Chapter 17 - Vocabulary
acrimonious (adj.): sarcastic; bitter; nasty
affirmative nod (adj. + n.): Affirmative means positive. To give an affirmative nod would be to nod or shake one's head up and down to indicate "yes."
amber (adj.): dark orange yellow
ambidextrous (adj.): able to use both hands with equal ease
amiably (adv.): good-naturedly
audibly (adv.): Anything that is audible is capable of being heard. The judge warns the spectators against making any more comments that can be heard.
bantam cock (n.): a small, aggressive rooster. See a picture of a bantam cock.
benignly (adv.): kindly; gently
boiling (n.): angry or unruly group
cast (n.): To have a cast in one's eye means that a particular eye tends to veer or turn off into another direction.
complacently (adv.): in a self-satisfied way
congenital (adj.): a congenital condition is one that is in existence at birth. For example, if a child is born with a weak heart, that weakness in congenital; as opposed to someone who may acquire the condition later in life.
contempt charges (adj. + n.) Contempt, in this case, is open disrespect of a court or judge. A person who acts in such a manner may face a contempt charge from a judge.
corroborating evidence (adj. + n.): In legal terms; corroborating evidence is evidence which helps to strengthen a position. For example; eyewitness testimony in regards to a crime would be corroborating evidence that such a crime had been committed.
corrugated (adj.): formed by a series of alternating ridges and grooves
crepey (adj.): Crepe is a thin, crinkled cloth. Mr. Ewell's crepey neck obviously resembles this fabric; that is, the skin is thin and crinkled.
dictum (n.): official pronouncement
dogged (adj.): stubborn determination
economic fluctuations (adj. + n.): Economics, in this case, has to do with the economy; the financial state of the country and its people. To fluctuate means to change. As far as the Ewells are concerned, no matter how the economy of the country might change, their situation was always the same. They were always poor.
gardenia (n.): a large, fragrant flower. See a picture of gardenias.
genially (adv.): in a friendly manner
geraniums (n.): flowering plants. See a picture of geraniums.
irrelevant'n'immaterial (adj.): "irrelevant and immaterial" Irrelevant means not relative; not related (to something). Immaterial means unimportant. The judge is saying that whether or not Mr. Ewell can read and write is not related and unimportant to the case.
load o'kindlin' (n.): "load of kindling." Kindling is generally made up of dry twigs, branches, etc.; materials useful for starting a fire
namesake (n.): the person one is named after. In this case, Mr. Ewell's namesake is the leader of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee.
prosperity (n.): good fortune; wealth
quelling (vb.): quieting; calming
ruttin' on (vb.): In this instance, the term is used to indicate that, according to Mr. Ewell, Tom Robinson was having sexual intercourse with his daughter. It should be noted that this term is almost exclusively reserved for use in describing the mating habits of animals, not people.
slop jars (n.): large pails usually used to receive waste water from a wash basin or the contents of a chamber pot
smugness (n.): To be smug is to be highly self-satisfied; to think a lot of oneself. Mr. Ewell's smugness, or appearance of self-satisfaction, shows on his face.
speculations (n.): To speculate is to think about or reflect on a subject. Speculations are thoughts or reflections.
sullen (adj.): in this case, gloomy and threatening
tenet (n.) a principle or belief generally held to be true
title dispute (n.): a legal fight over the ownership of a particular piece of property
turbulent (adj.): stormy; unruly
varmints (n.): in this case, flies and other flying insects that would be found in and around a garbage dump
warranted (vb.): gave a reason for; indicated the need for