Chapter 8 - Vocabulary
aberrations (n.): an aberration is a deviation, or a moving away from, something that is normal. The fact that winter comes so quickly in Maycomb is abnormal, thus, an aberration.
azaleas (n.): a colorful and decorative kind of flower. See some pictures of azaleas.
cannas (n.): a beautiful tropical flower. See a pictures of cannas.
caricatures (n.): a representation of a person where certain features of that person are exaggerated or distorted. See a caricature of Elvis Presley
cordial (adj.): warm and friendly
flue (n.): a channel in a chimney that allows smoke and flames to pass to the outside
meteorological (adj.): anything to do with meteorology or weather. Find out about the meteorological conditions in your community.
morphodite (n.): Scout has misheard Miss Maudie, who would actually have said the word hermaphrodite. Technically, a hermaphrodite is an animal or plant that has both female and male reproductive organs. Of course, the children's snowman is not really a hermaphrodite, but it does have both male and female characteristics.
near libel (adj. + n.): When you commit libel, you harm someone's reputation. Atticus tells the children that they have committed a near libel; that is, their snowman is almost libelous because it so closely represents one of their neighbors and could harm that neighbor's reputation.
perpetrated (vb.): carried out; committed
prophets (n.): A prophet is someone able to predict the future.
quelled (vb.): To quell is to overwhelm something until it is powerless. The tin roof of Miss Maudie's house quelled the flames because tin cannot burn so the fire was eventually stopped.
roomers (n.): persons who rent and live in rooms in a house.
switches (n.): slender twigs or branches
taffeta (n.): a lustrous, stiff fabric, often used for women's dresses, especially formal wear
touchous (adj.) touchy; sensitive
unfathomable (adj.): Something that is unfathomable is something that can not be understood.
