Chapter 26 - Vocabulary
remorse (n.): a feeling of regret and guilt
recluse (n.): someone who stays away from society and the company of others
spurious (adj.): Something that is spurious outwardly resembles something but does not have the genuine qualities of that thing. Miss Gates thinks that The Grit Paper is spurious because, although it resembles a newspaper, to her mind, it is far inferior to a publication like The Mobile Register or other newspapers.
Chapter 27 - Vocabulary
industry (n.): work, especially on a steady basis
florid (adj.): very flowery in style; elegant
nondescript (adj.): dull; with no special or interesting qualities
eccentricities (n.): odd behavior
maiden ladies (adj. + n.): women who have never married
Chapter 28 - Vocabulary
boil-prone (adj.): A boil is an inflamed, pus-filled swelling on the skin, like a pimple only usually bigger. To be prone to something is to be inclined to it. If the children had been boil-prone, they would have been inclined to have a lot of boils. Find out more about boils and see a picture of one.
climbers (n.): social climbers; people trying to move into a different, and higher, social class
crap games (n.): a gambling game played with two dice
divinity (n.): a white fudge made from whipped egg whites, sugar, and nuts. Read a recipe for divinity.
forest primeval (n. + adj.): in this instance, a forest that had been primarily untouched or unchanged by man
hock (n.): the joint bending backward in the hind leg of an animal like a pig. Scout is dressed as a ham, and a ham is the upper part of a hog's hind leg, Scout's hock would be the part of her costume that resembles the joint of a pig's leg. Take a look at a bunch of hams hanging by their hocks.
mocker (n.): mockingbird
pinioned (adj.): confined; held down
repertoire (n.): accomplishments; skills. The repertoire of the mockingbird is all the songs it can sing and sounds it can make.
smockin' (n.): Smocking, decorative stitching used to gather cloth. See a picture of a dress with smocking.
staccato (adj.): distinct; sharp and crisp