; essential.
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Indignant
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*feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.
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Gorged
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*having the neck encircled by a coronet or collar, esp. of a specified tincture.
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Conviction
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* a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.
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Inhalation
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*The act of inhaling or breathing in.
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Mimicking
- “He’d grab one guy’s press hat and another’s camera and walk around interviewing the nurses and mimicking TV reporters.”
- imitate (someone or their actions or words), typically in order to entertain or ridicule.
- I was mimicking what my friend was doing so I can bother her.
Recurring
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*occur again, periodically, or repeatedly.
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Aghast
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*Filled with horror or shock
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Exploits
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*make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource).
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Abruptly
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*quickly and without warning; “he stopped suddenly”
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Resemblance
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- The state of resembling or being alike.
- I saw a resemblance between the two sisters.
Debating
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- argue about (a subject), esp. in a formal manner.
- I was debating whether I should go with my friends or not.
Aimlessly
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- without aim; in an aimless manner.
- I was aimlessly walking around the street.
Ruefully
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*in a rueful manner; “`I made a big mistake,’ he said ruefully”
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Leery
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*cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions.
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Stupor
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*a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.
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Delirious
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- in an acutely disturbed state of mind resulting from illness or intoxication and characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.
- when they but me medicine I was immediately delirious.
Grasped
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- Seize and hold firmly
- I grasped my iPad excuse I didn’t want them to take it.
Acquitted
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*free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.
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Desperate
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- feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.
- I was desperate to be with my friends over the summer.
Deny
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- state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of.
- I denied the offer to go to the mall with my friends.
Pity
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*the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others.
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Flinching
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- make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise, fear or pain.
- I flinched when they snapped their fingers in my face.
Veered
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- change direction suddenly.
- I veered when I remembered what I was going to do after all.