To Kill a Mockingbird: Chapters 1–3

by Harper Lee
In this classic coming-of-age story, Scout Finch recounts her childhood in Maycomb, Alabama. When Scout's father is appointed to defend a black man in a high-profile trial, racial tensions in the small town come to a head.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–3, Chapters 4–10, Chapters 11–15, Chapters 16–19, Chapters 20–31

Here are links to our lists for Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. assuage
    cause to be more favorably inclined
    When it healed, and Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury.
  2. stricture
    a principle that restricts the extent of something
    Mindful of John Wesley's strictures on the use of many words in buying and selling, Simon made a pile practicing medicine, but in this pursuit he was unhappy lest he be tempted into doing what he knew was not for the glory of God, as the putting on of gold and costly apparel.
  3. chattel
    personal property, as opposed to real estate
    So Simon, having forgotten his teacher's dictum on the possession of human chattels, bought three slaves and with their aid established a homestead on the banks of the Alabama River some forty miles above Saint Stephens.
  4. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
    Their sister Alexandra was the Finch who remained at the Landing: she married a taciturn man who spent most of his time lying in a hammock by the river wondering if his trot-lines were full.
  5. vapid
    lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest
    But by the end of August our repertoire was vapid from countless reproductions, and it was then that Dill gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out.
  6. predilection
    a predisposition in favor of something
    The Radleys, welcome anywhere in town, kept to themselves, a predilection unforgivable in Maycomb.
  7. profane
    characterized by cursing
    The town decided something had to be done; Mr. Conner said he knew who each and every one of them was, and he was bound and determined they wouldn't get away with it, so the boys came before the probate judge on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and using abusive and profane language in the presence and hearing of a female.
  8. nebulous
    lacking definite form or limits
    Boo's transition from the basement to back home was nebulous in Jem's memory.
  9. foray
    a sudden short attack
    Jem threw open the gate and sped to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us, not waiting to see if his foray was successful.
  10. expound
    add details to clarify an idea
    Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house.
  11. erratic
    liable to sudden unpredictable change
    She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnia's grammar became erratic.
  12. iniquity
    an unjust act
    Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnia's iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place.
  13. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    He gave a short contemptuous snort.
  14. fractious
    easily irritated or annoyed
    She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so.
  15. disapprobation
    an expression of strong disapproval
    "I'm afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities."
Created on Wed Jul 25 09:13:04 EDT 2018 (updated Fri Jul 11 13:11:34 EDT 2025)

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