Vocabulary from "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

This set of flashcards contains vocabulary terms from Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar," along with their definitions to aid in memorization and understanding.

Aback

To be very shocked or surprised.

Accord

A formal agreement or decision.

Accordion

A box-shaped musical instrument with a keyboard.

Acorn

An oval nut that grows on an oak tree.

Adversary

An enemy.

Agate

A hard stone with patterns of different colors.

Aghast

Suddenly filled with strong feelings of shock and worry.

Alcove

A small space in a room formed by one part of a wall being further back.

Alumna

A woman who studied at a particular school, college, or university.

Amble

To walk in a slow and relaxed way.

Ambush

To suddenly attack someone after hiding and waiting.

Amiable

Pleasant and friendly.

Antlers

The pair of horns that grow from the head of male deer.

Apprehension

Worry about the future or fear something bad is about to happen.

Apprentice

Someone who works for a skilled person to learn their skills.

Array

A large group of things or people arranged in a particular way.

Askew

Not straight or level.

Assured

Showing skill and confidence.

Astounding

Very surprising or shocking.

Awning

A cover fastened to a building to protect from sun or rain.

Awry

Not in the intended way.

Azaleas

A bush with brightly colored flowers.

Babble

To talk in a quick, confused, excited, or silly way.

Balalaika

A musical instrument with a three-sided body and three strings.

Baleful

Threatening to do something bad.

Balk

To be unwilling to do something.

Banister

The row of posts and bar at the side of stairs.

Barb

A sharp part that points backwards from a fishing hook.

Bare (verb)

To take away covering so that it can be seen.

Barred

A door that is blocked by a bar so it cannot be opened.

Bayonet

A sharp blade fixed onto a rifle.

Bearings

An understanding of directions and positions.

Beckon

To signal someone to come nearer.

Bedstead

The frame of a bed.

Bellhop

A person employed in a hotel to assist guests.

Benefactress

A woman who gives money to help an organization.

Bespectacled

Wearing glasses.

Bestow

To give something as an honor or present.

Bile

A bitter liquid produced by the liver to digest fat.

Bilious

Always in a bad mood.

Billow

To spread over a large area.

Blasé

Bored or not excited.

Bleak

Empty, not welcoming or attractive.

Blithely

Happily and without showing worry.

Blotter

A large piece of paper used to absorb ink.

Blurb

A brief description intended to attract.

Bob (verb)

To move up and down quickly.

Bog

Soft wet ground.

Boughs

Large branches of a tree.

Breezeway

An outdoor passage with a roof.

Brim

To be completely full.

Brisk

Quick and energetic.

Bristly

Having short, stiff hairs.

Broiled

Cooked under intense heat.

Brood

A group of young birds born at the same time.

Budge

To move or shift.

Bunions

A painful swelling on the big toe.

Burly

Large and strong.

Burrows

Holes dug by animals to live in.

Bustle

To move about in a hurried way.

Caboose

A small train car at the end of a train.

Cadaver

A dead human body.

Cameo

A small but noticeable part performed by a famous actor.

Cannon

To hit or knock against something violently.

Carting

To transport something with effort.

Cascade

To fall quickly in large amounts.

Casters

Small wheels attached to furniture for easy movement.

Catechism

A set of questions and answers about beliefs.

Cavernous

Having a very large open space inside.

Chastity

The state of not having sexual relationships.

Cherubs

Angels depicted as naked children with wings.

Chinos

Loose cotton trousers.

Chintz

Cotton cloth with flower patterns.

Chisel

A tool for cutting wood or stone.

Chums

Friends.

Churn

To move something with great force.

Cicada

A large insect that produces a high continuous sound.

Clasp

To hold firmly in hands or arms.

Clippings

Cut pieces from a source.

Clank

To make a loud sound like metal hitting metal.

Clop

Sound of horses' hoofs on a hard surface.

Over the coals

To criticize or speak angrily to someone.

Coddle

To overly protect someone.

Coed

For male and female students together.

Coincide

To happen at or near the same time.

Colossal

Extremely large.

Commodious

Having a lot of space.

Conceited

Too proud of oneself.

Conch

A large tropical sea snail.

Conglomeration

A large group of different things collected together.

Congregation

A group of people gathered for worship.

Conjure something up

To make something appear as if by magic.

Conspiring

To plan secretly to do something bad.

Convent

A building where nuns live.

Cornhusk

A dry, rustling voice.

Corrasable

Able to be erased.

Cot

A light bed that can be folded.

Counterfeiting

Making illegal copies.

Cradle

The holder for recharging devices.

Crags

High, rough masses of rock.