my antonia vocab

ingenuousness

being openly straightforward, frank

impertinent

rude

sheik

the patriarch of a tribe or family

covert

concealed; secret; disguised

obliterate

to remove from existence, all trace, indication or significance of

graft

to join one thing to another; in horticulture, to transplant the tissues of one plant onto another so the first part will grow

oracular

prophetic, wise

sorghum

a cereal crop/ grain; an old world tropical grass similar to Indian corn in habit

Bohemia (geographical region)

traditionally a French word for gypsy, during late 1800's, referred to part of Austria-Hungary; it's next to Germany and Poland. Today refers to anyone who lives an unconventional lifestyle b/c Bohemians have had a long history of being outcast. Does not mean uncultured b/c Mr. Shimerda. is very cultured.

desperado

a bold or violent criminal, 19 th century bandit in the US.

defer

to bow out or refer to someone else out of respect or acknowledgement of their superiority; to put off

victuals

food or provisions

licentious

disregarding rules of conduct; unrestrained by law or general morality.

caustic

severely critical or sarcastic

solicitous

anxious or concerned; anxiously desired; eager; careful or particular (followed by the word "to" or "for" or "about")

affable

friendly; cordial; benign

clemency

an act or deed showing mercy or leniency

meritorious

deserving of reward or honor

strident

harsh sounding, shrill, grating

demonstrative

showing feelings, openly and frankly

fetid

having an offensive odor; stinking

laconically

using few words; expressing much in few words; concise; terse; a laconic reply

indignant

expressing strong displeasure at something unjust

propitiatory

appeasing; giving in

piquant

exciting interest; stimulating

inveterate

firmly established over a long period

platitudes

phrases that lack originality but are uttered like they are meaningful and original; like a cliche

elliptical

Tending to be ambiguous, cryptic, or obscure, as if something was missing

doleful

sorrowful, mournful, melancholy

torpor

sluggish inactivity, lethargic indifference

commodious

spacios and convenient; roomy

parsimonious

frugal or stingy; tight close, mean

droll

amusing in an odd way, whimsically humorous

limpid

free from obscurity; lucid; clear

magnanimity

generosity when forgiving someone; not vindictive

perfunctory

done or acting without real care or interest; mechanical or careless

supercilious

adj: haughtily, disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression

quinsy

noun: an inflammation of the tonsils; tonisllar abscess

reticent

inclined to keep ones feelings, thoughts, and affairs to oneself

mollify

to calm in temper or feeling

beneficent

being charitable or generous

taciturn

Habitualy untalkative

uncouth

crude, mismannered

windlass

winch used to pull in cable or rope and often operated by a crank

avid

eager, extrememly interested

noblesse oblige

idea that people with money or status must be honorable and generous; often seen as a haughty thing; literally means "priviledge entails responsibility"

decorum

formality, etiquette

interminable

endless

imminent

ready to happen

portenous

threatening

alight

to step down from

sullied

tarnished

undulating

having a wavy outline or appearance

lariat pin

a rope used for catching or tying up an animal

tether

a rope or chain used to fasten an animal to a fixed object

hobble

to tie an animal at the ankles to prevent wandering

emaciated

abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food

pleurisy

inflammation of the lungs

croup

inflammation of the larynx and trachea in children, associated with infection and causing breathing difficulties

contemptuous

showing contempt; scornful

encumbered

restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult

hospitable

generous and friendly to guests or visitors

welcoming

friendly or making you feel welcome

aloof

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

sullen

bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy

ardent

enthusiastic or passionate

draw

a stream or creek that only fills after heavy rain but remains dry the rest of the time

gully

a large groove or channel in the soil that carries runoff after a rainstorm

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

granaries

buildings for storing grain

exultation

a feeling of extreme joy

monstrosity

something hideous or frightful

loathsome

causing hatred or disgust; repulsive

degraded

treated or regarded with contempt or disrespect

notoriety

the state of being known for some unfavorable act or quality

sombrero

a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat, typically worn in Mexico and southwest US

bravado

a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate

inflection

the bending of a person's voice so that it does not sound boring or within only one tone; making one's voice go up and down

patroness

a woman who protects, supports, or sponsors someone or something

coroner

an official who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths

essence

the most important ingredient; the crucial element

heathenish

irreligious

venerable

respected because of age

livery

special uniform worn by a servant or official

forestalled

prevented or delayed beforehand

cultivate

to nurture, improve, refine

slavishly

showing no originality; blindly imitative; submissive

destitute

deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

colic

severe abdominal pain

insinuatingly

with more meaning than the spoken word; implying