To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

Ms. Salona Page 1 of 13

Part 1

1. Contentious kuhn TEN shuhs Synonyms:

Definition: TKAM: "Ain't got no mother," was the answer, "and their paw's right contentious." Sentence: Brothers and sisters often have contentious relationships in that they argue and fight a lot.

Your Sentence:

2. Tentative TEN tuh tiv Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Francis appeared at the kitchen door. "You still mad, Jean Louise?" he asked tentatively. Sentence: We have tentative plans for Homecoming; however, the plans could still change if it begins to rain while we are outside.

Your Sentence:

3. Dictum DIK tum Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: So Simon, having forgotten his teacher's dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves . . . Sentence: The dictum listed in Carmel High School’s student handbook asserts that students will have to participate in community service if they are tardy to class too many times.

Your Sentence:

4. Taciturn TAS eh turn Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Their sister Alexandra was the Finch who remained at the Landing: she married a taciturn man who spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river wondering if his trot-lines were full. Sentence: A shy person is usually taciturn.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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5. Quaint KWAYNT Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies. Sentence: 1. He had a quaint sense of humor which only his friends understood. 2. When my family visited the small town in Maine, we chose to stay in a quaint inn with traditional New England décor rather than in a Radison Hotel.

Your Sentence:

6. Malevolent muh LEV uh lent Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom. People said he existed, but Jem and I had never seen him. Sentence: Your parents may be fearful of you walking the streets alone at night due to malevolent strangers possibly lurking in the shadows.

Your Sentence:

7. Predilection pred uh LEK shun Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb. Sentence: If you have a predilection for water skiing in the summer, you will want to visit the many lakes in Michigan.

Your Sentence:

8. Domicile DOM eh sile Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: According to neighborhood legend, when the younger Radley boy was in his teens he became acquainted with some of the Cunninghams from Old Sarum, an enormous and confusing tribe domiciled in the northern part of the county, and they formed the nearest thing to a gang ever seen in Maycomb. Sentence: For many students their domicile has been Carmel, Indiana since they were born.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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9. Profane pruh FANE Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: . . . so the boys came before the probate judge on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and using abusive and profane language in the presence and hearing of a female. Sentence: The principal made it clear that students who use profane language at the game will be asked to leave.

Your Sentence:

10. Auspicious aw SPISH us Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: The remainder of my schooldays were no more auspicious than the first. Sentence: After reading her horoscope in the paper, Mary felt it was an auspicious time to purchase a lottery ticket.

Your Sentence:

11. Indigenous In DIJ eh nus Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “I am from North Alabama, from Winston County." The class murmured apprehensively, should she prove to harbor her share of the peculiarities indigenous to that region. Sentence: Gray squirrels are indigenous to the Midwest, and if you travel to California, you will see different species of squirrels.

Your Sentence:

12. Diminutive dih MIN yuh tiv Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: He was among the most diminutive of men, but when Burris Ewell turned toward him, Little Chuck's right hand went to his pocket. Sentence: The store which specialized in selling doll houses was filled with diminutive versions of the houses one will find on Main Street.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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13. Fractious FRAK shus Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so. I was weary from the day's crimes. Sentence: During the pep-rally the fractious students began to push each other, and soon there was a big fight among them.

Your Sentence:

14. Disapprobation dis ap ruh BAY shun Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: "I'm afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities." Sentence: The unruly child faced the disapprobation of his parents when they learned he scribbled all over his bedroom wall with a Sharpie marker.

Your Sentence:

15. Furtive FUR tiv Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Atticus asked, "What on earth could Ewell do to me, sister?" "Something furtive," Aunt Alexandra said. "You may count on that."

Sentence: During the test, Blaine made furtive glances at Greyson’s test answers. Your Sentence:

16. Impudent IM pyuh dunt Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: "Are you being impudent to me, boy?," asked Mr. Gilmer. Sentence: The student’s impudent act of swearing at his teacher and then skipping school lead to his expulsion. Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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17. Benevolence Buh NEV uh lunz Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Miss Maudie's benevolence extended to Jem and Dill, whenever they paused in their pursuits: we reaped the benefits of a talent Miss Maudie had hitherto kept hidden from us. Sentence: Donating to the poor or needy is an act of benevolence.

Your Sentence:

18. Irascible ih RAS uh buhl Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: 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 qua-ack of a bluejay, to the sad lament of Poor Will, Poor Will, Poor Will. Sentence: Just about anything could set off his irascible temper.

Your Sentence:

19. Caricature KARE uh kuh chur Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: "You can't go around making caricatures of the neighbors," said Atticus to Scout and Jem. Sentence: His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn.

Your Sentence:

20. Inordinate in OR duh nit Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: He wore a General Hood type beard of which he was inordinately vain. Sentence: It is a sign of trouble when a student has an inordinate number of absences. Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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21. Ingenuous in JEN yoo uhs Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: He was a year older than I, and I avoided him on principle: he enjoyed everything I disapproved of, and disliked my ingenuous diversions. Sentence: Because of the ingenuous nature of young children, they most often tell the truth when questioned by an adult. Zoey’s mother asked her, “Why did you hit your brother?” Zoey ingenuously replied, “Because he was bothering me.”

Your Sentence:

22. Innate ih NATE Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Uncle Jack raised his eyebrows and said nothing. I was proceeding on the dim theory, aside from the innate attractiveness of such words, that if Atticus discovered I had picked them up at school he wouldn't make me go. Sentence: Many researchers believe that personality is an innate quality rather than a series of traits we learn from our parents and society.

Your Sentence:

23. Guileless GILE les Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: The internal arrangements of the Finch house were indicative of Simon's guilelessness and the absolute trust with which he regarded his offspring. Sentence: Is it possible to find a guileless politician in Washington D.C., or do they all have the potential for dishonesty?

Your Sentence:

24. Fanatic fuh NAT ik Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches;. . . Sentence: Miss Maudie explained to Scout that Mr. Radley was a religious fanatic who took every word of the Bible literally and who believed that it was best to leave happiness out of one’s life.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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25. Piety PIE eh tee Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: All we had was Simon Finch, a fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall whose piety was exceeded only by his stinginess. Sentence: The reverend’s pious sermon motivated the congregation to pray with piety. Your Sentence:

Part 2

26. rudiments ROO duh ment Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the

rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns” (Lee 119).

Because he was not good at the rudiments of English, he had difficulty writing his English paper.

Your Sentence:

27. articulate are TIK yuh late Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “Jem became vaguely articulate: ‘d you see him, Scout?’” (129).

An announcer must be articulate. A good politician must be able to articulate his views.

Your Sentence:

28. melancholy MEL un kol ee Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “If [Mrs. Dubose] was on the porch when we passes, we would be rakes by her wrathful gaze,

subjected to ruthless interrogation regarding our behavior, and given a melancholy prediction on what we

would amount to when we grew up, which was always nothing” (132).

After Dad lost his job, he fell into a state of melancholy.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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29. palliate/ palliation PAL ee ate Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[Calpurnia] was a les than satisfactory source of palliation, but she did give Jem a hot biscuit-and-

butter which he tore in half and shared with me” (137).

The doctor attempted to palliate the patient’s suffering by prescribing drugs.

Your Sentence:

30. rectitude REK teh tood Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what made him break the bonds

of ‘You just be a gentleman, son,’ and the phase of self-conscious rectitude he had recently entered” (136).

When the preacher’s rectitude was questioned, many left his congregation.

Your Sentence:

31. tranquil TRANG kwul Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[. . .] [Atticus] had a naturally tranquil disposition and a slow fuse” (136).

I enjoy vacationing at our beach house because the surroundings are tranquil, and I can relax.

Your Sentence:

32. protrude/ protrusion pro TROO zhun Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[Mrs. Dubose’s] bottom plate [of teeth] was not in, and her upper lip protruded. . .” (142).

A large protrusion on his head was the result of being hit by a car.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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33. propensity pruh PEN si tee Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “Mrs. Dubose would hound Jem for a while of her favorite subjects, her camellias and our father’s

n****- loving propensities” (144).

I have a propensity for staying up late and sleeping late.

Your Sentence:

34. frivolous FRIV uh lus Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[The cartoon] showed Atticus barefooted and in short pants, chained to a desk; he was diligently

writing on a slate while some frivolous- looking girls yelled, ‘Yoo-hoo!” at him” (155).

A teacher should limit frivolous behavior in the classroom.

Your Sentence:

35. propel pro PEL Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “I wanted to stay and explore, but Calpurnia propelled me up the aisle ahead of her” (163).

Urgent need of money propelled him to take a job.

Your Sentence:

36. formidable FORE meh duh bul Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[The corset] managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra’s was once an hour-glass figure. From any

angle, it was formidable” (171).

The retired boxer Mohammad Ali was a formidable opponent in his time.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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37. oblique uh BLEEK Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[. . .] but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion, obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been

squatting on one patch of land the finer it was” (173).

Because of the suspect’s oblique answers, our interrogation of him led us in the wrong direction.

Your Sentence:

38. edification/ edifying ED uh fie ing Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “Still, everything he read he passes along to me, but with this difference: formerly, because he thought

I’d like it; now, for my edification and instruction” (184).

Visiting the cathedral was an edifying experience.

Your Sentence:

39. reverent/ revere reh VER ent / reh VEER Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “Jem raised the broom and missed Dill’s head by an inch when it appeared. ‘God Almighty,’ Jem’s voice

was reverent” (186).

Nearly all Catholics revere the Pope.

Your Sentence:

40. infallible in FAL uh bul Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[Dill] traveled with the show all over Mississippi until his infallible sense of direction told him he

was in Abbott County, Alabama. . .” (187).

Since everyone makes mistakes, no human is infallible.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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41. placid PLAS id Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “It had been a placid week: I had minded Aunty. . .” (193).

The wilderness is usually a placid place where one can relax.

Your Sentence:

42. begrudge bi GRUJ Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “‘This is Saturday,’ Atticus said. ‘Trial’ll probably be Monday. You can keep him one night, can’t you? I

don’t think anybody in Maycomb’ll begrudge me a client, with times this hard” (194).

The child begrudged the other child his new toy.

Your Sentence:

43. ominous OM uh nus Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “There was a murmur among the group of men, made more ominous when Atticus moved back to the

bottom front step and the men drew nearer to him” (195).

The ominous clouds warned us of the tornado.

Your Sentence:

44. vivid VIV id Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “When Atticus switched on the overhead light in the living-room he found Jem at the window, pale

except for the vivid mark of the screen on his nose” (195).

I have vivid memories of my trip to Europe.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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45. oblivious uh BLIV ee uhs Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “[Atticus] was sitting in one of his office chairs, and he was reading, oblivious of the nightbugs

dancing over his head” (201).

She was oblivious of the students talking around her as she concentrated on her book.

Your Sentence:

46. succinct suh k SINGT Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “‘Called ‘em off on a snipe hunt,’ was the succinct answer” (202).

Because her comments were succinct, the ceremony did not last long.

Your Sentence:

47. acquiesce AK wee es Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus’s instructions, but

from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging” (203).

If you acquiesce to your child’s temper-tantrums, he will learn his behavior is acceptable.

Your Sentence:

48. elucidate ed LOO se date Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “We asked Miss Maudie to elucidate: she said Miss Stephanie seemed to know so much about the

case she might as well be called on to testify” (213).

I will try to elucidate some of the questions you had difficulty answering.

Your Sentence:

To Kill a Mockingbird SAT Vocabulary Words

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49. unobtrusive un ob TRUE siv Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “I found myself in the middle of the Idlers’ Club and made myself as unobtrusive as possible” (217).

He is very unobtrusive sitting over there in the corner.

Your Sentence:

50. turbulent TUR byuh lent Synonyms:

Definition:

TKAM: “With [Atticus’s] infinite capacity for calming turbulent seas, he could make a rape case as dry as a

sermon” (226).

The turbulent winds made large waves in the sea.

Your Sentence:

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