Transcript The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

THE BEAN TREES
BY
BARBARA KINGSOLVER
Vocabulary Word Lists
and Definitions
THE BEAN TREES - VOCABULARY LIST #1
Revere – regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration
Apparent – clear or obvious
Reticent – reluctant
Inclined – a tendency; or an attitude that favors something
Transient – lasting a short time; one who stays for only a short time
Resilient – able to withstand or quickly recover from strain
Refugee – someone who has fled his or her country because of fear of harm
Presumption – something thought of as true without proof
Gravity – seriousness; a manner or feeling that is serious and solemn
Persist – to continue (often despite difficulty)
Condone – to allow specific (controversial) behavior without taking a stand against it
Perturb – to disturb in mind or make uneasy
Bewilder – to confuse someone
Conjecture – a conclusion or opinion based on inconclusive evidence
Temperate – lacking extremes (especially of weather, climate, or behavior)
Coerce – force to do
Meander – to move slowly without a definite direction
Congregate – come together (usually for a specific purpose)
Convention – something regarded as normal or typical
Abundant – present in great quantity
VOCABULARY LIST #2
fanatic – a person motivated by extreme enthusiasm, (sometimes to a fault)
dilapidated – in bad condition, especially from age and neglect
acquire – obtain; come into possession of something
solemn – serious, dignified, and sincere in manner
premises – land and buildings together; OR things assumed (as in reasons in an argument)
dormant – not active or growing, but capable of doing so in the future
repentance – to feel regret for having done something and to resolve to be a better person in the future
wield – to have and use (as in wielding a hammer, sword, or power)
perversion – the conversion of something to a wrong use
sufficient – adequate or enough (typically without being more than is needed)
captivate – to enamor or attract and hold the attention of someone
celibate – abstaining from (that is, never having) sexual intercourse
lattice – an object or pattern made from crisscrossing two sets of lines, usually in diagonals
propaganda – information (typically biased) that is purposely spread to influence opinions (often
misleading information of a political nature)
resumption – beginning again
ornery – cranky; easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue
recollect – to remember, especially experiences from long ago
ascendant – moving upward; position or state of being dominant or in control
gist – the main point of a more detailed or complex matter
intimidate – make fearful of inadequacy; (sometimes) threaten
VOCABULARY LIST #2 (CONT’D)
captivate – to enamor or attract and hold the attention of someone
celibate – abstaining from (that is, never having) sexual intercourse
lattice – an object or pattern made from crisscrossing two sets of
lines, usually in diagonals
propaganda – information (typically biased) that is purposely
spread to influence opinions (often misleading information of a
political nature)
resumption – beginning again
ornery – cranky; easily annoyed and quick to complain and argue
recollect – to remember, especially experiences from long ago
ascendant – moving upward; position or state of being dominant or
in control
gist – the main point of a more detailed or complex matter
intimidate – make fearful of inadequacy; (sometimes) threaten
VOCABULARY LIST #3
Indelible – cannot be removed, washed away, or erased
Emanate – to come from or send out
Aptitude – natural ability
Compulsion – a strong (possibly uncontrollable) urge to do something
Inkling – a slight indication, suggestion, or understanding
Catatonic – a tendency to remain in a fixed, stuporous state for long periods
Prospective – concerned with or relating to the future
Pandemonium – a state of noisy confusion and disorder
Picayune – small and of little importance
Hypochondria – chronic and abnormal anxiety about imaginary symptoms and ailments
Omen – a sign of something about to happen
Statute of Limitations – a legal time limit after which lawsuits cannot be filed for civil
or criminal prosecution
Enrapture – to fill with rapture (overwhelming bliss), or to completely fascinate
Abrasion – area where the skin is torn or worn off
Berate – criticize severely or angrily