Letter from Birmingham Jail VOCAB

minister

pastor

segregation

separation

crucial

important

assassinated

killed

untimely

premature

correspondence

communication

affiliated

officially attacked

deemed

considered

superficial

existing on the surface

Grapple

engage in a close fight

Engulfed

sweep over to surround

Brutality

great cruelty

Grossly

extremely

Unjust

not based on what is right

Merchant

a person involved in wholesale trade

Retaliate

make an attack

Mindful

conscious

Postponement

the action of deferral

Foster

encourage the development of

Privilege

a special right

Voluntarily

of one’s own free will

Creep

move slowly

At whim

sudden wish

Smothering

kill by covering their nose

Inferiority

the condition of being lower in status

Concoct

make a dish by combining various ingredients

Harried

harassed

Humiliated

make someone feel ashamed

Legitimate

comforting to laws

Advocate

a person who publicly supports a cause

Uplift

improve

Degrade

treat with contempt

Relegate

dismiss an inferior rank

Ordinance

a piece of legislation

Evading

escape

Defying

openly resist

Rabid

proceeding from fanatical support

Anarchy

a state of disorder due to absence of authority

Civil

relating to ordinary citizens

Disobedience

refusal to obey

Sublimely

extremely

Excruciating

extremely painful

suppressed

forcibly put an end to

Lukewarm

tepid

Bewildering

confusing

Obnoxious

extremely pleasant

Plight

a unfortunate situation

Precipitate

cause to happen suddenly

Populace

the people living in a particular country

Crucifixion

execution of a person by nailing

Misconception

a view that is incorrect

Inevitably

unavoidably

Appalling

horrific

Stagnation

state of not flowing

clergy man

minister

Complacency

a feeling of smug with oneself

Repudiate

refuse to accept

Oppressed

subject to harsh treatment

Manifest

clear to eye

Urgency

being very important

Resentment

bitter indignation

Despitefully

in a spiteful manner

Righteousness

being justifiable

Dire

extremely serious

Optimistic

hopeful about future

Eloquent

fluent

Roach-finested

being invaded by nocturnal insects

Antidote

remedy that stops effect of poison

discontent

lack of contentment

prophetic

foretelling events