The Sound and the Fury: List 1: April Seventh, 1928

by William Faulkner
Through the perspectives of three brothers and an omniscient narrator, the Compson family of Mississippi is shown falling into ruin.

This list covers April Seventh, 1928.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4
30 words 1180 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. snag
    catch or cause to catch on something sharp that is sticking out
    “You snagged on that nail again. Cant you never crawl through here without snagging on that nail.”
  2. stoop
    bend one's back forward from the waist on down
    Uncle Maury said to not let anybody see us, so we better stoop over, Caddy said.
  3. jounce
    move up and down repeatedly
    Then she was running, her booksatchel swinging and jouncing behind her.
  4. rustling
    characterized by soft sounds
    She took my hand and we ran through the bright rustling leaves.
  5. racket
    a loud and disturbing noise
    Cant you shut up that moaning and slobbering, Luster said. Aint you shamed of yourself, making all this racket.
  6. rein
    one of a pair of long straps used to control a horse
    She shoved me into the carriage. T. P. held the reins.
  7. furnish
    give something useful or necessary to
    “It seems to me you all could furnish me with a driver for the carriage once a week. It’s little enough I ask, Lord knows.”
  8. rheumatism
    any painful disorder of the joints or muscles
    “You know just as well as me that Roskus got the rheumatism too bad to do more than he have to, Miss Cahline.”
  9. yonder
    in an indicated distant place
    “They aint nothing over yonder but houses.”
  10. reckon
    expect, believe, or suppose
    Aint thought of it, I reckon.
  11. slobber
    let saliva dribble from the mouth
    “Now, git in that water and play and see can you stop that slobbering and moaning.”
  12. bodice
    part of a dress above the waist
    Then she didn’t have on anything but her bodice and drawers, and Quentin slapped her and she slipped and fell down in the water.
  13. trough
    a container from which cattle or horses feed
    It came behind us and Quentin set me down in the trough where the cows ate.
  14. nuzzle
    gently rub or push one's nose or face against something
    The calf was in the pig pen. It nuzzled at the wire, bawling.
  15. notion
    an odd or fanciful or capricious idea
    Your bad luck talk got them Memphis notions into Versh.
  16. buzzard
    a vulture common in South America and the southern U.S.
    T. P. lay down in the ditch and I sat down, watching the bones where the buzzards ate Nancy, flapping black and slow and heavy out of the ditch.
  17. lattice
    framework consisting of an ornamental wood or metal design
    We drank the sassprilluh and T. P. pushed the bottle through the lattice, under the house, and went away.
  18. prissy
    exaggeratedly proper
    “He dont like that prissy dress.”
  19. scoundrel
    someone who does evil deliberately
    “Maury says he’s going to shoot the scoundrel.”
  20. ambush
    the act of hiding and waiting to make a surprise attack
    “How can you. You’d sit right there and see Maury shot down in ambush, and laugh.”
  21. begrudge
    allow unwillingly or reluctantly
    If you begrudge Maury your food, why aren’t you man enough to say so to his face.
  22. putrefaction
    a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
    Bad health is the primary reason for all life. Created by disease, within putrefaction, into decay.
  23. decanter
    a bottle with a stopper; for serving drinks
    “Take the decanter and fill it.”
  24. scuffle
    walk by dragging one's feet
    Dan came scuffling along, into the moon.
  25. rile
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    “Getting Quentin all riled up.”
  26. pantry
    a small storeroom for storing food or beverages
    “Look in the pantry and tear a piece off of that rag hanging on the nail.”
  27. smart
    be the source of pain
    It’ll quit smarting him in a minute now, and he’ll hush.
  28. burden
    a serious or difficult concern
    “I know I’m nothing but a burden to you.”
  29. carriage
    characteristic way of bearing one's body
    “He’s too big for you to carry. You must stop trying. You’ll injure your back. All of our women have prided themselves on their carriage. Do you want to look like a washerwoman.”
  30. vulgar
    lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
    Nicknames are vulgar. Only common people use them.
Created on Thu Jul 12 16:14:58 EDT 2018 (updated Thu Aug 10 12:08:21 EDT 2023)

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