Travels with Charley: Part 3

by John Steinbeck
In this traveogue, acclaimed author John Steinbeck sets out on a roadtrip across America with his best friend, a French poodle named Charley.

Here are our word lists for the book: Part 1,
Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Appendix

Here are links to our lists for other books by John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, The Pearl, East of Eden, Cannery Row, The Grapes of Wrath, The Red Pony
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rakish
    marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
    Charley’s combed columns of legs were noble things, his cap of silver blue fur was rakish, and he carried the pompon of his tail like the baton of a bandmaster.
  2. atrophy
    undergo weakening or degeneration as through lack of use
    If this people has so atrophied its taste buds as to find tasteless food not only acceptable but desirable, what of the emotional life of the nation?
  3. vehemence
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
    His color had deepened with whisky and vehemence, and perhaps at being able to talk to someone with a little likeness of experience.
  4. yokel
    a person who is not intelligent or interested in culture
    You know when show people come into what they call the sticks, they have a contempt for the yokels.
  5. uninhibited
    not restrained
    Against the descending sun the battlements were dark and clean-lined, while to the east, where the uninhibited light poured slant-wise, the strange landscape shouted with color.
  6. larder
    a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
    Out back was kitchen, larder, pantry, dining room—and the cot covered with army blankets made it bedroom too.
  7. hackles
    a feeling of anger and animosity
    “Now that we got our hackles down, what do you think of this hairdressing beautician stuff?”
  8. recourse
    act of turning to for assistance
    If the other tire blew, there we were, on a wet and lonesome road, having no recourse except to burst into tears and wait for death.
  9. obsequious
    attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
    No car has ever had such obsequious treatment as did Rocinante as we moved slowly on.
  10. callow
    young and inexperienced
    Can it be that we do not love to be reminded that we are very young and callow in a world that was old when we came into it?
  11. partake
    have, give, or receive a share of
    These people partake of all the local facilities, the hospitals, the schools, police protection, welfare programs, and so far they do not pay taxes.
  12. benign
    pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence
    Mount Toro, on the brother range to the west, was a rounded benign mountain, and to the north Monterey Bay shone like a blue platter.
  13. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
    Usually these groups guard treasures hidden from the waves of conquest, the golden artifacts of an archaic Montezuma, or a mine so rich that its discovery would change the world.
  14. circumvent
    beat through cleverness and wit
    I find most interesting the conspiracy of life in the desert to circumvent the death rays of the all-conquering sun.
  15. expedient
    a means to an end
    By the simple expedient of recruiting intelligent and educated men, paying them adequately, and setting them beyond political coercion, many states have succeeded in creating elite corps of men, secure in their dignity and proud of their service.
Created on Tue Aug 06 19:11:14 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Jun 25 16:49:56 EDT 2025)

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