Chapter 16:

Itaffirmed (vb.): firmly declared or stated

akimbo (adj.): hands on hips and elbows bent outward.

circuit solicitor (n.): a lawyer who travels to different locations to prosecute in trials

dispel (vb.): drive away

eccentricities (n.): oddities; unconventionalities

elucidate (vb.): explain

fey (adj.): strange; eccentric

formidable (adj.): impressive

inhabitants (n.): residents

khaki (adj.): a strong, twilled cloth of a dull yellowish-brown color

Mennonites (n.): members of an evangelical Protestant Christian sect. Mennonites favour plaindress and plain living.

profane (adj.): not connected with religion or religious matters

ruddy (adj.): reddish

Scripture (n.): The Bible

subpoena (n.): a written legal order directing a person to appear in court to give testimony

subtle (adj.): not openly obvious; quiet

sundry (adj.): various

 

Chapter 17:

acrimonious (adj.): sarcastic; bitter; nasty
affirmative nod (adj. + n.): Affirmative means positive. To give an affirmative nod would be to nod or shake one's head up and down to indicate "yes."
amber (adj.): dark orange yellow
ambidextrous (adj.): able to use both hands with equal ease
amiably (adv.): good-naturedly
audibly (adv.): Anything that is audible is capable of being heard. The judge warns the spectators against making any more comments that can be heard.
bantam cock (n.): a small, aggressive rooster.
benignly (adv.): kindly; gently
boiling (n.): angry or unruly group
capacity (n.): ability
cast (n.): To have a cast in one's eye means that a particular eye tends to veer or turn off into another direction.
complacently (adv.): in a self-satisfied way
congenital (adj.): a congenital condition is one that is in existence at birth. For example, if a child is born with a weak heart, that weakness in congenital; as opposed to someone who may acquire the condition later in life.
contempt charges (adj. + n.) Contempt, in this case, is open disrespect of a court or judge. A person who acts in such a manner may face a contempt charge from a judge.
corroborating evidence (adj. + n.): In legal terms; corroborating evidence is evidence which helps to strengthen a position. For example; eyewitness testimony in regards to a crime would be
corroborating evidence that such a crime had been committed.
corrugated (adj.): formed by a series of alternating ridges and grooves
counsel (n.): lawyers
crepey (adj.): Crepe is a thin, crinkled cloth. Mr. Ewell's crepey neck obviously resembles this fabric; that is, the skin is thin and crinkled.
dictum (n.): official pronouncement
dogged (adj.): stubborn determination
economic fluctuations (adj. + n.): Economics, in this case, has to do with the economy; the financial state of the country and its people. To fluctuate means to change. As far as the Ewells
are concerned, no matter how the economy of the country might change, their situation was always the same. They were always poor.
edge (n.): sharpness
gardenia (n.): a large, fragrant flower.
genially (adv.): in a friendly manner
geraniums (n.): flowering plants.
gullet (n.): throat; neck
heaved (vb.): lifted
import (n.): importance
infinite (adj.): endless
irrelevant'n'immaterial (adj.): "irrelevant and immaterial" Irrelevant means not relative; not related (to something). Immaterial means unimportant. The judge is saying that whether or not Mr. Ewell can read and write is not related and unimportant to the case.
load o'kindlin' (n.): "load of kindling." Kindling is generally made up of dry twigs, branches, etc.; materials useful for starting a fire
namesake (n.): the person one is named after. In this case, Mr. Ewell's namesake is the leader of the Confederate Army, Robert E. Lee.
prosperity (n.): good fortune; wealth quelling (vb.): quieting; calming
refuse (n.): garbage
ruttin' on (vb.): In this instance, the term is used to indicate that, according to Mr. Ewell, Tom Robinson was having sexual intercourse with his daughter. It should be noted that this term is almost exclusively reserved for use in describing the mating habits of animals, not people.
skewed (adj.): turned
slop jars (n.): large pails usually used to receive waste water from a wash basin or the contents of a chamber pot
smugness (n.): To be smug is to be highly self-satisfied; to think a lot of oneself. Mr. Ewell's smugness, or appearance of self-satisfaction, shows on his face.
speculations (n.): To speculate is to think about or reflect on a subject. Speculations are thoughts or reflections.
sulky (adj.): moody and quiet
sullen (adj.): in this case, gloomy and threatening
supplemented (vb.): added to
tenet (n.) a principle or belief generally held to be true
title dispute (n.): a legal fight over the ownership of a particular piece of property
turbulent (adj.): stormy; unruly
varmints (n.): in this case, flies and other flying insects that would be found in and around a garbage dump
warranted (vb.): gave a reason for; indicated the need for