Johnny Tremain Ch 3 Glossary

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Chapter 3 Glossary

Section 1

apt (adj): suitable, appropriate, having a tendency or liking

scornful (adj): feeling or showing dislike

flourish (v): to prosper

headlong (adv): falling or plunging with head first; in a hasty or rash way

gilded (adj): covered with a thin layer of gold

negotiating (v): trying to reach agreement by discussion

johnnycake (n): a corn-meal flat bread

taverns (n): bars

genial (adj): kindly pleasant and cheerful

aloof (adj): unconcerned

nonchalantly (adv): not caring

belligerent (adj): waging a war

Section 2

diffidently (adj): lacking self-confidence

impotence (n): a lack of power

gumption (n): common sense or initiative

felon(n): a person who has committed a crime

cuff (n): the part of a glove or shirt covering the wrist

Section 3

rakish (adj): debonair or jaunty in appearance or manner

promenade (n): a leisurely walk in a public place; a paved-public walk (esp. at the sea)

riggers (n): people who provide clothes or equipment; fit with sails or topes

chaises (n): a light, open carriage

gimlet (n): a small tool with a screw-like tip

gait (n): a manner of walking or running

mantua (n): fancy woman’s dress of the 1600s

milliners (n): people who make or sell women’s hats

bean pole (n): a tall, thin pole for supporting bean plants

ciphering (v): writing in a code; solving by arithmetic

Section 4

gastric (adj): of the stomach

alewife (n): a fish of North Atlantic

mere (adj): nothing more than or better than what is specified

basting (v): thrashing or moistening with fat during cooking

assuage (v): to sooth or make less severe; to satisfy

squabs (n): young pigeons

chagrined (adj): affected by a feeling of annoyance, embarrassment, or disappointment

peddler (n): a person who goes from house to house selling small articles

nicety (n): precision; subtle distinction or detail; dainty or refined elegance

wattles (n): a red fleshy flap of skin on the neck of a bird

Section 5

gallows (n): a framework with a suspended noose for the hanging of criminals

marshes (n): low-lying, watery ground

spinet (n): s kind of small piano or harpsichord

sparsely (adv): thinly scattered; not dense

skirting (v): going or situating along the edge of

frenzied (adj): in a state of violence or agitation

Glossary of Johnny Tremain Chapter 2

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Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Chapter 2 Glossary

Section 1

prosperous (adj): financially successful

ruddy (adj): red in color

slavishly (adv): done like a slave

coarse (adj): rough

 proportion (n): having the correct size in relation to other things

ware (n): manufactured goods

unexpired (adj): not yet having come to an end, still valid

shunt (v): to divert into an alternate course

Section 2

tyranny (n): rule by force

dire (adj): desperate

tediously (adv): slowly, dully

mundane (adj): dull, usual, typical

 customary (adj): usual

eloquence (n): fluent, powerful speech

piteous (adj): sorrowful, mournful

stocks (n): an instrument of punishment in which the head and/or limbs of the offender were locked

 

Section 3

hitch (n): a slight jerk

bellows (n): devices used to create puffs of air by pumping

insufferable (adj): unbearable

ingot (n): a brick-shaped piece of cast metal

turnip watch (n): a large, clunky pocket watch

wink (v): to gleam or flash intermittedly

poultice (n): a soft, moist mass of cloth, bread, herbs, etc. applied hot to heal a wound

midwife (n): a person trained to assist women in childbirth

Section 4a

linseed (n): a plant whose oil is used for painting or nutritional purposes

cackle (n): the loud clucking noise of a hen; a witch-like laugh

resort (v): to turn for help

vast (adj): great in area or size

ulceration (n): a sore or open wound

laudanum (n): opium (drug) used to put people to sleep

abate (v): to make or become less

competent (adj): having the ability to do what is required

 Section 4b

reprove (v): to scold or condemn

muck (v): to make dirty

porter (n): a person employed to carry cargo or luggage

mete (v): to distribute

 thimble (n): a small metal cap protecting the finger which pushes the needle in sewing

coopering (v): making barrels or tubs

maim (v): to wound or hurt so that some part of the body is useless

derrick (n): a crane with one long arm anchored to the ground or a center post

  

Section 5

skein (n): a loose bundle of yarn

berate (v): to scold

mutual (adj): shared

extravagant (adj): spending excessively

glint (n): flash of light

loiter (v): to linger or stand about

repentant (adj): feeling sorry or regretful

erstwhile (adj): formerly

6A/6B Johnny Tremain Ch. I Glossary

Glossary of Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes

Chapter I

Section 1

Pg. 1

Wharves (wharf)- a landing place for ships to load or unload cargo

Quarrel – to argue

Cocks - roosters

Malt – grain (usually barley) that is used for brewing

Granaries – storehouses for grain

(Ship) Holds – spaces below a ship’s deck for storing cargo

Hovels – miserable dwellings

Halters – a rope or leather strap fastened around a horse’s head

Lowed – to make the sound of cattle (moo)

Weather vanes – rotating blade that indicates the direction of the wind

Steeples – tall towers with spires (thin points) on top, especially found on churches

Pg. 2

Feeble – weak, without strength, force, or effectiveness

Stout – too round or fat

Bellows – yells

Penetrate – to make a way into, or pierce

Pertly – cheeky, lively

Wallowing – indulging oneself

Pg. 3

Breeches – pants

Wry – twisted into a expression of disgust, disappointment, or mockery

Lank – Tall and lean; long and limp

Swinish – pig-like

Lorded – domineered; made others obey

Infernally – detestably, tiringly

Blandly – plainly

Pg. 4

Flaccid – hanging loosely; not firm

Parasitic – living on or drawing nourishment from another

Servitude – the condition of being forced to work for others without freedom

Autocratic – having unlimited power

Pg. 5

Brackish – slightly salty

Annealing – toughening (glass or metal) by heating and then cooling

Subdued – overcome, under control

Bustling – making a show of hurrying

Pg. 6

Conventional – traditional

lingering – staying a long time, especially as if reluctant to leave

halo – ring of light shone around the head

wages – regular payment to an employee

pg. 7

formidable – difficult to do or overcome

hearth – floor of a fireplace

elegance – tasteful appearance or style

ethereal – light and delicate in appearance; heavenly

apoplectic – intense enough to threaten

stays – wires supporting the corset

prissy – prim, snobby

pg. 8

buxom – plump and healthy looking

spindly – long or tall and thin

maturity – having reached full growth or development

hemp – a plant from which coarse fibers for cloth are obtained

Pg. 9

innumerable – too many to be counted

artisan – a skilled manual workman in an industry or trade

gauge – a standard measure of contents; i.e. thickness or metal

crucible – a pot in which metals are melted; a test

Section 2

Pg. 10

Befitted - suited

Venerable – worthy of deep respect because of age, associations, etc

Remote – far away from civilization

Groping – searching blindly

Deacon – a clergyman ranking below a priest; a layman attending to church business

Pious – devout in religion; virtuous

Gruel – thin porridge

Petticoat – female’s undergarment

Genteel – affectedly polite

Pg. 11

Scalded – injured or pained with hot liquid; to heat near boiling point

Sluggards – a slow or lazy person

Surging – To move forward like waves

Graven - carved

Agape – open-mouthed

Pg. 12

Haughty – proud of oneself; looking down on others

Expound – to set forth or explain in detail

Sulky – sullen, silent, bad tempered

Wrathfully – done in extreme anger

Section 3

Pg. 14

Patron – landowner, one who pays for the work of an artist.

Splayed – spread apart or slanted

Gadroon – ornamental pattern in silver

Pg. 15

Reverie – a daydream

Arrogantly – done in a proud or overbearing way

Pg. 16

Gig – a light, two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage

Unobtrusively – going unnoticed

Affluence – riches or wealth

Sprigged- decorated with small branches or flowers

Soldering – cementing metal parts together

Pg. 17

Garland – a wreath of flowers hung as decoration

Repousse – patterns made in silver by hammering on the reverse side.

Intricate – very complicated

Pg. 18

Protuberant – bulging outward from a surface

Vulgarity – lacking in refinement or poor taste

Pg. 19

August – majestic, imposing

Mincing – cutting into small pieces with a knife

Solemnly – done without smiling

Patronage – support given by a patriot

Diligent – hard working; putting in effort

Esquire – a courtesy title placed after a surname

Section 4

Pg. 21

Flagon – tall glass used for drinking

Leisurely – without hurrying

Pg. 22

Solitude – state of isolation

Lamentable - regrettable

Section 5

Pg. 23

Dire – dreadful terrible; predicting trouble; extreme or urgent

Abroad – away from one’s own country; out and about

Pg. 24

Perspiration - sweat

Baptized – to give a Christian name

Pg. 26

Frilly – an unnecessary extra

Bow-legged – outward curvature of legs

Sluts – a slovenly, lazy woman

Pg. 27

Currants – dried fruit of a small seedless grape

Pg.28

Gentlefolk – people of good family

Section 6

Pg. 30

Halting – spoken hesitantly

Fatigue – tiredness from hard work

Whist – card game for two players

Mum – silent