"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–31

Jonathan B. (United States of America)
In this classic coming-of-age story, Scout Finch recounts her childhood in Maycomb, Alabama. When Scout's father is appointed to defend a black man in a high-profile trial, racial tensions in the small town come to a head.Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–10, Chapters 11–15, Chapters 16–19, Chapters 20–31Here are links to our lists for Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. unmitigated
    not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity
    And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to 'feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people's.
  2. temerity
    fearless daring
    And so a quiet, respectable, humble Negro who had the unmitigated temerity to 'feel sorry' for a white woman has had to put his word against two white people's.
  3. idealist
    someone not guided by practical considerations
    I'm no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system—that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality.
  4. acquit
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    "You think they'll acquit him that fast?" asked Jem.
  5. indignant
    angered at something unjust or wrong
    The streetlights were on, and we glimpsed Calpurnia's indignant profile as we passed beneath them.
  6. demur
    politely refuse or take exception to
    "Mr. Jem," Reverend Sykes demurred, "this ain't a polite thing for little ladies to hear..."
  7. fatalistic
    accepting that everything that happens is inevitable
    "Don't you oh well me, sir," Miss Maudie replied, recognizing Jem's fatalistic noises, "you are not old enough to appreciate what I said."
  8. ruefully
    in a manner expressing pain or sorrow
    Jem grinned ruefully. "Wish the rest of the county thought that."
  9. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    Atticus smiled wryly. "Do what? Put him under a peace bond?"
  10. furtive
    secret and sly
    "What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister?" "Something furtive," Aunt Alexandra said. "You may count on that." "Nobody has much chance to be furtive in Maycomb," Atticus answered.
  11. adamant
    impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, or reason
    "Then it all goes back to the jury, then. We oughta do away with juries." Jem was adamant.
  12. stolid
    having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
    "Doesn't make it right," said Jem stolidly.
  13. impertinence
    the trait of being rude and inclined to take liberties
    Miss Stephanie eyed me suspiciously, decided that I meant no impertinence, and contented herself with, "Well, you won't get very far until you start wearing dresses more often."
  14. duress
    compulsory force or threat
    Mr. Merriweather, a faithful Methodist under duress, apparently saw nothing personal in singing, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."
  15. squalor
    sordid dirtiness
    "Jean Louise," she said, "you are a fortunate girl. You live in a Christian home with Christian folks in a Christian town. Out there in J. Grimes Everett's land there's nothing but sin and squalor."
  16. brevity
    the use of concise expressions
    When Miss Maudie was angry her brevity was icy.
  17. spurious
    intended to deceive
    The rural children who could, usually brought clippings from what they called The Grit Paper, a publication spurious in the eyes of Miss Gates, our teacher.
  18. florid
    elaborately or excessively ornamented
    One Sunday night, lost in fruity metaphors and florid diction, Judge Taylor's attention was wrenched from the page by an irritating scratching noise.
  19. incantation
    a ritual reciting of words believed to have a magical effect
    We laughed. Haints, Hot Steams, incantations, secret signs, had vanished with our years as mist with sunrise.
  20. irascible
    characterized by anger
    High above us in the darkness a solitary mocker poured out his repertoire in blissful unawareness of whose tree he sat in, plunging from the shrill kee, kee of the sunflower bird to the irascible quack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will.
  21. gait
    the rate of moving, especially walking or running
    We had slowed to a cautious gait, and were feeling our way forward so as not to bump into the tree.
  22. billow
    rise and move, as in waves
    The auditorium was filling with people; the Maycomb County High School band had assembled in front below the stage; the stage footlights were on and the red velvet curtain rippled and billowed from the scurrying going on behind it.
  23. rout
    defeat with dire consequences
    After consulting a tree to ascertain from its lichen which way was south, and taking no lip from the subordinates who ventured to correct him, Colonel Maycomb set out on a purposeful journey to rout the enemy and entangled his troops so far northwest in the forest primeval that they were eventually rescued by settlers moving inland.
  24. exploit
    a notable achievement
    Mrs. Merriweather gave a thirty minute description of Colonel Maycomb's exploits.
  25. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    He was shrewder than I, however: the moment I sat down I began to feel sleepy.
Created on Mon Feb 25 11:26:00 EST 2019

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